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 TABLE OF CONTENTS   The News Media & The Law Vol. 24, No. 2  

Cover

The News Media & The Law

Spring 2000

Gag Reflex: Gag Orders and the Threat to Newsgathering


In this issue:

  EDITORIAL The news media must keep fighting the ‘gag instinct’

Prior Restraints & Secret Courts
  ROUNDUP Challenges to gag orders end in mixed results
  ANALYSIS Civil court access standards strong despite high court inaction
  WASHINGTON, D.C. Judges decide to release financial disclosure forms to news service
(APBnews.com v. Committee on Financial Disclosure)
  D.C. CIRCUIT CFTC backs off rule that would require registration of newsletter publishers
(Taucher v. Born)

Confidentiality
  ROUNDUP Journalists face subpoenas, contempt charges
(Underwood v. Azula)
  ANALYSIS Discussion of source can lead to waiver of privilege

Broadcasting & Copyright
  ROUNDUP Camera access advances in Oklahoma, New York
  ROUNDUP ‘Microbroadcasting’ continues to generate controversy
  EIGHTH CIRCUIT Public broadcaster not required to accept Klan sponsorship

Libel & Privacy
  FIFTH CIRCUIT Appeals court upholds win in ‘mad cow’ lawsuit
(Engler v. Winfrey)
  SECOND CIRCUIT Photo used to illustrate story does not violate privacy rights
(Messenger v. Gruner+Jahr Printing and Publishing)
  TENTH CIRCUIT Comments about fake T-shirt ad did not harm reputation
(Zeran v. Diamond Broadcasting, Inc.)
  FIRST CIRCUIT ‘Dateline’ can be liable for specific misrepresentation
(Veilleux v. NBC)
  UPDATE Network settles hidden camera claim for $900,000

Press At Home & Abroad
  FOURTH CIRCUIT First Amendment defense disallowed in porn case
(United States v. Matthews)
  ROUNDUP Reporters arrested covering violence in D.C., Miami, war in Chechnya
(Anderson v. the Islamic Republic of Iran)

Freedom of Information
  WISCONSIN Accident trial records secret unless filed in court
(Wisconsin ex rel. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. v. Circuit Court for Milwaukee County)
  OHIO Database on Columbus children tells ‘nothing about government’
(Ohio ex rel. McCleary v. Roberts)
  UPDATES High court won’t review archives case
  OHIO Disciplinary records are ‘educational’ and must be secret
(United States v. Miami University)
  TEXAS City can sue requester to determine if records are public
(City of Garland v. Dallas Morning News)
  D.C. CIRCUIT Names released after secret mediation
(Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Department of the Interior)
  KANSAS Legal bills not exempt from public disclosure
(Cypress Media v. Overland Park)
  WASHINGTON School can’t sue to keep superintendent’s settlement secret
(Mercer Island School District v. Seattle Times Co.)

Legislative Update
  UPDATE Legislative Update

  SOURCES & CITATIONS Sources & Citations