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The News Media & The Law	Federal Open Government Guide	State Open Government Guide

Many of the publications below are available for reading on our Web site.
Most of the publications are available as PDFs, either at no cost (look for the 'Download/View Free PDF' link) or at a reduced price (look for the 'Electronic Delivery' option below). For the paid PDFs, you will be taken to an electronic document download page immediately after your order is finished.
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Select publications and quantities below:

Featured publications:

Publication

Price

Quan.

The News Media & The Law (subscription)

Our quarterly magazine, featuring articles on current controversies and interesting developments in First Amendment and Freedom of Information law that affect the news media. (Not currently available as we transition this to an electronic-delivery-only publication.)

The First Amendment Handbook (7th Edition, January 2011)

This booklet is designed to provide a basic primer on the laws affecting reporters' rights to gather and disseminate news. American journalists need to know their rights, and how to fight back when those rights are threatened; The First Amendment Handbook is an important weapon in that fight. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$7.50

Privilege Compendium (1st Edition, 2003)

A detailed examination of the reporter's privilege and shield laws in each state and federal circuit, with practical information on seeking to quash a subpoena an appealing an order to testify or produce documents.

Compendium

One bound volume of all state booklets.

$50.00

State/Circuit Booklet

Specify state or circuit:

$7.50

State/Circuit Booklet

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$7.50

State/Circuit Booklet

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$7.50

Federal Open Government Guide (10th Edition)

Designed as a general "do-it-yourself" guide to using the federal Freedom of Information Act and other federal access laws, this booklet describes how to use the laws as effective investigative tools, and provides sample letters, forms and directories to assist you in dealing with the government promptly and effectively. (Bulk discount: 10 or more copies: $5.00/copy.) (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$10.00

Federal Open Gov't Guide -- Electronic Delivery

$5.00

Open Government Guide (6th Edition, 2011)

A state-by-state guide to open meetings and open records laws. Choose from one of the following formats:

CD-ROM

A searchable compendium of all state booklets. (View on site)

$75.00

State Booklet

Specify state:

$15.00

State Booklet

Specify state:

$15.00

State Booklet

Specify state:

$15.00

State Booklet -- Electronic Delivery

Specify state:

$7.50

State Booklet -- Electronic Delivery

Specify state:

$7.50

State Booklet -- Electronic Delivery

Specify state:

$7.50

Other guides:

Publication

Price

Quan.

A Reporter's Field Guide (Winter 2006)

A guide to covering the news in public places, private property, government buildings, and more. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

A Reporter's Guide to American Indian Law (Fall 2006)

A look at the extend of openness laws and other First Amendment protections on land controlled by American Indians. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

A Reporter's Guide to Medical Privacy Law (Summer 2002)

A guide to HIPAA, restrictive medical rules that will affect how journalists cover stories. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

A Reporter's Guide to Military Justice (Summer 2006)

A look at information access rights within the military justice system. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Access to Electronic Communications (Spring 2009)

A state-by-state guide to obtaining access to e-mail and other electronic communications of government officials. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Access to Police Records (Winter 2008)

Examines the laws in all states concerning access to records from police files. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Agents of Discovery (2003)

A Report on the Incidence of Subpoenas Served on the News Media in 2001 (Download/View Free PDF)

$5.00

Campaign Reporting (Summer 2004)

A state-by-state guide to covering elections and polling places, and obtaining voter registration data. (Download/View Free PDF)

$5.00

Electronic Access to Court Records (Spring 2007)

A quick guide to state laws on electronic access to courts. (Download/View Free PDF)

$5.00

FERPA, HIPAA & DPPA (Spring 2010)

A brief examination of how three federal privacy laws, governing academic, health and driver's records, affect newsgathering. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Homefront Confidential (5th Edition, September 2004)

A detailed report on the War on Terrorism's effect on newsgathering, release of public information, and the public's right to know. The report covers issues involving war reporting, pooling, state efforts to restrict information access, military tribunals, and the PATRIOT Act. (Download/View Free PDF)

$10.00

Photographers Guide to Privacy (Fall 2007)

How laws on the right to privacy affect photojournalists. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Police, Protesters and The Press (Winter 2012)

How a wave of protests across the nation has tested police-press relations, and what it means for journalists who cover them. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Press Impasses (Summer 2001)

Tips on dealing with police before, while and after stories break. (Download/View Free PDF)

$5.00

Private Eyes (Fall 2010)

Confidentiality issues and access to police investigation records. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Privatization v. The Public's Right to Know (Summer 2007)

A look at how government out-sourcing of services affects access to records. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Reporter's Recording Guide (Summer 2012)

A state-by-state guide to laws on taping phone calls and conversations and how they affect newsgathering. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Secret Justice

A series of reports on access to the judicial system. Select from the guides below:

Access to Juror Questionnaires (Spring 2011)

A guide to access to juror questionnaires (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Access to Juvenile Justice (Spring 2012)

A state-by-state guide to juvenile courts nationwide. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Access to Terrorism Proceedings (Winter 2002)

An examination of post-9/11 access to criminal proceedings, immigration hearings, and military tribunals. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Alternative Dispute Resolution (Fall 2001)

A look at the alternatives to court proceedings used by litigants, and how the media can fight to gain access. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Anonymous Juries (Fall 2000)

A report on a growing trend and advice to counteract it. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Gag Orders (Spring 2001)

Understanding and fighting judge's efforts to silence participants in the judicial process. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Grand Juries (Fall 2004)

An examination of issues surrounding access to information regarding grand juries. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Judicial Speech (Spring 2004)

An examination of the rules governing what judges can and cannot say to the news media. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Jury Proceedings and Records (Winter 2009)

Access issues concerning jurors. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Off Base: Military Court Dockets (Summer 2008)

A guide to access to military court dockets and proceedings (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Online Access to Plea Agreements (Summer 2010)

A survey of federal court policies on sealing of plea and cooperation agreements. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Secret Dockets (Summer 2003)

A look at the courts that keep controversial cases shrouded from public view by never placing the case on a public docket. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Secret Juries (Summer 2005)

A look at the trend toward sealing jurors' identities, and what that means to covering the courts. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Star Treatment (Spring 2005)

How court clamp-downs on public access to cases involving the rich and famous affect the public's right to know. (View PDF)

$5.00

Warrants & Wiretaps (Winter 2010)

A look at the law governing access to search warrants, arrest warrants and wiretap transcripts. (View PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

SLAPP Stick (Summer 2011)

Fighting frivolous lawsuits against journalists (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

Sunshine, Inc. (Summer 2009)

The basics of covering business organizations (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

The Lost Stories (November 2003)

How a steady stream of laws, regulations and judicial decisions have eroded reporting on important issues. (Download/View Free PDF) (View on site)

$5.00

The Privacy Paradox (Spring 1998)

A guide examining how 'privacy' protection trends affect newsgathering. (Download/View Free PDF)

$5.00

White Paper: Military Dockets (August 2008)

Examining the public's right of access to the workings of military justice. (Download/View Free PDF)

$5.00

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