AP Scandal Demonstrates Need for Federal Shield Law to Protect Reporters
The word "print" is derived from the Latin word premere, meaning to press or to bear down upon. Ancient Romans used several mechanisms to write, including pressing letters with a stylus (stilus) into a wax tablet (tabula). A...more
A district court in Boulder, Colorado, recently applied Colorado's Press Shield Law to a subpoena for a reporter to testify at trial—even though the party issuing the subpoena only wanted to question the witness about...more
It’s no secret that President Trump’s relationship with the press during his administration has been rocky, at best. In a July 3rd tweet, the president alleged that the “Washington Post is constantly quoting ‘anonymous...more
Austin Harrouff faces two counts of first degree murder in Florida for the fatal stabbings of John Stevens and Michelle Mishcon on August 15, 2016. The case was widely publicized after police investigators said that when...more
DOJ may revise policies on using investigatory tools to procure information about the media, with significant legal and business implications. Key Points: ..The review marks DOJ’s second significant evaluation of media...more
In football, blocking and tackling is as important as connecting on a long pass. In a legislative session that was tough going for advocates of open government and news reporting, a tenacious defense won more victories than...more
There is the general expectation that when a source discloses information to a reporter on a confidential basis, the source will be protected and their identity and communications cannot be forced to be disclosed. This is...more
We are all very used to (and very bored of) the on-going debate of what actually constitutes “the media” or “legitimate news.” In most instances, this sort of debate pits exclusive, Columbia-educated, “proper” journalists...more
The right of journalists to refuse to testify regarding information or sources obtained as part of the news-gathering process, known as the reporter’s privilege, has been recognized by 49 of the 50 states and the District of...more
Two proposed bills would provide additional protection not only to reporters, but also to their sources. Any company spokesperson or defense lawyer who speaks to a reporter has a modest vested interest in the passage of the...more