The News Media and The Law

Disclosure of gun permits leads to backlash on access

Federal FOIA Appeals Guide now online

The Reporters Committee introduces a comprehensive, online guide to appealing federal Freedom of Information Act requests to help journalists navigate the administrative process.

@rcfp

Federal court upholds classification of treaty materials sought under #FOIA. http://t.co/K29MUEis2n
CT passes law restricting access to Newtown shooting, other police records. http://t.co/9zaQcDpSjY #opengov #FOIA
Reporters Committee, 35 media orgs argue for more access to documents, dockets in Manning court-martial http://t.co/w4skGWfVmR

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Torry, Thomas, Henry elected to Reporters Committee leadership. Four new Steering Committee members on board.
Massachusetts newspaper wins legal fees after getting reporter subpoena quashed
06/18/2013
A federal district court handed a Massachusetts newspaper an unusually robust victory in a reporter’s privilege case last week, not only quashing a subpoena but allowing the organization to recover its legal costs. Dr. Theresa Harpold, one of...
Supreme Court to hear Air Wisconsin defamation caseon immunity in reporting security threats
06/18/2013
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a case involving an Air Wisconsin pilot who sued for defamation, which raises the issue of the extent of the airline's immunity from lawsuits when they report potential security threats. The justices will...
N.C. religious reporter recently arrested while covering protest to fight charges
06/17/2013
A Charlotte Observer religion reporter recently arrested while covering a "Moral Mondays" protest before the Raleigh General Assembly will fight to have the charges dropped at his August court date. Veteran reporter Tim Funk was arrested...
New York judge rules reporter's personal observations are protected
06/14/2013
A U.S. District Court judge in New York ruled that a New York Times reporter cannot be forced to testify about his personal observations in a wrongful arrest case involving two Occupy Wall Street protestors. The judge ruled that Times freelancer...
Fox News journalist argues for New York shield law protection in Holmes trial
06/13/2013
A Fox News reporter is awaiting a judicial panel's decision on whether a New York judge was correct to issue a subpoena that compelled her to testify in a Colorado courtroom about her confidential sources in a story relating to accused movie...

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The Place to Start

The Digital Journalist's Legal Guide has the answers and links to Reporters Committee resources for all your questions about the legal issues involved in gathering and disseminating news.

FOIA Services

Find everything you need to file a public record request, including the Reporters Committtee Automatic FOIA Letter Generator, our federal and state Open Government Guides, and our Federal FOIA Appeals Guide.

 

 

Our Mission

To protect the right to gather and distribute news; to keep government accountable by ensuring access to public records, meetings and courtrooms; and to preserve the principles of free speech and unfettered press, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.