The Bulletin of the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law

Winter 2008, Volume 13, Number 2

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Top Story:
Web Site Fights Off Federal Injunction

Subpoenas and Reporter Privilege
Reporters Fight Federal Subpoenas
State Court of Appeals Sides with Mankato Free Press Reporter on Shield Law Challenge
St. Paul Police Secretly Subpoena Reporter’s Cell Phone Records
Reporter Shield Law Update

Access
President Signs, then Rewrites, OPEN Government Act
Prisoner’s Challenge of Death Row Access Ban Moves Forward
Minnesota Advisory Committee Resists Cameras in Courts
Media Reports Raise Questions over Court Records Access
Rules Restricting Photographers Draw Criticism

FCC News
FCC Changes Cross-Ownership Rules amid Intense Criticism
Temporary Compromise Reached On Cable Regulation

Election 2008 Issues
FEC Eases Rules on ‘Issue Ads’ Aired Before Elections
Washington Law on Lies by Politicians Found Unconstitutional
New York Times Gives Liberal Activist Group Cheaper Ad Rate
Kucinich Loses Battles to be Included in Debates

Media and the Iraq War
War Zone Remains Dangerous For Western, Iraqi Journalists
U.S. Brings Terrorism Case against AP Photographer in Iraq

Endangered Journalists
In Midst of Crisis, Musharraf Cracks Down on the Press
Journalists in Afghanistan, Niger Handed Death Sentences
Yahoo, Chinese Journalists’ Families Settle Suit

Student Media
Internal, External Challenges at Colorado State, Loyola
Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Former Dean’s Libel Suit Against St. Cloud State Student Paper

Copyright/Publicity
Studios Win Copyright Judgment against File Sharing Web Site
New State Legislation Protects Dead Celebrities’ Rights

Free Speech
St. Paul Police Promulgate New Guidelines for Investigating Protest Groups
U.S. District Court Rules against Maryland Funeral Protesters

Libel/Defamation
New York High Court Rules in Libel Tourism Case

Media Ethics
Faculty at Major Journalism Schools Fight Allegations of Plagiarism, Fabrication
Cartoonist, Romance Novelist, Sex Columnist Caught Plagiarizing
New York Times’ McCain Story Draws Much Criticism, Little Support
Plans to “Monetize” News Content Raise Ethics Concerns
At White House Behest, New York Times Withholds Story
U.K. Television Network Fined Big For Fake Phone-in Contests
Forum Addresses Ethics Questions for Online Journalism

Fall 2007, Volume 13, Number 1

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Top Story:
Reporters Ordered to Testify and Reveal Government Sources in Hatfill Case

Reporter Privilege News
House Passes Federal Reporter Shield Law - Bill Still Faces Hurdles in Senate; Bush has Promised a Veto
Judge Rules Reporters Need not Testify in Murder Case
Reporters Arrested, Released after Printing ‘Grand Jury Secrets’ - Alternative Weekly Allegedly Published Sherriff’s Home Address

Media Access/FOIA
California High Court Decision a Win for Public Access to Government Employees’ Salaries
Minnesota Considers Cameras in Trial Courtrooms
Court Access: Federal Law would Allow Cameras in U.S. Courts
Court Access: Connecticut Newspaper Publishes Details About Jurors; Defends its Decision
Court Rules President Johnson’s CIA Briefings can Remain Secret
Two States Propose Changes to Access to Prisons for Media
New CIA Rules for FOIA Fees Give Bloggers a Price Break
Off-the-Record NSA Seminars Meant to Help Reporters Keep National Security Secrets - Seminar Materials Included NSA-Approved, Edited Versions of Stories
News Organizations Fight Limits on Access to Sports Events
Illinois Press Association Sues High School Sports Association Over Image Controls - Lawsuit Says the Public Entity’s Restrictive Practices Are Unconstitutional

FCC News
FCC Fines ‘Fake News’ Produced by Undisclosed Sponsors
Cable Companies Fined for Airing Paid-for Punditry - Armstrong Williams’ Programs Continue to Raise Controversy

Media and the Iraq War
Truth of ‘Baghdad Diarist’ Stories Challenged
U.S. Confiscates AP Footage at Scene of Baghdad Bombing, Detains Photographer, Citing Iraqi Law

Privacy
Ohio Supreme Court Recognizes False Light Claim

Defamation/Libel
Illinois Paper Apologizes, Settles Civil Rights Suit against State Chief Justice who Sued It for Libel
‘Libel Tourism’ Suit Leads Publisher to Destroy Book on Terrorism Funding, Pay Damages and Apologize
British Court Extends ‘Reynolds Privilege’ to Publishers - Privilege Protects Publishing False Information in the Public Interest
Time Magazine Contests Defamation Ruling for Former Indonesian Dictator
Newspaper Settles Dispute over Seizure of Newsroom Computer and Equipment
China Failing to Deliver on Pre-Olympics Press Freedom Promises According to NGOs’ Reports
Russia: Politkovskaya Investigation Continues; Reporter Detained for Alleged Extortion

Endangered Journalists
International Roundup: China, Burma, Zimbabwe, Iran

Copyright
Artists Challenge Copyright Extension Law
Music Industry Wins First Internet Piracy Case - Single Mother Will Appeal $222,000 Verdict

Media Ethics
Star Tribune Publisher Barred for One Year, Unlikely to Return
Senator Craig Airport Scandal Prompts Questions of Journalism Ethics in Covering Politicians’ Personal Lives
News Consultant Linked to Bogus Interviews
FEMA Holds Press Conference … for Itself
Mohammed Cartoons Draw International Ire
Cartoons Cause Community Controversy Across the Country

Silha Events
2007 Silha Lecture Focuses on Media Violence Regulation