5. Defamation, Privacy, and Accuracy of Information– The best independent journalism projects and bloggers share work that shines a light onto the practices of the most powerful individuals, businesses and governments in our world. But shining this light requires being accurate with the information that is published online, and compliance with a web of provincial, state and federal privacy laws. Without the services of an in-house legal department to do a pre-publication review, and often without an entity as a shield, many assume enormous personal legal liability when they share controversial work.
“For too many journalists, one lawsuit could bankrupt them or their newsroom.” – Josh Stearns, GR Dodge Foundation
[Art Neill, The Top 10 legal issues today’s Journalists, Creators, and Entrepreneurs share, New Media Rights, May 13, 2015]
4. Access to public records– Journalists need access to public records, as do documentary filmmakers, researchers, historians, archivists, and a variety of entrepreneurs and non-profits trying to take raw data and turn it into actionable information. Accessing this information requires untangling a complex web of provincial, state and federal law.
[Art Neill, The Top 10 legal issues today’s Journalists, Creators, and Entrepreneurs share, New Media Rights, May 13, 2015]
3. Fair Use / Fair Dealing– Andy Warhol said “good artists borrow, great artists steal.” It may not be as catchy of a quote, but many great journalists, creators, and start-ups understand their rights to reuse content without permission. Understanding and exercising fair use allows us to engage in social, cultural, and political dialogue. It’s a critical safety valve to the broad protection and extremely long duration of copyright law. But as far as laws go, it’s on the complicated side.
[Art Neill, The Top 10 legal issues today’s Journalists, Creators, and Entrepreneurs share, New Media Rights, May 13, 2015]
2. Ethics – Live by the ethical standards of your profession; resist all forms of pressure to lower your standards.
[Chapter 58: Pressures on Journalists, The New Manual (A professional resource for journalists and media)]
1. Independence and Courage – The world needs more brave whistleblowers and independent journalists in the service of a free press and democratic self-government.
[Project Censored.Org, The News That Didn’t Make the News]
