Can reporters refuse to testify in cases?

In Branzburg v. Hayes (1972), the Supreme Court considered three consolidated cases determining whether there is a constitutionally based privilege in the First Amendment that permits reporters to refuse to testify before a grand jury.

Can reporters be forced to reveal their sources?

The idea behind reporter’s privilege is that journalists have a limited First Amendment right not to be forced to reveal information or confidential news sources in court. Journalists rely on confidential sources to write stories that deal with matters of legitimate public importance.

What is a shield law for reporters?

Shield laws are statutes that provide journalists either an absolute or qualified privilege to refuse to disclose sources used or information obtained in the course of news gathering.

Can you sue a reporter?

Until recently, any person who caused or was responsible for the publication or broadcast of a defamatory statement could be sued by the claimant, for example a writer, producer, director, editor, interviewee, broadcaster, even, in the case of a book, the printers or the newsagents or booksellers.

Can a newspaper publish your picture without consent?

Copyright is a legal issue which relates to the publishing of a photo by someone else (such as a newspaper or magazine) without the permission of the owner of the photo. We cannot help with or advise on legal issues. If you are concerned about copyright issues, you should seek legal advice.

What does the First Amendment say about journalists?

The First Amendment protects both the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. Journalists have a right to access public places to gather and disseminate news. Public places include sidewalks and public parks, but not private property.

What do you think will happen if a journalist breaks the code of ethics?

By breaking this principle, a journalist will in turn break the trust of viewers or readers. These violations can tarnish a journalists reputation for being a reliable source for news and can lose the trust of the public.