A photojournalist facing charges of conspiracy, vandalism and trespassing went free when a judge dismissed the charges. The photojournalist was arrested covering the Santa Cruz Occupy protests. -db From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, May 14, 2012, by Emily Miller. Full story
The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a $19.6 million jury award to the family of Nancy Benoit who sued Hustler Magazine for publishing nude photos of her after she was murdered by her husband. “Because there was overwhelming evidence that [the publishing company] reasonably and honestly (albeit mistakenly) believed that the photographs were subject to the newsworthiness exception to the right of publicity, we conclude that no reasonable jury could find by clear
With 80 journalist killed over the last 12 years, the Mexican must mount some serious efforts to protect reporters. The legislature is transferring responsibility for prosecuting attacks on the press from local and state officials to the federal government, a promising first step. -db From an editorial in The Globe and Mail, April 30, 2012. Full editorial
An employee of Cornell University tore the cover off 30 to 40 copies of the April Fools’ edition of The Cornell Daily Sun to keep prospective students from seeing it. The newspaper is not funded by the university. -db From the Student Press Law Center, May 2, 2012, by Emily Summars. Full story
A report to be released on May 1 in recognition of World Press Freedom Day shows that around the world reporters are killed and news agencies harassed with impunity. Even the United States came in for criticism for widespread arrests of journalists covering the Occupy protests. -db From a commentary for the First Amendment Center, April 27, 2012, by Gene Policinski. Full story