Media ethics notes

Question 1

areas impacting access and reporting

Answer 1

restrictions on open government
news gathering obstacles
libel laws and lawsuits
SLAPP suits

Question 2

restrictions on open govt.

Answer 2

FL sunshine laws

• expansive in scope
• presumed open unless exemptive
• exemptions
• FOIA federal freedom of information act (if not national security they should be giving journalists info)

Question 3

2. news gathering obstacles
   reporters have ?
   but officials may interfere with press more because
   obstacles that journalists encounter

Answer 3

some rights of access as public
-wide audience

1. being stopped by police for reporting on or photographing of emergency scene
2. being held back bc they have been denied credentials
3. being kept off public or private property while covering a story

Question 4

3. privacy rights 
free press rights are often in tension with 
civil lawsuits cna be brought for 
states also have ? 
-
-

Answer 4

privacy rights
invasion of privacy
statutory restrictions on privacy

hidden cameras
recording private conversations

Question 5

4. libel actions
   libel defamation actions: for ?
   consitutional standards: public figure plaintiffs subject to ?
   defenses:

Answer 5

reputational harm due to false statement causing concrete damages 
stringent proof requirements 
1. truth 
2. privilege 
3. fair comment and criticism

Question 6

5. Recent threats: SLAPP suits 
A SLAAP (also known as) is a legal action, usually a? , filed not to indicate? but solely to ?

Answer 6

strategic lawsuit against public participation
libel suit/ legit legal rights/ silence concerned citizens, businesses, or org. that are exercising their constitutional rights of free speech or to petition the govt.

Question 7

balance of libel with ?
privelege ?
fair comment and criticism

Answer 7

watch dog of media
the right of media to record in an official and public capacity
material, permissible to publish, comment and opinion over fact in opinion section