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Constitutional Law Commons

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William & Mary Law School

1996

Freedom of the Press

Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Constitutional Law

Media Misbehavior And The Wages Of Sin: The Constitutionality Of Consequential Damages For Publication Of Ill-Gotten Information, John J. Walsh, Steven J. Selby, Jodie L. Schaffer May 1996

Media Misbehavior And The Wages Of Sin: The Constitutionality Of Consequential Damages For Publication Of Ill-Gotten Information, John J. Walsh, Steven J. Selby, Jodie L. Schaffer

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Driven by competitive forces and enabled by technological advances such as hidden cameras, the media have become increasingly intrusive in their newsgathering techniques. Claims against the media for unlawful acts such as invasion of privacy, trespass, and fraud highlight the severe tension existing between the rights of the victims of media misconduct and the principles of the First Amendment. The authors contend that by acting unlawfully in their newsgathering, the media forfeit First Amendment protection. They emphasize that the newsworthiness of the information unlawfully obtained by the media should not be considered when determining liability, and conclude that the media …


The Constitutional Interest In Getting The News: Toward A First Amendment Protection From Tort Liability For Surreptitious Newsgathering, Paul A. Lebel May 1996

The Constitutional Interest In Getting The News: Toward A First Amendment Protection From Tort Liability For Surreptitious Newsgathering, Paul A. Lebel

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.


Tainted Sources: First Amendment Rights And Journalistic Wrongs, Robert M. O'Neil May 1996

Tainted Sources: First Amendment Rights And Journalistic Wrongs, Robert M. O'Neil

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

The issue of news organizations' potential liability for their newsgathering practices has garnered significant attention in several recent cases. Robert M. O'Neil discusses several such cases which have focused on the balance between the First Amendment interests at stake and the improper or possibly illegal manner in which the media obtained its information. The author concludes by suggesting principles to guide in balancing these interests


Tortious Interference: The Limits Of Common Law Liability For Newsgathering, Sandra S. Baron, Hilary Lane, David A. Schulz May 1996

Tortious Interference: The Limits Of Common Law Liability For Newsgathering, Sandra S. Baron, Hilary Lane, David A. Schulz

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Media lawyers have recently been confronted with a relatively new source of litigation: the tort of intentional interference with contractual relations, which arises out of confidentiality agreements. In this Article, the authors identify the elements of tortious interference with contracts and examine the key issues presented when this tort is applied to newsgathering. The authors then consider a potential defense based on the First Amendment. In light of the public and constitutional interests at stake, the authors conclude that the breach of a confidentiality agreement should not sustain a tortious interference claim when the press is involved in newsgathering activity.


Vanity And Vexation: Shifting The Focus To Media Conduct, Jane E. Kirtley May 1996

Vanity And Vexation: Shifting The Focus To Media Conduct, Jane E. Kirtley

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Lawsuits brought by corporations against news organizations during the last few years demonstrate that it is no longer sufficient for the press to get its facts straight. With some industries literally fighting for their lives, a new legal climate has encourage litigation that deflects bad publicity by shifting the focus away from the traditional issue of accuracy to a critical examination of the news media's newsgathering techniques. Concerns about the reaction of courts to unorthodox reporting methods may prompt news organizations to censor themselves, but the author argues that facing the threat of mega-verdicts or contempt citations should be regarded …