The Media Law Resource Center Institute and the National Press Club Journalism Institute is holding this event to cover practical advice for journalists to stay clear of costly libel and privacy suits, navigate the reporter source relationship, avoid copyright traps, learn about digital law and understand insurance coverage options.
Top media lawyers are volunteering to provide the legal instruction, and editors and writers from the Washington Post, USA Today, CNN, WJLA-TV and NPR will be there for a roundtable discussion to share their tips and strategies on career paths and story pitches. The webpage is here and the Facebook event page is here. It’s $20 for the day, and includes breakfast and lunch.
The workshop is open to freelancers, bloggers, reporters, photographers, editors in print, digital or video spaces, and podcasters.
Panels
How Journalists Get Into Trouble: Most of the legal issues journalists face in creating content are fairly predictable. We’ll give practical advice on staying within bounds on libel, privacy and copyright, discuss best practices for avoiding litigation and what to do if faced with it.
Newsgathering: A discussion of what you are and are not allowed to do in the course of newsgathering. We’ll discuss hidden cameras, lying to obtain information, trespass, contracts with sources, and more.
Your Relationship with Sources and Understanding the Reporters’ Privilege: How to forge deals with sources, minimize risk, address ethical concerns and your obligations to editors and publishers. What are the pros and cons of using confidential sources? Can you be forced to reveal your sources? Will you be supported by your publisher or will you be in conflict?
Digital Law: What are the legal differences, if any, between the old world of print and the new digital environment?
Protecting Yourself: Insurance and Lawyers: What coverage options are out there? If you get into legal trouble, how to find an attorney and what to look for?
Editorial Roundtable: Freewheeling discussion and Q&A on career choices, pitching stories, finding jobs, and the ups and downs of the journalistic life. Featuring journalists from USA TODAY, CNN, and WJLA-TV.