ONA Issues

New! ONA members now receive priority attention from First Amendment Coalition (FAC) lawyers, thanks to a partnership between ONA and FAC. The next time you have a question about your legal rights as a journalist, check out FAC’s legal consultation service, the Legal Hotline, free of charge.

ONA and FAC are collaborating to make the Legal Hotline service available on a priority basis for ONA members to give journalists expert guidance and support in holding government accountable.

The Legal Hotline handles questions about freedom of speech, access to government records, attending court proceedings or meetings of government agencies and many more matters involving journalists and their legal tools and rights.

Learn more: ONA Members, Have a Question About Your Legal Rights? | Online News Association

(Source: journalists.org)

RTDNA has launched a revised Cameras in the Courts State By State Guide to help journalists understand current court rules and procedures.

Nearly every state in the union has provisions to allow the media to use video cameras and microphones in courtrooms in some circumstances. In some, cameras are a routine sight at the trial court level. In others, on the state’s appellate courts or supreme court have cameras, operated by the courts themselves. For the members of the media, understanding the rules and procedures in your state is necessary to provide the best and most complete coverage of your government’s judicial branch in action. 

(Source: rtdna.org)

The Truth About Covering Obama - POLITICO Magazine

 POLITICO surveyed nearly 70 journalists about covering the White House. Lots to dig into here. 

(Source: politico.com)

What to Say When the Police Tell You to Stop Filming Them - The Atlantic

First of all, they shouldn’t ask.
“As a basic principle, we can’t tell you to stop recording,” says Delroy Burton, chairman of D.C.’s metropolitan police union and a 21-year veteran on the force. “If you’re standing across the street videotaping, and I’m in a public place, carrying out my public functions, [then] I’m subject to recording, and there’s nothing legally the police officer can do to stop you from recording.”

(Source: The Atlantic)

Vox got no threats for posting Charlie Hebdo cartoons, dozens for covering Islamophobia