The CalAware guide to journalism law in California

By Terry Francke

Subjects: Law and legislation, Mass media, Press law, Journalism

Description: This comprehensive Guide to all law relevant to journalism in California covers both the rights of access to people, places and information afforded reporters and photojournalists as well as the protection for news accounts, editorial opinions and art, and post-publication encounters with legal challenges. Issues addressed in the guide include access to government meetings and records, court proceedings and judicial records at both the local and federal levels; cameras and recording equipment in the courtroom; information on hospital patients under HIPAA; avoiding liability for trespass, intrusion, secret eavesdropping and recording; California's unique paparazzi laws; avoiding libel, slander and invasion of privacy; and protection from subpoenas and pretrial discovery under California and federal law. Also provided in an appendix are detachable forms and statements including requests for public records from government agencies and courts, a template for a written demand for correction of a violation of the open meeting law, a caution against an impending unlawful police search for constitutionally protected material, and a statement to the court protesting exclusion from a legal proceeding. -- from Amazon.com.