Comm. 240
5/19/09
The First Amendment Handbook
Everyday, all over the country, journalists tread a thin line regarding the first amendment. Therefore, it
is very important for every journalist, including student journalists, to have a general understanding of the
laws upheld by the first amendment. The First Amendment Handbook does an excellent job at providing
general information on the rights of an individual that can help a journalist know the boundaries on
defamation, privacy laws, and things that are not commonly known, like surreptitious recordings and
access to public places. All of this and more is found in the handbook and serves as a support system for
all journalists.
is very important for every journalist, including student journalists, to have a general understanding of the
laws upheld by the first amendment. The First Amendment Handbook does an excellent job at providing
general information on the rights of an individual that can help a journalist know the boundaries on
defamation, privacy laws, and things that are not commonly known, like surreptitious recordings and
access to public places. All of this and more is found in the handbook and serves as a support system for
all journalists.
A journalist well versed in the instruction laid out in the First Amendment Handbook will be more
likely to avoid problems associated with libel. Libel is the written form of defamation towards an
individual. Any false information that can damage a person’s reputation is considered libel. For this
reason it is very important for every reporter to make sure that what they are saying in print and how they
say it is completely true.
Much like libel, another form of defamation is slander. Slander is the spoken form of defamation
towards another person’s character. Many television news reporters are guilty of slander when they fail to
check the facts on what they are reporting.
The First Amendment Handbook helps journalists understand invasion of privacy laws, which vary
from state to state. For example, California has the strictest privacy laws in the United States due to the
fact that there are many celebrities that live there and that the paparazzi love to write stories about them.
Because of this, it is very important that every journalist understand their individual state laws concerning
invasion of privacy.
The Handbook doesn't just cover general first amendment laws but also points out others that are more
unique to journalism. Some of these include surreptitious recordings, which limits the use of the such
devises as tape recorders or video camcorders during an interview with an individual. Much like privacy
laws, surreptitious recording laws differentiate between states so it is important that journalists be aware
of the specific laws applicable to their state.
Journalists will always need to understand what is public and open to everyone and what is private
and nonpublic. The First Amendment Handbook does an excellent job at expounding on the point that
many places—such as courthouses, jails, and city halls—may serve the public but are not considered
public property. Such nonpublic zones require reporters to attain special access to enter.
The First Amendment Handbook does a great job outlining the important rights individuals have and
how every journalist needs to be familiar with them in order to take the necessary precautions when doing
a report. If every reporter was able to understand all the aspects that the first amendment protects there
would be fewer lawsuits in America.
