My colleague at CUNY, Prof. Geanne Rosenberg, has just put up an online course for bloggers and media practitioners of any stripe with the 10 things you need to know to stay out of court.
It’s quick, clear, easy, and fun with videos and quizzes. This was produced with experts from the Berkman Center at Harvard and the Media Law Research Center. The course is funded by the Knight Foundation and its Knight Citizens News Network.
The 10 rules to blog by:
1. Check your facts.
2. Avoid virtual vendettas.
3. Obey the law.
4. Weigh promises.
5. Reveal secrets selectively.
6. Consider what you copy.
7. Learn recording limits.
8. Don’t abuse anonymity.
9. Shun conflicts of interest.
10. Seek legal advice.
The press release says:
Each rule in the educational module is aimed at helping citizen journalists avoid lawsuits; each rule serves as an entry point for more in-depth material. While other educational materials on online publication are organized by legal doctrines such as libel, privacy, laws of access, and intellectual property law, the “Top Ten Rules” are organized around practical guidelines for safer and more effective journalistic conduct.The module aims to educate citizen journalists about legal hotspots, help them distinguish between genuine legal problems and intimidation tactics, learn simple practical steps to reduce legal risk, find additional resources and information, understand rights related to news gathering, and recognize when to reach out for a lawyer’s advice.
I’m included in the credits but this is all Prof. Rosenberg — and good thing, since I don’t even play a lawyer on TV. All I did was say that I wish bloggers and citizen journalists had this kind of help and there was Knight to fund it and Geanne to write it. So here is a gift to bloggers from them and CUNY.
But wait, there’s more: For a graduate-level course with lots of in-depth details, the amazing Berkman is, at the same time, putting online a legal guide with information on such topics as setting up a publishing business.
Thanks Jeff.
Now if only I had that information yesterday. It is funny that you came out with this today. Just yesterday I had to of had two different conversations about Lawsuits and bloggers. Of course we’re following the real estate blogger that’s been fired and being sued for 25 million.
[...] know what is right and wrong. How can you protect yourself against legal risk? Jeff Jarvis mentions ten rules to limiting legal risks on his buzz machine. These simple and well put ten rules will not only help [...]
I have a neat idea: what if “professional” journalists were required to follow these guidelines? It could revolutionize the MSM. I think every one of us could with very little trouble find several excellent recent examples of journalists having ignored each of the professor’s warnings.
Number 11: Don’t crab about even the most benign government institutions. They log onto your site and comb through it for weeks.
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[...] tip to Jeff Jarvis and [...]
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If you are going to complain about the government, just make sure that you haven’t written some idiotic post where you admit that you have broken the law in some way that a prosecutor might find interesting. Aside from that, all they will get out of your site is another means to avoid being productive.
[...] 5, 2008 · No Comments Jeff Jarvis points to this great resource for staying out legal trouble while blogging. Here are the 10 ten things you [...]
[...] This is something like what I meant: For bloggers: A stay-out-of-jail card [...]
So how come you are dead silence about your Iranian friend who is taken to court for $2 million over his blog? Wouldn’t you need the bloggers’ solidarity if the same thing ever happened to you?
[...] tussen blogger Dave Winer en de Times (die toch weer anders uitpakt dan we allemaal dachten). Tien tips voor Amerikaanse bloggers om uit handen van justitie te [...]
Junkfood Science recently wrote a piece specifically on copyright issues for young bloggers that might also be of help:
http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/02/massive-case-of-copyright-violations.html
Medical blogging is a specific legal arena that there is a great need for more information and legal assistance.
[...] For bloggers: A stay-out-of-jail card. [...]
[...] am on February 13, 2008 | # | Tags: bloggers, guidelines For bloggers: A stay-out-of-jail card [...]
[...] On how to stay out of court (Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine, Feb. 1). [...]
This was a very interesting read. Just getting into blogging, I didnt think it could be so risky/dangerous. I guess if you are writing about very controversial stuff you have to CYA. Great read. I’ll have to bookmark that article. This definitely sounds like an interesting course.