• J-Source

    Bail hearings, publication bans, burning sources and other lessons for journalists

    A real-life case involving a publication ban, a murder suspect set free and the discovery of information that could pit neighbour against neighbor, risk important police sources and potentially leave one journalist open to charges of interfering with an undercover police investigation provides important lessons for journalists. 

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    Why journalists should practise safe data hygiene

    In this Q&A with J-Source, Steve Doig, the Knight Chair in Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University, explains why practising “safe data hygiene” is important for journalists, and how practising it will help protect them and their sources from government surveillance.

  • J-Source

    Journalist’s lawyer waits on John Furlong to agree to lawsuit court date

    The lawyer for the journalist John Furlong is suing for defamation said he has reserved dates for a British Columbia Supreme Court trial in early 2015 and is waiting for Furlong to agree. Bryan Baynham told The Tyee on Nov. 13 that Furlong's lawyer, John Hunter, has not yet asked for court dates or scheduled examination for discovery…

  • J-Source

    Know the rules about publication ban before covering the courts

    Publication ban is an area of the law that most journalists will have to deal with at some time in their careers. Unlike other areas of law, the approach by the courts, as well as the law itself, is not only broad in its reach, but is fairly well defined. What follows is a basic…

  • J-Source

    Journalists who trespass: Case law is murky on both physical and digital trespass

    There is no universal approach to the issue of trespass, which means journalists need to familiarize themselves with the applicable federal, provincial and territorial statutes, and even municipal bylaws on occasion. As law editor Thomas Rose explains, journalists would also be wise to brush up on the idea of digital trespass.  

  • J-Source

    Ontario urged to pass proposed anti-SLAPP law

    SLAPP suits can be a hindrance to news media and publishers as well as to activist groups expressing concern about environmental, political or other issues. And individuals and groups can face SLAPP suits as a result of contacting the news media.