TV station must turn over tape in reporter's obstruction trial

Article Abstract:

The Idaho Supreme Court ruled in Idaho v. KMVT that the First Amendment did not protect a television station that had videotaped footage of a car accident scene. The footage included outtakes of a newspaper reporter refusing to keep away from the scene. In that reporter's prosecution for obstruction, the state requested the videotape and the court ordered the tape released. The Supreme Court found that the videotape was not covered by the qualified reporter's privilege because no confidential sources were involved and because ordering its release would not chill newsgathering.

Idaho

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Reporter sent to jail, fined $500 for contempt; federal judge orders release pending appeal after two weeks

Article Abstract:

A federal district court in Miami has agreed to hear Miami Herald reporter David Kidwell's appeal of a state circuit court's contempt order against him for refusing to testify about an interview he had with a murder defendant. The trial court denied Kidwell any protection because the source was not confidential and because Florida has no shield law. In his emergency habeas corpus petition, Kidwell argued that a federal First Amendment privilege does apply and that the prosecution failed to demonstrate that his testimony was highly relevant and necessary to the proceedings.

Florida, Kidwell, David

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Should reporters testify about published stories?

Article Abstract:

Journalists' assert that testifying in cases that they have covered compromises journalistic ethics by impairing objectivity, but courts are increasingly requiring journalists to testify or face contempt proceedings. Reporter David Kidwell was sentenced to 70 days for refusing to testify about the interviews he engaged in with murder defendant John Zile. The court might have been more receptive to Kidwell's stance if he had been protecting a confidential source, but compelling his testimony will impair journalists' ability to inform the public.

Editorial

Similar abstracts:

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