KCNN: Rule 3 Above the Law Mini-Essay

Cartoon by Mark Anderson.

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.

Disclaimer and Contact

This module is based on laws in the United States. Please note that even within the United States, laws from jurisdiction to jurisdiction vary considerably and laws and their interpretation are subject to change. Information is offered for educational purposes. Do not rely on this module or any of its related content or communications as a substitute for the advice of a qualified attorney. No attorney-client relationship is intended or created by communications pertaining to this site or its related content, interactive features, blogs or e-mail.

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• Facebook and Legal Risk
• Book Reviews and Legal Risk
• The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and the Children’s Internet Protection Act
• Video Links and Copyright Concerns
• Proposed Federal Shield Law’s Potential Impact on Citizen Journalists
• How Privacy Laws Pertain to Information Available on the Internet
• Guide To Takedown Notices And The DMCA’s Safe Harbor

Key

To return to the home page from anywhere in the module, click on "Top Ten Rules For Limiting Legal Risk" on the top left corner of the page.

To jump to any particular rule from any module page, go to the navigation box on the left side of the page and click on the rule of your choice.

Rule 3 Above the Law Mini-Essay

150 words or less. You are a blogger and you live in a small city and have noticed that three children in your community have inexplicably been diagnosed with leukemia this past fall. You know a staff scientist at Acme Manufacturing, the leading employer in your metropolitan area, and you call her. She tells you her company is dumping toxic chemicals into a stream adjacent to Acme’s factory. The stream feeds into a swimming hole used by many local families. She says you can observe and photograph the dumping yourself, and get samples of what’s being deposited into the stream, just by climbing over the company fence. She also has company documents in the company’s electronic database and is willing to give you the employees-only password. In order to collect information for this story, what wouldn’t you do, what would you do, and what questions would you have about local, state and federal laws when it comes to legal risk related to your newsgathering?

On to Rule 4 or return to Rule 3.

Disclaimer and Contact

Key

Rule 3 Above the Law Mini-Essay

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