TAB Publishes Updated Newsroom Legal Guide
posted on 8.22.2022TAB’s updated Newsroom Legal Guide is now available!
Paul Watler and Stacy Allen, attorneys with TAB’s longtime state counsel, Jackson Walker LLP, led a team of the firm’s lawyers in writing the new legal guide which explores in detail several laws TAB has championed at the Texas Legislature in the past two decades including:
- Texas Free Flow of Information Act (reporter shield law)
- Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), the Anti-SLAPP litigation law
- Uniform Corrections/Retractions Statute
- Libel law regarding reporting of third-party allegations
- Texas Public Information Act (TPIA)
- Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA)
The updated guide also analyzes the impact Texas’ libel and privacy laws have on newsgathering.
Other chapters review Texas law as it impacts specific types of news coverage including:
- trial coverage and reporting on the Texas court system
- crime and law enforcement reporting
- education and school coverage issues
- reporting on health care issues and specific patients
- investigative reporting
- political reporting and legislative coverage
The guide also examines new areas of concern for Texas newsrooms such as the legal issues surrounding the use of social media and station websites for newsgathering and reporting, utilizing drones to capture images, as well as newer FCC regulations that could impact news coverage.
To download the TAB Newsroom Legal Guide, look for the “Member Services” tab on the TAB main page and once there, station staff will need to login to view the “Legal Guides/Hotline” page.
- Forgot your password? Reset it here.
- Don't have an account? Create one now!
Questions on accessing the Members Services sections of www.tab.org? Contact TAB or call (512) 322-9944.
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