And more too
A chill in the air
Journalists and media law experts this week are examining the Federal Communication Commission’s “guidance” that late-night and daytime talk shows carried on local stations are required to offer equal time to all political candidates vying for the same office.
Inside Radio explains the advisory.
Among the main questions is how (and whether) the policy will be enforced. In his Reliable Sources newsletter, CNN’s Brian Stelter said his colleague Liam Reilly spoke with a source at the FCC who said “nothing has changed” and that “once again here, the threat is the point.”
Similarly, Andrew Jay Schwartzman, a longtime public interest lawyer, told The New York Times’ Jim Rutenberg that the FCC appeared to be trying to induce a chilling effect.
But he also suggested that conservative talk radio might similarly be affected — will the FCC go after them too?
As Deadline’s Ted Johnson wrote: “That is potentially significant, given the proliferation of talk shows featuring personalities like Hugh Hewitt and Sean Hannity, interviewing various political figures including those for elective office.”
News In Focus
Headlines, resources and events aligned with API’s four areas of focus.
Civic Discourse & Democracy
>> Judge blocks government from searching data seized from Post reporter (The Washington Post)
A federal judge said government officials may not review electronic devices seized from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson while litigation is ongoing. U.S. Magistrate Judge William B. Porter issued his ruling after The Post demanded in a court filing that federal law enforcement officials return the devices — a phone, two laptops, a recorder, a portable hard drive and a Garmin watch.
- Related: RCFP urges court to order return of Washington Post reporter’s electronic devices (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press)
- Plus: The FBI has gained access to the Washington Post newsroom (Gizmodo)
- Also: Putting press freedom to the test (Lawfare)
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Culture & Inclusion
>> ‘My hands were really shaky’: high-school journalist documents ICE raids (The Guardian)
The presence of ICE agents in Minneapolis schools has increasingly affected young people, writes Rachel Leingang, including student journalist Lila Dominguez, who has written about the raids and called for ICE agents to leave the city.
- Related: I’ve covered police abuse for 20 years. What ICE is doing is different. (The New York Times)
- Plus: Judge rejects Justice Department’s initial attempt to bring charges against Don Lemon (CNN)
- Resource: How journalists can stay safe covering protests (Association of Health Care Journalists)
