No neutral reportage privilege in Pennsylvania, Supreme Court rules 
In an extremely disappointing decision dated October 20, 2004, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that there is no neutral reportage privilege in Pennsylvania. The neutral reportage privilege, in states where it has been applied, can protect the media from liability for publishing accusations that one prominent person or public official has made against another outside of an official record or proceeding. In order for the privilege to apply, the media must report the accusations as a neutral reporter, and cannot “concur in” or endorse the accusations.

The ruling is likely to have serious consequences for Pennsylvania newspapers. It makes it clear that the media enjoys no special protection when reporting allegations made by one public figure against another when the allegations are: 1) made outside of an official record or proceeding; and 2) when the media knows that the accusations are false or has serious doubts about their truthfulness. 

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Buy a Raffle Ticket to Benefit the PNA Foundation, Win a Trip to St. Martin!
Looking for some fun in the sun? Buy a raffle ticket benefiting the PNA Foundation and you could win luxury hotel accommodations at the elegant Esmeralda Resort in St. Martin during the Winter Management Seminar in February. That's a $3,000 value. Tickets are $100, and only 100 tickets are sold. You'll have a 1-in-20 chance to win great prizes. And you'll be helping the newspaper industry. Money raised through the raffle helps to support the many activities of the Foundation -- including training, outreach to youth, the minority job fair and contests recognizing excellence. Even if you can't make the auction you have a chance to participate. Just email Tracy Metz at tracym@pa-news.org. 

For more information on the PNA Foundation Auction, visit our web site.

Pennsylvania endorsement round-up
During the next weeks as the election approaches, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association will be collecting and publishing editorials endorsing presidential candidates.

A web page will list the newspapers endorsing each candidate and will include links to the editorials.

To ensure that the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association includes your editorial, send it to mikes@pa-news.org with the subject "Endorsement."

See what papers have already published endorsements.

Veteran journalist Larry Holeva has been appointed managing editor of The Citizens' Voice, Publisher W. Scott Lynett announced Wednesday. 
Holeva, a 21-year newsman who spent the last four years as assistant managing editor of The Scranton Times-Tribune, will succeed the retiring Paul Golias on Nov. 26. "Larry Holeva's experience as a reporter, copy editor, designer and assistant managing editor - combined with his natural leadership ability - make him a great addition to The Citizens' Voice newsroom," Lynett said. 

Jim Gittens, a 25-year veteran at The Citizens' Voice, will become an assistant managing editor. He previously served as editorial page editor and city editor. "It is my goal to come in and build on the successes The Citizens' Voice has had," said Holeva, 39, of Dickson City. "I want to reinforce the principles of solid journalism, which are to be fair, to be balanced and to be accurate in our coverage."

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From the Hotline:  A candidate for political office recently contacted our newsroom with a complaint that we carried too many stories about his competitor. He then told us that there was a federal law that required 'equal time' for all candidates. Is this true?
PNA Media Law Counsel Teri Henning explains the requirements that apply in different circumstances.

Have you submitted your directory form?
The deadline has come and gone to return membership update forms for the 2005 Pennsylvania Newspaper Directory. For those of you who have not sent them back, we need you to do so immediately. If we do not receive your directory form we will assume that all the information is correct and it will be printed in the new 2005 Directory. 

PNA needs these forms to calculate members' dues for the next year. If this information is not provided, PNA will assess your dues increase -- up to 5 percent. If you need us to fax or mail you a copy of your directory form, contact Luann Smith at 717-703-3075 or email luanns@pa-news.org. Thanks for all your assistance!

Headlines & Deadlines will not be published October 29
Headlines & Deadlines will resume publication on November 5, 2004