ARCHIVE: From the PNA Legal Hotline

Privacy Concerns

• November 8, 2007
  Our newspaper’s Web site allows readers to post comments on message boards. Occasionally, these comments are negative, offensive or even potentially defamatory. Does the newspaper face liability for defamatory content posted online by third parties? Does the newspaper have a legal duty to police its Web site’s message boards?
• October 11, 2007
  There was an accident involving a construction worker on a state highway. One of our photographers was taking a picture of the accident scene when a firefighter told him to keep away and “have some decency, the guy is hurt.” The firefighter complained to a state police officer on the scene who then threatened to arrest our photographer. The photographer left the state highway as instructed and got permission to photograph from an adjacent property owner. Was the police officer correct in ordering the photographer to leave the public road?
• January 13, 2006
  Does the PNA have any guidance on HIPAA and its requirements?
• May 7, 2004
  Do I need to get a signed release before I can publish a photograph in the newspaper?