Category: Media

Criminal law, Justice, Media

Something About Natalie

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

It must have been that scene from Splendor in the Grass. You know the one where she is called to “stand and deliver” by the Nurse Ratchet-like school marm on William Wordsworth’s poem Ode: Intimations of Immortality. It’s an uncomfortable, vulnerable, and powerful bit of celluloid as the emotionally torn teenage beauty struggles with life and youth lost, and then distraught bursts into tears only to flee the classroom.  It seemed a requiem for the 60s, and the reason for the activism of its time. It’s a fair estimate of  Wood’s own life, as well.

Continue reading “Something About Natalie” →

International, Media, Politics

EU Bans Claim That Water Prevents Dehydration

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

After a three year investigation, European Union officials have concluded that there is no evidence to prove that water can prevent dehydration. Bottled water producers are now forbidden by law from making such a claim. The European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) refused to approve the statement that “regular consumption of significant amounts of water can reduce the risk of development of dehydration.” Critics have said: “This is stupidity writ large.”

The ridicule has been non-stop. But there are some important details being overlooked.

Continue reading “EU Bans Claim That Water Prevents Dehydration” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, International, Media

Credibility Gapp: China Cracks Down on “Fake Journalists” In Further Denying Freedom of Press and Speech

In the Orwellian world that is the People’s Republic of China, one has to often reverse the meaning of terms to understand their true meaning. That is the case again this week when China announced a new crackdown on journalists to “protect” the public from “fake journalists and news.” In modern Chinese, that means protecting the public from real journalists. The crackdown is being carried out by he General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP).
Continue reading “Credibility Gapp: China Cracks Down on “Fake Journalists” In Further Denying Freedom of Press and Speech” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, Media, Politics

Chicago Journalism Professor: Chicago Police Department Detained Him and Deleted Video of Arrest

EXCLUSIVE. Loyola University Professor Ralph Braseth in Chicago has shared with me a complaint alleging another incident of police ordering a citizen to delete videotape of an arrest taken in public. I have previously written about this worrisome trend. The difference is that Braseth is a journalism professor. The complaint raises some extremely serious allegations of censuring a journalist and violating core constitutional rights. If true, it is a telling retort to the taunting remarks of Judge Richard Posner recently about the “snooping” of citizens on police.
Continue reading “Chicago Journalism Professor: Chicago Police Department Detained Him and Deleted Video of Arrest” →

Academia, Criminal law, Justice, Media, Society

Down In the Valley I: Penn State – What Did They Know and When Did They Know it

Submitted By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Who Are Penn State?

That ultimate question uttered by Senator Howard Baker encapsulated the Watergate Era as Congress grappled with assessing culpability of President Richard Nixon, who was then at the zenith of his presidency. Now almost forty years later, the nation is again captured by a fall from grace as steep and as fast as Nixon’s. And again that question has to be asked of “America’s Football Coach.”

Continue reading “Down In the Valley I: Penn State – What Did They Know and When Did They Know it” →

Bizarre, International, Media

The Ultimate News Tip: Journalist Wins Award After Agreeing To Circumcision To Get Story

The journalist, Simon Eroro, really really deserves the award from News Limited for his story on Free West Papua militants. Crossing rivers and jungles was tough enough, but in order to get access he had to agree to the group’s cleansing ritual . . . a circumcision with a bamboo stick.
Continue reading “The Ultimate News Tip: Journalist Wins Award After Agreeing To Circumcision To Get Story” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, Justice, Media, Politics, Society

The Right of Citizens To Videotape Police

Below is my column today in The Los Angeles Times where I discuss the continuing trend of arrests of citizens videotaping police. We have followed many more cases but a couple are mentioned in the column. What is most disturbing is that prosecutors and police are continuing to fight court rulings upholding the right of citizens to videotape police.

Continue reading “The Right of Citizens To Videotape Police” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Free Speech, Media, Politics, Society

Federal Judge Grants Injunction of New Tobacco Labels

We have previously discussed the new labeling rules for cigarette packages and I have not hidden my criticism of the graphic images from both a legal and policy perspective. This afternoon, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon handed down a major decision granting an injunction of the rules — a move based on his belief that the cigarette makers are likely to succeed in blocking the new packaging rules.

Continue reading “Federal Judge Grants Injunction of New Tobacco Labels” →

Academia, Bizarre, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society

ABA Journal Under Fire For Coverage Of Survey Of Legal Secretaries

I often read ABA Journal as a great source of legal stories. The journal however has been the center of controversy this month after reporting on the results of a study on the preference of secretaries vis-a-vis male and female partners. The study by Professor Felice Batlan interviewed 142 secretaries at larger law firms and produced a surprising result: not a single secretary preferred female partners. When the ABA Journal reported that surprising fact, professors accused it of fostering gender stereotypes, misrepresenting the results of the study, and displaying a sexist view of the work. Some demanded a retraction and apology from the ABA Journal.
Continue reading “ABA Journal Under Fire For Coverage Of Survey Of Legal Secretaries” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Free Speech, Justice, Media, Politics, Society

A Decade of Misplaced Patriotism

Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty (rafflaw)-Guest Blogger

A milestone passed by most of us this past week.  It seems that the Patriot Act birthday cake added a 10th candle this week and there was no party!  The infamous Patriot Act turned 10 this week and a decade of attacks on our personal liberties went unnoticed by our Main Stream media.  You can probably remember that the act passed with little opposition in the House and with only 1 member of the Senate in opposition. Continue reading “A Decade of Misplaced Patriotism” →

Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law, Media, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Not So Happy Valley

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Happier Times: Sandusky (left) with Paterno

The reports from State College, Pa are shocking. Long-time assistant to iconic coach, Joe Paterno, charged with multiple counts of deviant sexual acts with at least eight minors — most under age 12. University administrators who did nothing despite horrific credible eyewitness accounts of  explicit sexual acts in locker rooms and showers. Disadvantaged kids taken advantage of by an authority figure who founded an organization ostensibly to help them, but apparently designed to fulfill his own aberrational desires.

Continue reading “Not So Happy Valley” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Richmond, VA Photographer Arrested For Trespass on Public Street

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Richmond, Va photographer, Ian Graham, must be wondering where he was this past Monday as he was arrested by local police for trespassing on a city street. Graham, who was photographing police arresting demonstrators in the Occupy Richmond protest, was told by police he was trespassing as he politely stood near a public crosswalk  recording the goings on with his camera. Police claim they told Graham he could take photos but only in the designated “media area,” which was, of course, far from the scene of the arrests.

Continue reading “Richmond, VA Photographer Arrested For Trespass on Public Street” →

Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion

Extremists Firebomb French Newspaper After Publication of Mohammad Cartoon

The French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, in Paris was firebombed this week by what are believed to be Muslim extremists for printing a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad in a four-page supplement with other cartoons as part of its “freedom to poke fun” series.
Continue reading “Extremists Firebomb French Newspaper After Publication of Mohammad Cartoon” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society

More Wrong Than Wright: Sheriff Calls For Citizens To Arm Themselves And Mete Out Their Own Justice

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright surprised many this week in calling a press conference to discuss an assault on a woman in one of the city parks. Wright used the opportunity to repeatedly call on all of the citizens to arm themselves and expressed frustration that someone with a weapon did not come along and take care of Walter Lance, 46, rather than have him dealt with by the justice system. Wright began his news conference by saying, “Our form of justice is not making it. . . . Carry a concealed weapon. That’ll fix it.”

Continue reading “More Wrong Than Wright: Sheriff Calls For Citizens To Arm Themselves And Mete Out Their Own Justice” →