Category: Media

Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Religion, Society

Shock Video: Journalist Films Taliban Execution of Two Women for Prostitution

Afghan journalist Rahmatullah Naikzad has released a videotape of the kidnapping and execution of two women, shown below, for their alleged involvement in a prostitution ring. The video is graphic and the viewer can hear that at least one woman screaming. It is another example of the barbarism still carried out by the Taliban under Sharia law. It is also more evidence of the return of the Taliban in a surge of its own in Afghanistan.

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Justice, Media, Society

Iranian Photographer and Protester Who Appeared in Famous Photo Escapes Iran After Years of Torture

When Ahmad Batebi appeared on the cover of the Economist nine year ago, the world was struck by the image of his holding up a shirt covered in the blood of another protester. The religious fanatics in Iran responded by arresting Batebi and torturing him. He was sentenced to death and then given a commuted sentence of 15 years. He recently escaped Iran to Iraq and is now in the United States.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Media

Former Reporter and Talk Show Host Guilty of Murdering Wife with Antifreeze

In Massachusetts, former radio reporter and talk how host on KLIK-AM, James Keown has been found guilty of killing his wife, Julie Keown, with antifreeze in her Gatorade. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder — purportedly committed for Julie’s $250,000 life insurance policy.

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Media, Society, Torts

NBC Settles Dateline Predator Lawsuit Over Prosecutor’s Death

After a stinging opinion by U.S. District Judge Denny Chin in February, NBC has thrown in the towel on its defense of “Dateline NBC: To Catch A Predator” in the suicide of a former prosecutor. Louis William Conradt Jr. shot himself after the program accused him of engaging in sexually explicit chats with an adult posing as a child. The program then allegedly pushed for his arrest when he failed to show up at a sting operation.
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Columns, Media, Society, Torts

Talk Show Torts

In light of this week’s settlement in the NBC Dateline case, this past column on talk show liability may be of some interest. From cop shows to talk shows, reality television can suddenly throw average citizens into highly stressful or embarrassing situations. In the recent Dateline case, such actions were alleged as the cause of the suicide of a prosecutor who was accused of sexually explicit communications with an adult posing as a child in a chat room.

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Media, Society

Curious Testament: Employee Fired After Breaking Story of Russert’s Death on Wikipedia

Many would find it a bit of a curious testament to the late Tim Russert that a junior employee who broke the story of his death was fired for updating Russert’s Wikipedia site. When Russert died on June 13th, the first public word appeared on Wikipedia and NBC officials were irate — since they were still trying to reach family and control the story for their own coverage.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Society

It’s a Wrap: Television General Manager Resigns After Guilty Plea

Randi Goldklank, 40, the general manager of WHDH-TV (NBC), has resigned her position in Boston after pleading disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The arrest at Logan International Airport was the obvious result of drinking and the plea means that Goldklank will not face assault and battery charges.

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Academia, Constitutional Law, Media, Society

Censorship 101: High School Shuts Down Student Newspaper Over Flag-Burning Photograph

The steady decline of student rights and free speech continues with another high school cracking down on free speech. In Redding, California, Shasta High School’s student newspaper Shasta High Volcano will be shutdown because administrators did not like a photograph of a flag-burning student.
Shasta High School Principal Milan Woollard appears to believe that conformity and censorship are important components to teach new citizens.

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Courts, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society

California Blogger Arrested for Saying that Singapore Judge is “Prostituting Herself”

In a serious attack on both free speech and free press, the Singapore government has arrested a California blogger (and U.S. citizen) after Gopalan Nair, 58, criticized Justice Belinda Ang Saw Ean. Nair is a former Singapore lawyer who is now charged with insulting a public servant and has already spent a year in jail. He could be faced with one year in prison.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Society, Torts

CNN Personality Arrested in New York in Allegedly Bizarre Circumstances

It is not clear whether this will be more significant as a criminal or a defamation claim. CNN personality Richard Quest was arrested on April 18th. Various news organizations reported that he was found with a small bag of methamphetamine. Bad, but not particularly interesting. However, the New York Post has alleged that Quest was also caught with a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals, and a sex toy in his boot. A bit of a difference and one that could lead to some interesting litigation if found to be untrue or misleading. Continue reading “CNN Personality Arrested in New York in Allegedly Bizarre Circumstances” →