SPJ NORCAL TO HOST SHIELD LAW TRAINING JUNE 2 AT 11:30 A.M., FEATURING LEGAL EXPERTS AND BUZZFEED REPORTER RYAN MAC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
Join SPJ NorCal for a virtual workshop on journalist shield law protections with a panel of legal experts and Ryan Mac, the San Francisco-based BuzzFeed reporter who faced subpoenas in a federal defamation suit involving Elon Musk.
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KhGA6ecaS7Ooa0jdjsD6GA
Ryan Mac’s case followed another challenge to shield law protections in our region last year, when the San Francisco police raided the house of San Francisco freelancer Bryan Carmody while executing search warrants, which SPJ NorCal and allies successfully fought to unseal and quash.
Our panel will be talking about the state and federal laws protecting journalists, our notebooks, and our hard drives. We will learn what happens when the government or an individual tries to unmask an anonymous source or force the disclosure of unpublished reporting in the courts. Speakers will also discuss the free resources available for freelancers and others who face the threat of a subpoena.
When: Tuesday, June 2 from 11:30 AM to 1 PM
Where: Zoom webinar, registration link above
Presenters:
Aaron Field, media attorney, Cannata O’Toole Fickes & Olson, who fought on behalf of SPJ NorCal and other media organizations to unseal the unlawful search warrants for a San Francisco freelancer’s home.
Victoria Baranetsky, general counsel, Center for Investigative Reporting;
Ryan Mac, senior technology reporter, BuzzFeed, who was subject to subpoenas as part of a federal defamation lawsuit involving Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Moderated by Christine Peek and Lauren Smiley, co-chairs of the Freedom of Information Committee of SPJ NorCal. We are cohosting with First Amendment Coalition.
The video will be made publicly available afterward.
CONTACT: spjnorcalfoi@gmail.com
