Image by Gerd Altmann for Pixabay
How much do you really know about how the First Amendment applies to you as a journalist?
A Phoenix journalist whose beat is the First Amendment, and a veteran Arizona media law attorney gave a one-hour presentation Sept. 10 designed to help journalists understand more about how the amendment applies to newsgathering, where it protects them – and where it doesn’t – sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Valley of the Sun (Phoenix) chapter.
Reporter Taylor Seely of the Arizona Republic/azcentral.com and media lawyer Peter T. Limperis of the Tucson law firm of Miller, Pitt, Feldman and McAnally P.C. spoke via Zoom. Here’s the link and the passcode to get access. Please share it with your colleagues:
Passcode: Qj7qCqF&
The recording is also available here via the chapter’s SPJ Arizona YouTube channel:
Above, left: Peter Limperis. Photo courtesy Miller, Pitt, Feldman and McAnally P.C. Above, right: Taylor Seely. Photo courtesy Arizona Republic.
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Resources for journalists from the presentation
Valley of the Sun SPJ: https://phoenixspj.org/
Taylor Seely: https://www.azcentral.com/staff/2646153001/taylor-seely/
Peter Limperis: https://www.mpfmlaw.com/team/peter-limperis/
Libel/defamation
CBS’ Andy Rooney sued for saying a product “didn’t work”: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/04/15/Court-agrees-Rain-X-cant-sue-Andy-Rooney/8364671688000/
The time Oprah was sued by Big Beef: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BtgseXF8Lw
Actual malice practice guide: https://medialaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Actual-Malice-Practice-Guide-2024-2.pdf
Correcting the record: https://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2024/12/13/correcting-the-record-experts-weigh-in-on-ethical-news-corrections/
Corrections vs. clarifications: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/community/inside-the-globe/public-editor-the-difference-between-a-correction-and-a-clarification/article5249246/
Arizona Media Shield Law: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/02237.htm
Arizona Media Subpoena Law: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/02214.htm
Copyright 101: https://socialmedia.colostate.edu/copyright/
Fair use and social media: https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/fair-use-and-fair-dealing-in-social-media
Newsgathering torts: https://projourn.org/resources/legal-pitfalls-in-getting-the-story-newsgathering-torts
Reporter’s Field Guide: https://www.rcfp.org/wp-content/uploads/imported/RFG.pdf
Where are journalists allowed to go? https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/good-question-where-are-journalists-allowed-to-go/
Taylor Seely’s Fountain Hills “media table” story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2025/06/02/town-council-retaliates-against-fountain-hills-times-independent-newspaper/83924427007/
Responding to executive session secrecy: https://nefac.org/news/open-meeting-law-how-newsrooms-respond-to-executive-session-secrecy/
What can a journalist do if a government body regularly goes into unnecessary executive sessions? (Texas): https://tccjtsu.com/what-can-i-do-if-a-government-body-regularly-goes-into-unnecessary-executive-sessions/
Arizona Supreme Court Rule 122, recording devices in courtroom: https://govt.westlaw.com/azrules/Document/N9CE903C02AC411E3B1CAEC8AB5603A0E?transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29
Arizona Supreme Court and cameras in court: https://www.azcourts.gov/newsandinfo/Cameras-in-Court
RTDNA cameras in courts guide: https://courts.rtdna.org/
Arizona Public Records Law: https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=39
“Promptness” in obtaining public records
Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press: https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-sections/b-how-long-to-wait/#:~:text=Promptness.,RCW%2042.56.
How to make a public records request: https://www.foia.gov/how-to.html
Sample of FOIA request letters: https://www.nfoic.org/state-sample-foia-request-letters/
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Question: What are the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment?
Answer: They are the freedoms of speech, press, religion and the right to peaceful assembly and the right to petition the government.
SPJ: Phoenix, Arizona Chapter 