Limiting Legal Risk

The Knight Citizen News Network [1] provides a handy, wallet-sized (well, not really) set of rules by which any decent journalist should abide -- if for no other reason that doing so will lessen the chances you'll be hauled into court.

Since the rules are spiffed up in a nifty Flash presentation that you really do have to see [1] to appreciate we do not breach fair use by re-printing all of the rules here.

And, besides, you should already know these by heart already anyway:

1. Check your facts
2. Avoid virtual vendettas
3. Obey the law
4. Weigh promises
5. Reveal secrets selectively
6. Consider what you copy
7. Learn recording limits
8. Don't abuse anonymity
9. Shun conflicts of interest
10. Seek legal advice

Now, for two important bits of housekeeping.

One rule that isn't here: give credit where credit is due. We heard about this presentation via Buzz Machine [2], so thanks to Jeff Jarvis.

And, in the interest in full disclosure, as you see at the bottom of every page: like the Knight Citizen News Network, CCJ is funded by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. [3]