An Indiana judge has ruled that The Indianapolis Star must give a former Junior Achievement CEO names or other information that would help him to identify writers of online comments posted last year anonymously on the paper's website. The judge's order also applies to the Indianapolis Business Journal, according to this Star story today.
The rulings by Superior Court Judge S.K. Reid are the first time an Indiana judge has ruled on the issue of whether the state journalism shield law protects media outlets from being forced to disclose names, or other identifying information they hold, of anonymous posters on their websites, said Kevin Betz, an attorney for former CEO Jeffrey Miller, the Star says.
Dennis Ryerson, editor and vice president of the Star, wouldn’t comment on the judge’s ruling beyond saying: "We now are reviewing our legal options."
Earlier: Evidence suggests Wausau Daily Herald outed anonymous poster critical of government official. Plus: Corporate tells publishers to protect reader privacy.
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Dennis Ryerson, editor and vice president of the Star, wouldn’t comment on the judge’s ruling beyond saying: "We now are reviewing our legal options."
Earlier: Evidence suggests Wausau Daily Herald outed anonymous poster critical of government official. Plus: Corporate tells publishers to protect reader privacy.
For those of you wondering: I do not have access to ANY information about the identity of anonymous posters to this blog. I don't know who you are, nor do I want to.
ReplyDeleteBrits have it right:
ReplyDeleteCourt rules that newspaper does not have to identify commenters
Defamation attempt fails as high court rules that anonymous comments on the Daily Mail's website are little more than "pub talk"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/mar/01/sue-commenters-libel-daily-mail
Ohio? Huh?
ReplyDeleteOops. Had Ohio on my mind. I've fixed that.
ReplyDeleteI bet Gannett would luuuuuuuuvvvvvvv to force Jim to reveal some of the identities of the pesky posters on this site, especially the ever informative "My Boss" who usually seems to be dead on the money. Good thing Jim doesn't know the ID's, but could Gannett bring action against Blog Spot and force them to give up info such as e-mail addresses, names, rank, Gannett worker cog numbers? (Insert 1984 like scene here...is there a room 101 in the Crystal tower? maybe that is where the trolls are kept)
ReplyDeleteI wish there was an I am Spartacus moment here. If more employees at Gannett started posting what they knew here, there would be too many leaks for them to possibly plug, and we'd all have a clearer picture of the ditch our management has steered us into.
ReplyDelete