What Laws Should You Know as a Journalist?
"The False Claims Act, allows persons and entities with evidence of fraud against federal programs or contracts to sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the United States Government."
False Claims Act
Shield laws are statutes put in place to determine whether or not a journalist who has been ordered to court must reveal their sources. Currently, these vary state-by-state.
Shield Laws
"Under the program, eligible whistleblowers [...] are entitled to an award of between 10% and 30% of the monetary sanctions collected in actions brought by the SEC and related actions brought by other regulatory and law enforcement authorities."
Dodd-Frank Act
Espionage Act
Passed in 1917, just after World War II began, Congress created this statute to criminalize any interference with the U.S. military during a period of war. This statue has infamously been used against journalists and whistleblowers during press injunctions in the past in an attempt to stifle publication.
Patriot Act
The Patriot Act was the government's national security response following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It "gives sweeping search and surveillance to domestic law enforcement and foreign intelligence agencies and eliminates checks and balances that previously gave courts the opportunity to ensure that those powers were not abused."