MMC 4200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Misdemeanor, Public Property, Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act

• School: University of Florida
• Department: Mass Media Communication
• Course: MMC 4200
• Professor: Chance Sandra

Document Summary

First amendment does not guarantee a right to obtain informaion. It protects the media"s right to publish informaion about public issues, but not the right to gather this informaion. Journalists have no greater rights of access to informaion than anyone else. First amendment guarantees access to courts, but not to prisons (see pell vs. procunier) Laws governing access to government meeings and records are found in statutes. If the informaion is held by state or local government, state laws apply. If the informaion is held by the federal government, federal laws apply. Requires agencies to make records available for inspecion and copying unless the records fall into one of nine exempions where public interest might outweigh disclosure. Applies to execuive branch not white house, congress or federal courts. Protects informaion that could damage the naional defense and foreign policy. Execuive branch has the most discreion to withhold info. Personnel, medical and similar files: exempion 6.