I have been working hard gearing up for a surf vacation (different than a surf trip for those in the know) and haven’t posted much lately, but here are some of the most captivating things I read and listened to this long weekend that may be of interest.
- James Hamilton, “A Matter of Principle: Vince Foster and the Attorney-Client Privilege.” A September 2006 lecture by the lawyer who successfully argued the Swidler Berlin v. United States case (on posthumous solicitor-client privilege) to the United States Supreme Court. I was drawn to it for its promise of something on the substance of solicitor-client privilege but found it most fascinating for its discussion of litigation tactics. (Yale Law School)
- Stephanie Rosenbloom, “The Professor as Open Book.” This is about faculty members who use Facebook and other Web 2.0 applications. As I’ve expressed before, I’m interested in the idea that Web 2.0 can have a positive humanizing effect on professional relationships. (New York Times)
- Richard Perez-Pena, “With Order to Name Sources, Judge is Casting a Wide Net.” About a United States federal judge’s order against reporter Tony Locy for failing to name her confidential source. The order, which involves significant daily fines and a proviso that she pay them herself, is unprecedented. (New York Times)
- Bob Cauthorn, “The Changing Rule of Journalism.” This is a few years old, but was a find for me. Mr. Cauthorn is the former head of the San Francisco Chronicle’s new media division and the more recent founder of a new “social news” site called City Tools. He has some very harsh words for reporters and editors in this summer 2005 speech, blaming the newsroom (not the Internet) for a mainstream media malaise. He says, “What were talking bout is newspapers being so fundamentally reduced in their ability to do business that they don’t have the cultural heft that they once had… that they don’t matter as much as they should.” Apparently this speech caused a stir at the time. No kidding, but very engaging. (UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism)
My recent interest in the media and freedom of the press is about building an information and privacy practice with a more hefty identity and knowledge base (to steal Cauthorne’s good word). It has become clear to me that gaining a deeper understanding of the role of the press under the Charter is key to fully understanding the “macro” information flows that are structured by our public law – information flowing to and from government, to and from law enforcement and into and out of the courts. I’ve done some energizing and englightening self-study as of late and hope you have enjoyed sharing in it!
See ya!
All About Information 