To be most effective, journalists must be familiar with all the legal tools at their disposal - the laws and court rulings which protect the public's right to know and reporters' access to information, as well as the legal guidelines within which a free and responsible press must function.
The Seattle Times has had this Newsroom Legal Guidebook prepared to help its editors and reporters do the best jobs they can within the limits of the law. We believe it also will be useful to many of our colleagues, especially those in Washington state, and to judges and lawyers.
We emphasize that this publication is a guidebook, not a law book. It does not change the customary need to consult with an editor or a lawyer in many circumstances.
The guidebook was prepared by lawyers of Davis Wright Tremaine, led by P. Cameron DeVore, Marshall J. Nelson, and Michael J. Killeen. Their work was coordinated with several Seattle Times editors, led by Alex MacLeod, managing editor, and Pat Foote, assistant managing editor/features.
We hope you find it
useful.
Michael R. Fancher
Vice President and
Executive Editor
The Seattle Times
April 1996