Q: Legality of filming illegal activities as a reporter?
Hi my girlfriend and I plan on starting an investigative journalism based YouTube account. We want to shoot a video called, “A look into the black market cannabis scene.” For this video we plan to interview black market cannabis dealers who work with cartels along with filming their operation. My question is is it legal for my girlfriend and I to be filming illegal crime operations as reporters and will the people we are interviewing be protected?
Edit: I appreciate the quick answer that we will be safe, I forgot to add that we will be hiding the identities of our interviewees with masks and we will be changing their voices, can the police force us to give up the identities of the people we are interviewing?
A: You are safe. They are definitely not!
1 user found this answer helpful
A:
more info needed.
if what they are doing is illegal they would be foolish to allow you to film.........and I doubt that it would be safe for you.............you may see something you were not supposed to see. and.........................................
A: As long as you don't aid, abet, facilitate, or encourage criminal conduct you commit no crime by your investigative reporting, and the 1st Amendment (freedom of the press) offers some protection against being forced to reveal information or confidential sources in writing stories that deal with matters of public importance.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
