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Complete Defenses
The Freedom of Information Act

Journalist 3 & 2 - Introduction to Journalism and other reporting practices
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needs of a newspaper publisher whose product is seen by large numbers of people. LACK OF DEFAMATION.— The lack of defama- tion defense is used when a publisher believes that no one has been defamed; and therefore, if it can be proved, there is no basis for a libel suit. CONSENT.—  Consent, as a libel defense, is used by  a  publisher  when  it  can  be  shown  that  the  person claiming libel previously consented to the statement that is now being challenged. . STATUTE   OF   LIMITATIONS.—   Statute   of limitations, as a complete defense against libel, means that a libel action was not brought within a maximum period of time as specified bylaw. The time limit varies from  one  year  from  the  date  of  publication,  in  some states,  to  as  many  as  three  years  in  others.  Beyond whatever deadline is established, no suit maybe filed. THE PRIVACY ACT LEARNING   OBJECTIVE:   Identify   the   basic provisions of the Privacy Act. All   Navy   journalists   must   have   a   working knowledge of the Privacy Act (PA) of 1974. The PA is an enclosure to the Department of the Navy Privacy Act (PA) Program, SECNAVINST 5211.5 series. PRIMARY  FEATURES Under  the  PA,  government  agencies  may  collect, store,  disclose,  account  for  and  amend  required  personal information   on   military   and   civilian   government employees.   Additionally,   individuals   may   request access  to  information  about  themselves.  In  the  Navy, personal  information  may  be  collected  and  stored  in roughly 200 PA record systems. An example of such a system  is  the  Navy  Civilian  Personnel  Data  System (NCPDS). The  premise  of  the  PA  is  simple.  Everyone  has  a constitutional  right  to  privacy.  People  do  not  waive  that right simply because they are in the military or work for the  government.  Therefore,  when  you  write  a  story about a person, there are a limited number of facts that may be released without the permission of that person. RELEASABLE  INFORMATION  — MILITARY In the case of a military person, the following facts may be released: l * * l l l l l a l l l Name Rank Date of rank Gross salary Present  and  past  duty  assignments  (subject  to limitations addressed in SECNAVINST 5211.5 series) Future  assignments  that  are  officially  established (subject  to  limitations  addressed  in  SECNAV- INST  5211.5  series) Office or duty telephone numbers Source of commission Promotion sequence number Awards  and  decorations Attendance at professional and military schools (major area of study, school, year of education and degree) Duty status at any given time RELEASABLE  INFORMATION  — CIVILIAN When   releasing   information   about   government civilian employees, you may include the following facts without approval from the individuals concerned: l  Name Q  Grade  or  position l  Date  of  grade l  Gross  salary . Present and past assignments . Future assignments, if officially established l  Office  telephone  number The  point  for  you  to  remember  is  that,  without  a compelling reason that is usually in connection with the public   concern,   a   person’s   privacy   should   not   be violated. For you to pry into an individual’s home life in connection with a news story is inexcusable unless there is some clear public need for the information. On the other hand a person cannot claim the right of privacy if  an  important  news  event  has  placed  an  individual, willingly or unwillingly, in public view. Even so, this 10-7







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