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Clay Calvert Comments on CBS Corp. Controversial Subpoena to PR Firm

Clay Calvert, director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, was quoted in “CBS Corp. Subpoenas PR Firm’s Contacts with Journalists in Ongoing Legal Dispute” published on CBSNEWS.com on Aug. 28.

The article focuses on an ongoing legal battle between CBS and its largest shareholder, National Amusements Inc. (NAI). NAI is seeking to merge CBS and Viacom and CBS is fighting the proposed merger.

Clay_Calvert
Clay Calvert

The subpoena, issued to Boston-based Cone Communications, seeks communications between Cone and any reporters, journalists or other members of the media concerning CBS, Viacom or NAI. Calvert comments that the subpoena is “dangerous” and risks embroiling journalists in a legal drama they are tasked with covering.

“It’s a dangerous situation, because even though the journalists themselves are not being subpoenaed, it still sweeps them up in this,” Calvert said.

According to Calvert, the subpoena is “a workaround” to so-called “shield laws,” which are designed to protect journalists and their sources. These state laws often allow journalists to refuse to testify about information given to them confidentially.

Posted: August 30, 2018
Category: College News, Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project News
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