Crystal Cox Blogger; Crystal Cox Free Speech, First Amendment Case. Major First Amendment / Free Speech Ruling Levels the Playing Field

Major First Amendment / Free Speech Ruling Levels the Playing Field as to who is the "NEWS" and who is protected in our courts to report the "NEWS.


"On January 17, 2014, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Crystal L. Cox from Eureka Montana who was sued by for defamation by .. an attorney and ... his company. Cox had written posts exposing fraud, corruption, money-laundering and so forth."

"This ruling should be a clear reminder to misguided attorneys, corporations, developers or those with affluence to cease bullying or intimidating those who report the issues of the day.

Many concerned citizens have no choice but to create their own blogs and websites to level the playing field in this blossoming social media warfare.

The government has its plentiful public relations specialists, paid for by taxpayers. Corporations and special interests have their hired PR consultants. There are hired mercenaries who feel no qualms about spinning the facts. News media can be bought or controlled by big money or shut down.

It's not uncommon for the public to read articles or watch the TV news only to lament the irregularities or inadequate reporting. Oftentimes, critical issues are shunned or ignored by corporate media because of entwined relationships.

Bloggers with information or have intimate experiences and understanding of issues are critically needed now, more than ever."

"The Reports Committee for the Freedom of the Press 
also provided its statements in Barnard's article:

"Standards set by a 1974 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Gertz v. Robert Welch Inc., apply to everyone, not just journalists.

It's not a special right to the news media," he said. "So it's a good thing for bloggers and citizen journalists and others."

Barnard further reported that:

Though Cox acted as her own attorney, UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, who had written an article on the issue, learned of her case and offered to represent her in an appeal. Volokh said such cases usually end up settled without trial, and it was rare for one to reach the federal appeals court level.

"It makes clear that bloggers have the same First Amendment rights as professional journalists," he said. "There had been similar precedents before concerning advocacy groups, other writers and book authors. This follows a fairly well established chain of precedents. I believe it is the first federal appeals court level ruling that applies to bloggers."

source
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/choon-james/confirmed-bloggers-have-f_b_4657313.html