Legal helpline
At CNPA we are here to help with your news coverage and answer questions ranging from how to access the information you need to access to local government actions to anything else your reporters come across. Most common questions involve Public Records Act requests, local government actions, public notices, or access to police records. It’s important to note that we give general legal advice and make sure you know what the law is, if you have a question like approval of an article or a threat of litigation, we suggest you retain or ask your own counsel.
The legal helpline is run by our General Counsel, Brittney Barsotti, who prior to attending law school spent time on the ground as a reporter.
You can submit questions through our online submission below, by email helpline@cnpa.com, or by phone. Please be sure to include your deadline so we can get back to you.
- Read CA Public Records Act
The California Public Records Act
Note: As of January 1, 2023, the California Public Records Act has been renumbered. References and links in this guide are to the state code prior to this change. The CPRA is now located at Government Code sections 7920.000-7931.000. The California Law Revision Commission has published a table showing how previous sections of the CPRA have been renumbered. This primer will be updated in 2023 to reflect this recodification. The California Public Records Act gives the public the right to access government records. This right is also enshrined in California’s constitution, Article 1, Section 3(b)(1). The CPRA is an incredibly powerful news gathering tool that allows journalists to ask for any documents held by the government. While there are exemptions to the CPRA, these exemptions are not always asserted properly. That’s why it can be helpful to contact CNPA—we will let you know if the records you seek should be provided. - Download Sample Letter
Sample Cal Public Records Act Letter
Download your copy of the Sample California Public Records Act Request Letter – Updated 1/2023. - Learn more.
The Ralph M. Brown Act
The Ralph M. Brown Act requires government agencies to do the public’s business in public. That means that your city council or school board must allow the public to attend all meetings, and to comment at these meetings. The Brown Act also requires these meetings be announced ahead of time, typically three days. The notice must include agenda items detailing each issue to be discussed at the meeting. Journalists covering local politics monitor these agendas to learn if newsworthy items will be discussed. Failure to properly notice issues could result in the reversal of any action by an agency. CNPA can help you determine if the Brown Act is violated, and what remedies might be available to the public for such violation. - Download Sample Letter
Sample Brown Act Letter
Download your copy of the Sample Demand for Cure or Correction; Alleged Violation of Brown Act Letter. - Learn more
The California Shield Law
The California Shield Law allows journalists to protect confidential sources, and it prevents lawyers from hauling them into court to testify about their news gathering activities. Different rules apply depending on the context of each situation, but whenever someone tries to force a reporter to turn over her notes or a photographer to release his unpublished photos, the Shield Law could apply. Often, authority figures rely on the assumption that a journalist won’t know this law, but don’t be intimidated. If you face this situation, state that you believe the Shield Law applies and get CNPA on the phone to talk you through how to proceed.
The Right to Know
A Guide to Public Access & Media Law, 2nd Edition
Now available for just $30! The second edition of the essential resource for newsrooms, attorneys, and educators, 15 years in the making, is now available for digital purchase and download. Every chapter has been reviewed by top attorneys in their fields and includes the latest changes in the law as of the end of 2020. The book now includes many changes to the laws in recent years, hyperlinks to key cases and code sections cited in the book, as well as, sample letters for public records requests that can be used by anyone seeking access to information.
Learn moreContact us for support
The CNPA Legal Team can be reached directly by email, phone, or submit your question through our online form. Please note, that while the CNPA legal team makes every effort to respond within your given timeframe, we can make no guarantees.
Support by Email
California News Publishers Association
helpline@cnpa.com
