Supreme Court justices vindicates a citizen journalist’s rights

This week, there was a little noticed order out of the Supreme Court that decided a narrow legal question with much great implications for journalism. The justices tossed a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that barred a lawsuit by Priscilla Villarreal. Known online as La Gordiloca (loosely translated as the fat, crazy lady ), Villareal is part of a growing number of new media journalists.

At a time when the public is rejecting legacy or mainstream media, the case is the latest latest reminder of a rising force of citizen journalists.

Technically, the court instructed the lower courts to review the case in light of the recent decision in Gonzalez v. Trevino. That decision relaxed the standards for citizens suing over retaliatory arrests. Villareal was not just a citizen but a citizen journalist who claimed to be performing the same newsgathering  functions as conventional journalists.

via thehill.com

Jonathan Turley.