Educating everyone about the First Amendment
Two new resources are designed to help Americans learn more about the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
First Amendment
In existence for just 14 months, the Estes Valley Voice files its third open-government lawsuit
The Estes Valley Voice had been in existence for just four months when it filed its first open-government lawsuit. Now 14 months since it launched in June 2024, the digital news outlet has filed — remarkably — a total of three.
Free Press, Free Country campaign and documentary will show that ‘journalism is not partisan, it’s patriotic’
Fast Forward Films launched Free Press, Free Country, a campaign to educate Coloradans about the critical importance of strong, independent journalism in a democracy. The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition is serving as the fiscal sponsor and as an adviser for the project.
CFOIC’s Zansberg inducted into Colorado Press Association hall of fame
Steve Zansberg, First Amendment attorney and president of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, is a new member of the Colorado Press Association’s hall of fame.
Bennett trustees’ decision to pull town’s advertising from newspapers ‘egregiously unconstitutional’
A lawyer’s letter urges the Bennett trustees to rescind their “egregiously unconstitutional” decision to pull the town’s advertising from two Eastern Plains newspapers because they didn’t like an article about a sexual assault that allegedly happened at a middle school.
Colorado Supreme Court protects Title IX complainants from defamation claims
In a landmark ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court declared that statements made in connection with a formal Title IX investigation conducted by a public school district or university cannot serve as the basis for a defamation claim or any other civil tort action.
Colorado Court of Appeals orders dismissal of libel lawsuit against newspaper over ‘furries’ story
The Colorado Court of Appeals ordered the dismissal of a libel case against the Arvada Press because plaintiff Jeffco Kids First failed to show “actual malice” by the newspaper or that statements made in an article by reporter Rylee Dunn “were materially false.”
Bennett trustees pull town’s advertising from newspapers over ‘distasteful’ article about alleged sex assault at school
The town of Bennett is pulling its municipal advertising from two weekly newspapers on the Eastern Plains because board members did not like an article about a sexual assault that allegedly happened in the locker room of a middle school.
Judge quashes subpoena seeking testimony of 5280 Magazine editor in breach-of-contract dispute
A judge cited Colorado’s press shield statute in deciding that the editor-in-chief of 5280 Magazine isn’t required to testify in a legal dispute between the owners of a Greenwood Village luxury home and an interior designer.
CFOIC’s 2024 year in review: a more opaque legislature, pricier public records, closed disciplinary records, child autopsies, police officer database and CORA ‘abuse’
Coloradans in 2024 lost ground in the never-ending battle for access to government information.