Review of “Writer's Ethics: Freedom of Information and the Right of Privacy”

“Writer’s Ethics: Freedom of Information and the Right of Privacy” covers the basics of what is covered under the Freedom of Information Act and how it can be used to gain information. However, that freedom of information must be balanced against a person’s right of privacy.

Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis was an early champion of the right of privacy around the turn of the 20^th century. He favored strict penalties for anyone violating that right, especially those wishing to make a person’s private information public. This, of course, makes it a challenge for writers to balance the right of privacy with the first amendment rights of freedom of the press. Like libel, the right of privacy  is taken seriously in the courts. So they don’t cross the line, writer’s must have a good understanding of what the Freedom of Information Act  allows and the Right of Privacy  prohibits.

“Writers Ethics: Freedom of Information and the Right of Privacy” is available from Amazon in print and Kindle formats.