Who's Watching the Watchdog: Self-Evaluative Privilege and Journalistic Responsibility in Westmoreland v. CBS, Inc.

Authors

Paul A. Weiss

Abstract

This note explores the self-evaluative privilege and its application to newsgathering media defendants in defamation trials. In Westmoreland v. CBS, Inc., defendant CBS was found to have waived the privilege. The author discusses the possible effects of this ruling and argues that the public interest in fostering responsible journalism should foreclose punishing newsgathering organizations that publicly take responsibility for their mistakes. The author concludes that the privilege, with limitations, should be extended to newsgathering media defendants.

Recommended Citation

Paul A. Weiss, Who's Watching the Watchdog: Self-Evaluative Privilege and Journalistic Responsibility in Westmoreland v. CBS, Inc., 7 UC Law SF Comm. & Ent. L.J. 149 (1984).
Available at: https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_comm_ent_law_journal/vol7/iss1/6