First Amendment Forum with Ashley Kissinger and Ben Lipman

As part of its First Amendment Forum speaker series, the Reynolds School of Journalism is pleased to present a conversation with Ashley Kissinger and Ben Lipman entitled “Examining Press Freedom: Are Reporters’ Legal Protections at Risk?” Please join us on Monday, February 26, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Autidorium in the University of Nevada, Reno Knowledge Center.

Thanks to support provided by the Lerude First Amendment Endowment, this event is free and open to the public.

Paid parking is available on the first floor of the Whalen Parking Complex.

About the talk:

In late 2023, a Nevada Supreme Court decision protected the confidential sources and information of murdered Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, concluding that Nevada’s “News Shield Law” applies even when a reporter is deceased. How can that case help us reflect on various legal challenges facing journalism today? Are the press’s legal protections strong enough? What legal and political forces are threatening to weaken them?

About Ashley Kissinger, Of Counsel Ballard Spahr:

Ashley Kissinger has represented media and entertainment clients in First Amendment and related matters for 25 years. She is lead outside counsel for the Las Vegas Review-Journal in its fight to keep law enforcement from searching the phone and computers of its most senior investigative news reporter, Jeff German, who was found murdered.

About Ben Lipman, Chief Legal Officer, Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Ben Lipman is the chief legal officer of Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc. Prior to heading west to the Review-Journal in 2019, Ben was in private practice in St. Louis for over 27 years, practicing primarily in the areas of media law and commercial litigation. A federal appellate judge once remarked that Ben wields the first amendment with reckless abandon. Ben has always taken it as a compliment.

Host or Publisher Reynolds School of Journalism