From today’s Knoxville News Sentinel:
(Rick) Hollow and attorney Tom McAdams, who represented WBIR-TV, Channel 10, at the hearing, argued that the judge had no legal right to deny their clients’ Internet-based readers their First Amendment right to express themselves.
McAdams deemed the space allotted on media Web sites for commentary as a “giant bulletin board,” the provision of which was a “public service.”
Hollow initially suggested the News Sentinel’s Web site didn’t even turn a buck, a claim Baumgartner immediately questioned and newspaper editor Jack McElroy quickly corrected.
“We generate revenue,” McElroy said.
“Of course you do,” the judge replied.
“I’m saying if there is a profit, there is a responsibility that goes with it. … Those are two things that bother me about your site – anonymity and no prior screening.”
At this point, I think most of us are waiting to see what Baumgartner’s ruling will be.
Background on the case can be found here.
WANT TO READ MORE?