As part of its annual First Amendment Forum speaker series, the Reynolds School of Journalism is pleased to present a conversation with Ashley Kissinger and Benjamin Lipman entitled “Examining Press Freedom: Are Reporters’ Legal Protections at Risk?” The forum will be held on Monday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Auditorium at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The discussion, moderated by Patrick File, associate professor of media law at the Reynolds School, will cover the 2023 Nevada Supreme Court ruling that determined Nevada’s “News Shield Law” applies even when a reporter is deceased. The decision to protect reporters’ rights, including confidential sources and information, was a result of the court’s decision that police were not permitted to search the electronic devices of murdered Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German. Kissinger, of counsel for Ballard Spahr, and Lipman, chief legal officer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, argued the case in 2023 on behalf of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and will engage in discussion about shield laws and various legal challenges facing journalism today.

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 uphold Nevada’s news shield law.

Ben Lipman is the chief legal officer of Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc. Prior to joining the Review-Journal in 2019, Lipman was in private practice in St. Louis for over 27 years, practicing primarily in the areas of media law and commercial litigation.

The event is free and open to the public, and registration is required. The First Amendment Forum is an annual event that explores emerging issues facing freedom of the press and free speech, made possible by the support of the Lerude First Amendment Endowment.