Newspaper theft
Encyclopedia
Newspaper theft is a form of censorship
in which a large portion of the print run of a newspaper
or other publication is stolen or destroyed, with the intention of preventing others from reading it. It may be carried out by individuals, organized groups, or governmental entities.
, college athletic teams
, as well as politicians or public officials, who may order police or other government agents to remove copies the publication.
, however removal of multiple copies of free newspapers and publications is not a crime in most jurisdictions. In response to high-profile incidents, laws specifically against newspaper theft, including the theft of large numbers of free newspapers, have been passed in the states of Maryland
and Colorado
, and the cities of San Francisco and Berkeley, California
. The Maryland law makes it a misdemeanor
offense when "A person ... knowingly or willfully obtain[s] or exert[s] control that is unauthorized over newspapers with the intent to prevent another from reading the newspapers."
ruled in the 2004 case Rossignol v. Voorhaar that public officials who purchase a large portion of the print run of a newspaper with the intention of keeping a story out of the view of the public are acting in violation of the First Amendment
and are liable for civil damages. This decision was later upheld by Supreme Court
without hearing.
In Bystand Me
, the Hill family work to prevent distribution of a newspaper which irresponsibly suggests household cleaning with a dangerous poison.
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
in which a large portion of the print run of a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
or other publication is stolen or destroyed, with the intention of preventing others from reading it. It may be carried out by individuals, organized groups, or governmental entities.
Overview
The motivation for newspaper theft is usually to suppress circulation of a story, item, or advertisement that is viewed as unfavorable or offensive by an individual or group. In some cases, the action is motivated by a generalized animus toward the editorial slant of the publication. The actors involved in newspaper thefts vary; they include political groups, fraternities and sororitiesFraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
, college athletic teams
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
, as well as politicians or public officials, who may order police or other government agents to remove copies the publication.
Laws concerning newspaper theft
The unpaid taking of newspapers which are for sale constitutes theftTheft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
, however removal of multiple copies of free newspapers and publications is not a crime in most jurisdictions. In response to high-profile incidents, laws specifically against newspaper theft, including the theft of large numbers of free newspapers, have been passed in the states of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and the cities of San Francisco and Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. The Maryland law makes it a misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
offense when "A person ... knowingly or willfully obtain[s] or exert[s] control that is unauthorized over newspapers with the intent to prevent another from reading the newspapers."
Purchase with the intent to block distribution
A related and less common phenomenon is the clandestine purchase of a large portion of the print run of a newspaper. While this does not normally violate any law, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
ruled in the 2004 case Rossignol v. Voorhaar that public officials who purchase a large portion of the print run of a newspaper with the intention of keeping a story out of the view of the public are acting in violation of the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
and are liable for civil damages. This decision was later upheld by Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
without hearing.
In popular culture
In the film Absence of Malice, the character Teresa Peron attempts unsuccessfully to destroy a run of newspapers that has a story exposing her abortion, before she commits suicide.In Bystand Me
Bystand Me
"Bystand Me" is the 188th episode of the Fox comedy King of the Hill, and the 2nd episode of the 10th season, although originally produced for the shortened 9th season. The episode's title is a reference to either the song or film Stand by Me.-Plot:...
, the Hill family work to prevent distribution of a newspaper which irresponsibly suggests household cleaning with a dangerous poison.
External links
- Newspaper Theft Checklist, Student Press Law CenterStudent Press Law CenterThe Student Press Law Center is a non-profit organization in the United States that aims at protecting the freedom of the press for student journalists, usually from high school and university student newspapers...
- Newspaper Theft Forum, Student Press Law Center