Newsgathering is protected in fact, if not in law. Thus, attorneys cannot ask questions such as why a particular interview was used or what motivated a reporter to approach the story as they did.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Newsgathering is indeed protected under the First Amendment, but this does not mean that attorneys are completely barred from asking questions about the newsgathering process. While there are protections, such as shield laws in some jurisdictions that may limit the extent to which journalists can be compelled to reveal sources or unpublished material, the motivations behind a story or the reasons for using a particular interview can still be subject to legal scrutiny in certain contexts.

Newsgathering Is Protected in Fact, If Not in Law