Legal Hotline
Newspapers are sued more than any other
media*. One way to make sure your newspaper is protected is with
a subscription to the INA’s Legal Hotline. INA members who
subscribe to the Legal Hotline have access to competent, timely,
low-cost advice from Hotline attorneys who have knowledge of laws
affecting all phases of the newspaper business.
The Legal Hotline provides participants with competent,
prompt, low-cost legal advice. The Hotline has been in operation
since 1986 and thousands of questions have been answered by the
attorneys. INA members find the Hotline to be a cost-effective
method of obtaining prompt and practical legal advice on a variety
of issues.
The Hotline is under direct sponsorship and control
of the INA. INA collects the fees, promotes the service, decides
who the attorneys should be and coordinates operation of the Hotline
with the attorneys.
Individual INA member newspapers may join the Legal
Hotline at any time by calling the Hotline attorneys with their
questions at 515-283-3100.
Why would we need to use the Hotline?
Your newspaper needs the Legal Hotline if
you or anyone on your staff has ever had a question about legal
issues ranging from open records to libel to public notice to
postal regulations. Hotline attorneys generally leave editorial
decisions to your newspaper’s staff.
What happens when we call
a Hotline attorney?
In appropriate cases, the attorney will promptly
mail the participant a brief summary of the issues raised in a
specific consultation. A description of the advice will be provided.
In those cases where a brief consultation with a Hotline attorney
is not adequate, the participant has the option to retain the
Hotline attorney for direct representation. The Hotline attorney
will provide a detailed outline of probable costs of each representation.
If direct representation is required, the attorney will bill the
participant directly for the additional services provided.
What if we already retain an attorney?
Hotline attorneys are available to participants’
local attorneys and will provide specific legal advice on media
law issues. The same service is available to your attorney if
your newspaper is part of a chain or group with a local or out-of-state
general counsel.
Who can ask questions?
Any employee of a participating newspaper
may contact the Hotline attorneys. It is up to the newspaper to
decide which employees will be authorized to contact the attorneys.
The attorneys are available to participants at all times to answer
questions, either by phone or letter. There is no limit to the
number of consultations per year.
Can our newspaper afford to use the
Hotline?
One call may repay your Legal Hotline fee for the
entire year! Each newspaper pays an annual fee, based on the newspaper’s
circulation, to participate in the Hotline.
Current annual rates:
Weekly papers
Circulation under 2000 - $195
Circulation 2001-4000 - $291
Circulation over 4000 - $386
Daily papers
Circulation under 5000 - $386
Circulation 5001-10,000 - $772
Circulation 10,0001-20,000 - $1,155
Circulation 20,001-50,000 - $1,539
Circulation over 50,000 – negotiable
rates updated 1/11
Discounts for groups (all under common ownership)
20% discount for second paper
30% discount for third paper
40% discount for fourth paper
50% discount for fifth or more papers
*Libel Defense Resource Center |
