The National Press Club Urges U.S. Congress for Legislation Discouraging Foreign Lawsuits That Limit First Amendment Rights

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Mar 24, 2010, 05:01 ET

WASHINGTON, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Press Club urged the U.S. Congress to enact legislation that would discourage foreign lawsuits that limit American authors' and journalists' First Amendment rights.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080917/NPCLOGO )

Plaintiffs, through a practice known as "libel tourism," bring lawsuits against Americans in countries that lack adequate free-speech protections. The legislation in Congress discourages the practice by making it clear that foreign libel judgments must meet American defamation standards to be recognized in the U.S.

"There is no right more precious to journalists than the ability to write and speak freely," Club President Alan Bjerga said March 24. "Congress must enact legislation that protects First Amendment rights and tells the world 'libel tourism' is wrong."

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB

The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Founded in 1908, the Club has 3,500 members representing most major news organizations. Each year, the Club holds more than 2,000 events including news conferences, luncheons and panels, and more than 250,000 guests come through its doors.

SOURCE National Press Club