San Diegans for Open Gov't v. San Diego State Univ. Research Found.

*82A free press is a foundation of citizen participation in government because the press informs people about issues of public concern and provides a place for debate about public issues. A lawsuit filed primarily to chill the valid exercise of free speech is called a SLAPP suit and, if without merit, such an action may be dismissed early under Code of Civil Procedure 1 section 425.16 in what is commonly known as an anti-SLAPP motion.2

In this anti-SLAPP case, investigative newsource (inewsource), an independent, nonprofit journalism organization, entered into contracts with KPBS, *83San Diego's…