This is a great guide for knowing where and when to take photos as a photojournalist. I don't expect photojournalism students to know that taking photos of kids at a public park and documenting police arresting suspects from the sidewalk are both legal, but you need permission to shoot inside of a mall and a school classroom.
Photojournalists who have been on the job a long time know most of these guidelines, but as you can see, there are a lot of places, and the rules can be tricky.
So, please study this graph because you're going to need it.
For other policies regarding photojournalism ethics and law, go to NPPA Code of Ethics.
Source: Photojournalism: The Professionals' Approach, by Kenneth Kobre'
