The legal problems faced by publishers of alternative newspapers are often compounded by the limited availability of the funds they have either for legal defense or for initiating lawsuits. Although both the courts and journalism's professional associations theoretically support the position that the alternative press possesses rights identical to those of the established press, the effective exercise of those rights can be expensive, and alternative newspapers have meager resources. Legal problems encountered most often by all newspapers are damage suits for defamation, citations for contempt of court, denial of access to public information or proceedings, suits for illicit invasions of privacy, and complaints concerning copyright. The legal problems peculiar to the alternative press involve extra-legal harrassment by government and its selective enforcement of applicable law. Additional problems include the reluctance of the establishment press to come to the assistance of an underground paper and the prohibitive cost of premiums for policies insuring publishers from financial losses resulting from legal setbacks. (AEA)