This course is intended to introduce students to the many important legal questions that news media professionals face routinely in reporting news and information to the public as well as your rights under the constitution and statutory law regarding freedom of expression. No prior knowledge of the law is necessary. This class requires only preparation and critical thinking. Through readings assignments, lectures and class discussions, students will gain an understanding of the legal problems in several key areas of media law: freedom of speech and the press, libel, privacy, news gathering practices, free press/fair trial, the regulation of obscene materials, copyright, and the regulation of advertising and telecommunications. You will:

In particular, students will:

• Develop an understanding of, and appreciation for the protections embedded in the First Amendment.
• Understand and apply principles of libel and privacy and the responsibilities of a free press
• Understand the First Amendment and the protections afforded to all citizens, journalists or other.
• Understand the history and evolution of Mass Communications law and the challenges faced in trying to keep the law evenly paced with technological innovations.
• Understand the concept of governmental transparence and how freedoms of information laws empower citizens to hold their government accountable on both the state and federal levels.
• Recognize that ethics and law are not synonymous and that what is lawful is not always ethical. 

 

END OF COURSE OUTLINE WITH READINGS

 

Week 10/March 20-24: Libel Defenses, Privacy

Lectures and Subject Matter:

            -Libel Defenses

            -Comparing Libel Laws

            -The Google Auto-complete defamation Suit

 

Quiz 2 Wednesday March 22

 

Will entail material covered since Spring Break—aka, Libel

 

            Privacy

            -     Evolution of Privacy Law

            -     False Light-Plaintiff

            -     False Light-Defenses

            -     Intrusion and Private Facts

            -    Media Monitoring/Social Media

 

Readings:

            Trager, et al; Chapter 5 –

            Trager, et al; Chapter 6

            Collab: (Skim)

http://www.copypress.com/blog/google-asked-to-take-down-defamatory-autocorrects/ 

https://www.cnet.com/news/google-loses-autocomplete-defamation-suit-in-japan/

http://searchengineland.com/germany-says-google-must-block-libelous-words-added-with-autocomplete-function-159436

                       

 

Weekly Case Study/Policy Discussion

 

            -Case Study Cyber-Bullying: Bishop (collab resources)

 

Week 11/ March 27-March 31: Reporters’ Privilege

 

Lectures and Subject Matter:

            -News Gathering/Brief Introduction to FOIA

            -Reporters’ Privilege

            -Shield Laws

 

Readings:

            -Trager, et al; Chapters 9, 10 (excerpted cases)

-Suggested-really gross and graphic so NOT required, just relevant to media access to crime scenes

http://www.ranker.com/list/hollywood-crime-scene-photos/lea-rose-emery

 

Weekly Case Study/Policy Discussion:            US v. Sterling (collab Resources)

 

 

RESPONSE PAPER DUE IN ASSIGNMENT DROP BOX 11:55PM MARCH 31

 

Week 12/ April 3-April 7: Media and the Courts

 

Lectures and Subject Matter:           

            -The Media and the Courts

            -Freedom of the Press vs. a Free Trial

            -Nebraska Press Association in the Era of Nancy Grace

            -Exam Review, Friday April 7

 

Readings:           

            -Tragar, et al; Chapter 8 (excerpted cases-skip skip Nebraska Press)

            -Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart (full decision)

https://www.oyez.org/cases/1975/75-817

                       

Week 13/April 10-April April 14: Intellectual Property-Copyright, Fair Use and Trademark

 

Lectures and Subject Matter:

 

Exam 2 in-class Monday April 10

 

            -Intellectual Property

            - Copyright

            - Fair Use

            -Trademark

 

Readings:

            -Tragar, et al; Chapter 15(excerpted cases)

            -Famous Music Copyright Cases:

 

http://suite101.com/article/famous-copyright-infringement-cases-in-the-music-industry-a243968

            -Eldred v. Ashcroft (full decision)

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2002/01-618

 

Weekly Case Study/Policy Discussion:             Lee v. Tam (collab resources)

 

Week 14: April: 17-April 21/Commercial Speech and Advertising

 

Lectures and Subject Matter:

            -Advertising

            -Commercial Speech Doctrine

            -Fake News

 

Readings:

            -Tragar, et al; Chapter 11 (including cases)

            -Fake News Spotting: 

http://www.factcheck.org/2016/11/how-to-spot-fake-news/

            -Fake News and the First Amendment

https://www.eff.org/mention/no-one-congress-wants-regulate-fake-news

 

Weekly Case/Policy Discussion:            Reed v. Town of Gilbert (collab resources)

 

Week 15: April 24-April 28/Media Regulation Telecommunications Regulation

 

Lectures and Subject Matter:

            -Media Regulation

            -Radio Regulation

            -Broadcast Regulation

            -Electronic Regulation (Net Neutrality)                       

 

Weekly Case Discussion:            U.S. Telecom Association v. FCC (collab resources)

 

Readings:

            -Trager, et al; Chapter 12 (Excerpted cases)

            - Net Neutrality

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/06/14/divided-d-c-circuit-upholds-fcc-net-neutrality-rule/?utm_term=.8c59640d2d35

 

Quiz 3/Wednesday April 26

 

Week 16: May 1- May May5/Last Week of Classes

Lectures and Subject Matter:

            Weekly Case Discussion Make up: Media and the Courts

Readings

            Glik v. Cunnliffe (collab resources)

 

Optional final exam review: Tuesday May 2 @6pm.

 

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES

 

There are 16 weeks in this semester. There are 3 quizzes, 3 Exams, 1 response Paper, and 1 Final Paper. There are 3 Exam Review Sessions.

 

Quizzes:

           

1. Wednesday February 3
2. Wednesday March 22
3. Wednesday April 26

 

Exams:

 

1. Monday February 27
2. Monday April 10
3. Final Exam: Monday May 8 9:00-12:00

 

 

 

Response Paper:

 

1. Friday March 31 @ 11:55pm in Assignment Dropbox

Final Paper

 

1. Friday May 12 @11:55pm in Assignment Dropbox