JOURNALISM, THE LAW & SOCIETY

This course is designed to acquaint students with the basic protections and restrictions of the law as they apply to the media. First Amendment rights and legal responsibilities and limitations will be examined and discussed. The course will look at these questions from three viewpoints: from (i) the practical view of a journalist doing his job and (ii) from a legal perspective, all the while (iii) considering the rules in a public policy context: are they fair and appropriate in our society? Significant court cases and fundamental legal rules will be explored in the context of political and historical realities, and in terms of journalistic standards and practices; contemporary media law issues will also be focused on. Among the basic First Amendment issues which will be examined are libel, invasion of privacy, prior restraints, newsgathering and newsgathering torts, copyright and the reporter's privilege.