Details

This course will provide an overview of media law, grounded in historic context, to determine how it might apply to emerging species of communication. We will begin by studying the foundation of the American press and the origin of the First Amendment. We will devote significant attention to the evolution of the law governing injuries inflicted by the media, beginning with the common-law treatment of libel and slander, and moving towards the constitutionalization of those torts. We will evaluate the success of the current First Amendment scheme from the perspective of the press and of those it covers. Specifically, we will look at press subterfuge, anonymous sources, and right of access to documents and events, as well as the right of access to the media. We will also consider special problems of jurisdiction and choice of law posed by media cases and internet dynamics. We will conclude by examining non-legal regulation of the press, and by comparing the American system with other countries¿ approaches to media law.