Focusing on the implications of the law for practitioners, this annually updated text examines legal issues affecting journalism, political speech, and commercial and electronic media. The 2005 Edition of this top-selling media law text includes the most current information available, explaining the law as it applies to the daily work of writers, broadcasters, advertisers, cable operators, Internet service providers, public relations practitioners, photographers, and other public communicators.
Preface Chapter 1 Public Communication and the Law The Sources of Law The Courts The Litigation Process: Civil and Criminal Working with the Law Limitations of Law Chapter 2 The First Amendment Theory of Freedom of Expression Regulating Expression Tests Scope of the First Amendment: The Hierarchy of Protected Expression Who Is Protected? Chapter 3 Methods of Control Prior Restraints and Post-publication Punishment Content-Neutral Regulations Chapter 4 Libel Libel Terminology The Plaintiff The Plaintiffs Burden of Proof The Defendants Case Preventing Libel Suits Ideas for Reform Chapter 5 Privacy and Personal Security Private Facts Intrusion and Trespass False Light Commercialization Emotional Distress and Personal Injury Chapter 6 Intellectual Property Copyright Unfair Competition Chapter 7 Political Speech Referenda and Other Public Issues Elections Regulation of Political Candidate Broadcast Programming Regulation of Public Issue Programming: The Fairness Doctrine Lobbying: The Right to Petition Chapter 8 Commercial Speech First Amendment and Advertising Unfair and Deceptive Advertising Federal Remedies Other Federal Regulations Medias Right to Refuse Advertising Self-Regulation Securities Transactions Chapter 9 Obscenity and Indecency Obscenity Indecency Violent Pornography Controlling Non-obscene Sexual Expression Chapter 10 The Media and the Judiciary Defining Jury Bias Remedies for Prejudicial Publicity Controlling Conduct in Court Controlling Prejudicial Publicity Voluntary Cooperation Contempt Power Chapter 11 Protection of News Sources, Notes, and Tape Protection under the Common Law Protection under the First Amendment Protection under State Statutes Protection under Federal Statutes and Regulations Congressional Authority Search Warrants Breaching Confidentiality Chapter 12 Access to Information Access and the Constitution Access to Events Access to Records Access to Meetings Obtaining Access: A Final Word Appendix A Finding and Reading the Law Appendix B The First Fourteen Amendments to the Constitution Glossary Case Index Subject Index