Media Law and Ethics

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to news media related law, policy, and ethical issues. It surveys how the U.S. constitutional law impacts media practices from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Some key topics include the First Amendment, privacy, intellectual property, commercial speech, privacy, and open access. The course also examines how traditional journalistic ethics (fairness, objectivity, responsibility, and credibility) intersect, or don't intersect, with the law. Students will discuss new legislative and ethical issues raised by technological innovations and socioeconomic shifts. Previously ENGL 2384.