The Law of Public Communication

by William E. Lee, Daxton R. Stewart, Jonathan Peters

Overview

The Sixth 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. By presenting statutes and cases in a cohesive manner that is understandable even to students studying law for the first time, The Law of Public Communication ensures that students will acquire a firm grasp of the legal issues affecting the media.

New to this Edition:

• Covers recent cases, including: the challenge to restrictions in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 on soft money and broadcast issue advertisements, and the copyright case (Eldred v. Ashcroft), challenging the constitutionality of extending the term of copyright by 20 years.
• Adds a new section on "threats," which includes discussion of "true threats" to abortion doctors on web sites.
• Discusses restrictions on press coverage of military operations during Operation Enduring Freedom.
• Examines Bush Administration changes to freedom of information policies.
• Previews the Supreme Court case determining the constitutionality of federal regulations requiring libraries to install software to filter indecency.
• Integrates material on the law and regulation of electronic content into several chapters, instead of covering it in a separate chapter, so students can readily compare print and electronic media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032193120
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/01/2022
Edition description:	12th ed.
Pages:	604
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

William E. Lee is Professor Emeritus of Journalism at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, USA.

Daxton R. Stewart is an attorney and Professor of Journalism at the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University, USA.

Jonathan Peters is an attorney and the Chair of the Department of Journalism at the University of Georgia, USA, where he teaches and researches media law.

Table of Contents

Preface.

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.

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?
Prior Restraints and Postpublication Punishment.
Content-Neutral Regulations.

3. Libel.
Libel Terminology.
The Plaintiff.
The Plaintiff's Burden of Proof.
The Defendant's Case.
Preventing Libel Suits.
Ideas for Reform.

4. Privacy and Personal Security.
Private Facts.
Intrusion and Trespass.
False Light.
Commercialization.
Emotional Distress and Personal Injury.

5. Intellectual Property.
Copyright.
Unfair Competition.

6. Corporate Speech.
Referenda and Other Public Issues.
Elections.
Lobbying: The Right to Petition.
Communication between Labor and Management.
Securities Transactions.

7. Advertising.
First Amendment and Advertising.
Unfair and Deceptive Advertising.
Federal Remedies.
Other Federal Regulations.
Media's Right to Refuse Advertising.
Self-Regulation.

8. Obscenity and Indecency.
Obscenity.
Violent Pornography.
Indecency.
Controlling Nonobscene Sexual Expression.

9. The Media and the Judiciary.
Defining Jury Bias.
Remedies for Prejudicial Publicity.
ControllingConduct in Court.
Controlling Prejudicial Publicity.
Voluntary Cooperation.
Contempt Power.

10. 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.

11. Access to Information.
Access and the Constitution.
Access to Events.
Access to Records.
Access to Meetings.
Obtaining Access: A Final Word.

12. Regulation of Broadcasting.
Framework for Broadcast Content Regulations.
Federal Communications Commission.
Licensing the Broadcast Media.
Regulation of Political Candidate Programming.
Regulation of Public Issues Programming: The Fairness Doctrine.
Other Programming Regulation.
Noncommercial Broadcasting.
Digital Television (DTV).
Low-Power Television (LPTV).

13. Regulation of Cable, Internet, Telephone, and Other Electronic Media.
Cable.
Internet.
Telephone.
Other Electronic Communications Media.

Appendix A: Finding and Reading the Law.

Appendix B: The First Fourteen Amendments to the Constitution.

Glossary.

Case Index.

Subject Index.