Course Description:

Can I secretly tape this call?  Am I going to be guilty of libel if I publish that?  Do I ditch my notes if I am worried about a possible subpoena from a prosecutor?  Can I be sued by a source for being unclear about the focus of my story?  Will my website's news aggregation feature make me a copyright delinquent?  As journalists increasingly become entrepreneurs who publish their own websites and freelance without a newsroom lawyer behind them, knowledge of the fundamentals of media law is more important than ever.  This course is designed to provide a practical background in this essential area, with a focus on the legal skills needed in investigative reporting to help reporters go on the offensive (through the use of FOIA and other kinds of access litigation) while at the same time teaching them to play defense when a subject threatens court action. 

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None