Media Law Fall 2011

Media Law

Jack M. Balkin and Adam S. Cohen

The casebook for the course will be Franklin, Anderson and Lidsky, Mass Media Law: Cases and Materials (8th ed. 2011).  Additional materials will be available online.

1. Defamation (9/12/2011)

  • Notes on defamation, pp. 166-76, 182-84

  • New York Times v. Sullivan and Notes, pp. 184-202
  • Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc. and Notes, pp. 202-215
  • Note on Public and Private Figures, pp. 215-225
  • Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. Hepps and Notes, pp. 225-230
  • Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co. and Notes, pp. 230-234
  • Cases and Notes on Neutral Reportage, pp. 243-245, 247-258
  • Notes on retraction, overseas liability, and other issues, pp. 258-262

Additional reading (optional)

 
2.  Privacy (9/19/2011)
 

A. Privacy and freedom of expression

  • Notes on the tort of disclosure, pp. 263-275

  • Notes on Constitutional Limitations, pp. 275-278
  • Florida Star v. B.J.F. and Notes, pp. 278-289
  • Cases and Notes on false light, pp. 289-298
  • Notes on appropriation of name or likeness, pp. 299-311
  • Note on Data Protection Statutes, pp. 311-312

B. Unmaking online speakers

C. Online self-revelation

3.  Communications torts (9/26/2011)

A. Infliction of Emotional Distress

B. Economic Harm

  • Cohen v. Cowles Media Co. and Notes, pp. 326-333

C. Incitement and Aiding and Abetting

  • Herceg v. Hustler Magazine and Notes, pp. 333-345

  • Rice v. Paladin Enterprises and Notes, pp. 345-354
  • Braun v. Soldier of Fortune Magazine and Notes, pp. 354-364

D. Indirect Burdens: Financial Disincentives and Taxation

  • Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. New York State Crime Victims Board, pp. 84-90

  • Leathers v. Medlock, pp. 91-97

 

4. Prior Restraints and National Security (10/03/2011)

A. Prior Restraint

  • Notes and Near v. Minnesota, pp. 26-36.

  • New York Times v. United States (Pentagon Papers) and Notes, pp. 36-41
  • Nebraska Press Association v. Stewart and Notes, pp. 41-40
  • Note on Gag Orders, pp. 50-53
  • Note on Prior Restraints and the Internet, pp. 53-58
  • Note on Contempt Sanctions, pp 63-64
  • Mills v. Alabama and Notes, pp. 65-69
  • Landmark Communications, Inc., v. Virginia, pp. 69-72
  • Smith v. Daily Mail Publishing Co., pp. 73-77

B. Wikileaks

 
5. Broadcast and Cable Regulation (10/17/2011)

  • Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo and Notes, pp. 78-84

  • Red Lion Broadcasting v. FCC and Notes, pp. 110-116
  • Notes on Equal Time and Equal Opportunities, pp. 116-118
  • CBS, Inc. v. FCC and Notes, pp. 118-122
  • Notes on Ownership Regulations, pp. 122-125
  • Turner Broadcasting v. FCC and Notes, pp. 142-151
  • Comcast Corporation v. FCC and Notes, pp. 157-164
  • Balkin, Media Access: A Question of Design, 76 George Washington L. Rev. 933 (2008)

 
6. Content Regulation in Broadcast Media and the Internet (10/24/2011)

A. Indecency

B. Violence

 
7. The Legal Regulation of Newsgathering (10/31/2011)

  • Shulman v. Group W. Production and Notes, pp. 393-399

  • Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies and Notes, pp. 399-407
  • Note on Trespass, pp. 407-410
  • Berger v. Hanlon and Notes, pp. 410-413
  • Note on Wiretapping and Eavesdropping, pp. 413-416
  • Bartnicki v. Vopper and Notes, pp. 416-426
  • Taus v. Loftus and Notes, pp. 426-436
  • Food Lion v. Capital Cities/ABC and Notes, pp. 436-443
  • Notes on Negligence and Damages, pp. 443-450

 
8. Press Privileges (11/07/2011)

  • Notes and Branzburg v. Hayes, pp. 451-465

  • Notes on the Reporter’s Privilege, pp. 465-472
  • O’Grady v. Superior Court and Notes, pp. 472-479
  • Too Much Media LLC v. Hale
  • Note on Applying the Privilege in Leaks Cases, pp. 479-487
  • Note on Applying the Privilege to Non-Confidential Information, pp. 487-488
  • Gonzales v. National Broadcasting Company and Notes, pp. 488-494
  • Notes on Search Warrants, pp. 494-500

9.  Access to Judicial Proceedings (11/14/2011)

  • Notes and Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, pp. 572-585

  • Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court (II) and Notes, pp. 585-596
  • Note on Civil Trials, pp. 596-599
  • Note on Juvenile Proceedings, pp. 599-602
  • Note on Courtroom Photography and Broadcasting, pp. 602-606
  • Hollingsworth v. Perry, (U.S. S.Ct., January 13, 2010)
  • Note on Access to Jurors and Witnesses, pp. 606-611
  • Note on Access to Judicial Records and Discovery Materials, pp. 611-614
  • Seattle Times Co. v. Rhinehart and Notes, pp. 614-628

 
10. Access to Government Information (11/28/2011)

  • Note on FOIA, pp. 501-503

  • National Archives and Records Administration v. Favish and Notes, pp. 504-509
  • Notes on FOIA, pp. 509-515
  • Note on Information and National Security After 9/11, pp. 515-519
  • Note on Open Goverment Initiatives, pp. 519-527
  • Notes and Houchins v. KQED, pp. 527-538
  • Gilk v. Cunniffe (1st Cir., August 26, 2011)
  • Cases and Notes on Access to Military Operations, pp. 538-549
  • City of Oak Creek v. Ah King and Notes, pp. 549-555
  • Cases and Notes on Discriminatory Access, pp. 555-566
  • Doe v. Reed and Notes, pp. 567-571

 

11. Intellectual Property and Intermediary Liability on the Internet (12/05/2011)

A. Fair Use

B. Misappropriation

C. Section 230

D. Intermediary liability for copyright infringement

 
12. The Future of News and New Business Models for Journalism, Part One (12/12/2011)

A. The Changing Business Climate

B. Problems for the Democratic Function of the Press

13. The Future of News and New Business Models for Journalism, Part Two (12/14/2011)

C. Proposals for Reform

D. Behavioral Advertising as a Business Model