The legal and regulatory frameworks that apply to the broadcast journalism industry. This includes learning about defamation laws, freedom of speech, and the role of regulatory bodies in the industry.
Freedom of Speech: The legal concept that guarantees the right to express your thoughts and ideas without censorship or persecution.
Intellectual Property: The legal protection of creative works such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
Press Freedom: The right of journalists to report on issues of public interest without fear of censorship or retaliation from the government or other entities.
Defamation: The legal concept of false statements that harm a person's reputation.
Privacy: The right of individuals to keep their personal information private, including intimate details shared with journalists.
Ethics in Journalism: The principles and standards that guide the ethical behavior of journalists, including objectivity, fairness, and accuracy.
Public Interest: The concept that certain issues are of importance to the public and should be given greater attention and scrutiny by journalists.
Access to Information: The right of journalists to access government and other public and private entities to obtain information necessary for reporting.
Advertising: The regulation of advertising in the media, including truth in advertising and restricted content such as tobacco and alcohol.
Internet Law: The legal issues surrounding online communication and social media, including defamation, privacy, and intellectual property.
Content Regulation: The legal regulation of media content, including broadcast standards and classification systems to protect children from inappropriate content.
Ownership and Control of Media: The concentration of media ownership and control, including antitrust laws that prevent monopolies and regulations to ensure diversity of voices in the media.
Political Advertising: The regulation of advertisements related to political campaigns and issues.
Public Broadcasting: The regulation and funding of public broadcasting entities, including public television and radio stations.
Media Governance: The legal and institutional frameworks that regulate media and communications, including regulatory bodies and licensing regimes.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Regulations: The FCC regulates broadcast television and radio, including issues of indecency, obscenity, and the public interest.
Copyright Law: This governs the reproduction, distribution, and display of copyrighted works, including materials used in broadcasts, audio and video programs.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act: This governs online content and aims to prevent copyright infringement through means such as digital locks, which prevent the unauthorized creation of copies.
Fair Use: This governs the use of copyrighted material in news broadcasts, commentary, criticism, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Trademark Law: This protects symbols, names, and designs used to identify products or services and prevents their unauthorized use.
Privacy Law: This protects the rights of individuals to protect their personal lives from public scrutiny, including concerns about invasion of privacy and the right to control the use of one's name, voice, and likeness.
Freedom of Information Act: This law allows journalists and citizens to access government documents and public records.
Libel and Slander Law: This regulates false and damaging statements about individuals or entities that are published or broadcast.
Shield Laws: These laws protect journalists from being forced to reveal confidential sources or unpublished material.
Anti-Trust Law: This prevents monopolies and promotes competition in the media industry, including issues related to cross-ownership and consolidation.