COMM 403HLaw of Mass Communications

3 credits · Communications · Penn State

Nature and theories of law; the Supreme Court and press freedom; legal problems of the mass media. COMM 403H Law of Mass Communications (3) This discussion-intensive seminar provides an in-depth analysis of contemporary First Amendment issues ranging from the protection of violent media content and sexually explicit speech to defamation and invasion of privacy. Students explore the legal standards, public policies and theories that protect - and restrict - the Constitutional rights of free speech and free press. The primary area of study in this course is the law of mass communications and, in particular, legal issues facing the entertainment and news media. Using a law school casebook, written by a Harvard Law School professor, we will cover legal issues related to topics such as sex and violence in the media, defamation, privacy, and copyright.