| POS 399: Media Law | Professor Robert Klotz |
| 4:10 - 6:40 p.m. Thursdays | Office: 126 Bedford Street |
| Luther Bonney 503 | Office Hours: 3-5 M; 3-4 T |
| Spring 2004 (CRN P2786) | Contact: rklotz@maine.edu; 780-4193 |
| Session | Subject | Assignment | ||
| Jan | R | 22 | Introduction to Media Law | |
| R | 29 | Constitution - Basic Principles | L 46-102; K 135-142; K 155-157 | |
| Feb | R | 5 | Censorship - Prior Restraint | Near (1931); NYT (1971); Hazelwood (1988) |
| R | 12 | People in News - Libel | L 1-45; L 103-182 | |
| R | 19 | Winter Break | No Class | |
| R | 26 | People in News - Libel | L 183-248; NYT (1964) in L Appendix 2 | |
| Mar | R | 4 | Ownership - Allot Spectrum | NBC (1943); K 159-170 |
| R | 11 | Midterm Exam | ||
| R | 18 | Right to Receive and Send | VA Pharmacy (1976); TBS (1994); K 45-60 | |
| R | 25 | Spring Break | No Class | |
| Apr | R | 1 | Right to Receive and Send | Red Lion (1969); Miami (1974); Ark Educ TV (1998) |
| R | 8 | Right to Receive and Send | McIntyre (1995); K 78-81,151-155 | |
| R | 15 | Constitution - News Privilege | Cohen (1991); K 113-122 | |
| R | 22 | Censorship - Indecency | Paper Due; FCC (1978); K 143-151 | |
| R | 29 | People in News - Privacy | Sheppard (1966); Cox (1975); K 177-186 | |
| May | R | 6 | Ownership - Protect Property | Sony (1984); K 171-177 |
| R | 13 | Final Exam | 4:15-6:15 p.m. | |
COURSE OBJECTIVE
The course explores the legal context of communication through the mass media. Major issues include censorship, ownership regulation, remedies for people in the news, the right to receive and send communication in the media, and whether there is a news media privilege. The course examines how the courts have responded to legislative and executive lawmaking by applying the First Amendment to communication in the media. Central to this application is that First Amendment standards vary by medium. Students will become familiar with the workings of the judicial system, including its structure and procedures. The course fosters an appreciation of how longstanding legal frameworks have been applied to different media environments, including the Internet.
The textbook for this course is the course packet "Landmark Cases in Media Law," which is available in the USM bookstore. The two other required books constitute original research in media law. The first book, Make No Law (Vintage Books, 1991) by Anthony Lewis (L), is a comprehensive study of the landmark libel case New York Times v. Sullivan. The second book is The Politics of Internet Comm. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2004) by Robert Klotz (K), which shows how previous frameworks have been applied to the Internet. Some brief readings will be distributed in class. The class Web site accessible through www.usm.maine.edu/~rklotz offers supplemental information and the opportunity for anonymous feedback.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. Students who may need assistance due to a disability are encouraged to contact the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities located in Luther Bonney 242 at 780-4706 or TTY 780-4395.
GRADING OVERVIEW
Your grade has five components: 5% Attendance, 15% Participation, 25% Paper, 25% Midterm, 30% Final. Exams are non-comprehensive and consist of short answer and essay questions.
Grades are based on the traditional 90-80-70-60 scale. Near the dividing lines, pluses and minuses are assigned with the exception of A+ which is not valid under USM grading policy.
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class session. Any late work will receive an initial penalty of 10%. For each additional day late, there will be a 5% penalty (excluding weekends).
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend class. It is recognized that extraordinary circumstances may prevent a student from attending class. An extraordinary circumstance is assumed to have arisen on the first absence of the semester. Beginning with the second absence, the attendance grade will be reduced 10% for each absence. Exemption from the attendance policy should only be sought by those representing the university with their talents in extracurricular activities (advance notification required) and for long-term emergencies (reasonable notification required).
PAPER
Topic will be distributed in class.
Specific policies for this class supplement general academic policies of USM. Any breach of the academic integrity policy will be regarded as a serious offense carrying a minimum penalty of a zero on the assigned work.
Return to Media Law Home Page