Middleton and Lee’s overview of media law includes the most current legal developments affecting the daily work of writers, broadcasters, advertisers, cable operators, Internet service providers, public relations practitioners, photographers, and other public communicators. By presenting statutes and cases in a cohesive manner that is understandable, even to students studying law for the first time, the authors ensure that students will acquire a firm grasp of the legal issues affecting the media.

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Learning Goals

Upon completing this book, readers will be able to:

• Understand the legal issues affecting the media today
• Understand the dynamic changes in electronic communication

Features

• Updated annually - Provides comprehensive and current information on the rapidly evolving field of communication law in a paperback format.
• Legal principles - Frequent summaries of major legal principles help ensure student understanding.
• Methods of analysis - Practical knowledge is reinforced throughout by the provision of methods of analysis necessary to evaluate and keep abreast of a rapidly changing subject.
• Chapter organization - Organizes chapters by legal topics affecting all media and media professions rather than by individual medium.
• Coverage of traditional media law topics - Defamation, prior restraints, privacy, access to information, confidential sources, and media relations with the judiciary, are discussed throughout the text.
• Electronic communication - The dynamic changes in electronic communication—including such issues as webcasting music and broadcasting indecency, are discussed throughout the text.
• Emerging legal area of political speech - The emerging legal area of political speech is detailed, particularly as it relates to corporations and election campaigns, areas of specific interest to the growing college enrollment of public relations majors.
• Chapters on political importance - Includes a chapter on methods of regulation, comparing Constitutional limits on licensing of newspapers, broadcasting, and other media and a strong chapter on advertising and the commercial speech doctrine.
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