Mass Media Law

This book is up to date and comprehensive, but well organized and accessible enough for the non lawyer who needs to know the ins and outs of current First Amendment decisions. It's a great guide for the working journalist as well as students, and I especially appreciate the tips on what to do in certain circumstances (such as when a judge decides to close a court hearing) as well as the forms (FOIA requests and model releases, etc.). It goes into some detail, in layman's terms, but it also has handy summaries if you're looking for a quick reminder. It balances historical precedent with significant modern decisions as well as information on how certain issues (such as privacy and military tribunals) are trending...

I teach mass media law and a variety of other journalism classes. This is the only text I would consider for the class. It is updated on a regular basis to include recent, relevant cases. It also thoroughly examines the classic cases that have established the basis for freedom of press in this country. As a former journalist, I found the text invaluable. As a professor now at Campbellsville University, I continue to find it invaluable. It provides the general knowledge of mass media law that my students need as they enter the world of journalism.

This book is pretty expensive, but it's a rare example of a college textbook that actually justifies its premium price. Not only is it robust in size and quantity of material, but it's also written in an enlightening manner by a couple of the leading educators in the field. Also, this is not necessarily a law school textbook, but is more tailored to upperclassmen in communications, particularly journalism students who want or need a solid grounding in the areas of law that will impact their work. The opening chapters provide a useful and comprehensive overview of the general legal system in America and issues surrounding the First Amendment. The meaty bulk of the book covers the primary legal issues that will come into play for the serious future journalist, particularly libel, invasion of privacy, information gathering, obscenity, copyright, and regulations. All of the above is presented in a masterful fashion that will both make sense to relative neophytes, and will be seen as a comprehensive summary by experienced practitioners. This is a very well written textbook that gets the job done for a complex and wide-ranging topic. Students of journalism and other areas of communications will be well served in their future careers by the knowledge presented here. [~doomsdayer520~]

The product was exactly as described. No markings in the book or any torn pages. Would purchase a similar product again.

I've just finished writing a paper for my Advanced Placement Journalism class about freedom of speech and obscenity over the radio. This book was one of my best sources. It portrayed Supreme Court cases and laws passed by Congress in great depth and detail and managed to write it all in a language most Americans will understand. I plan to use this book for every essay I can.