Includes index.

The rule of law : law in a changing communication environment

The First Amendment : speech and press freedoms in theory and reality

Disruptive speech : threats to stability, safety and education

Libel : the plaintiff's case

Libel : defenses and privileges

Protecting privacy : conflicts between the press and the right to privacy

Emotional distress and physical harm : when words and pictures hurt

Newsgathering : pitfalls and protections

Reporter's privilege : protecting the watchdogs

The media and the courts : preserving public trials and preventing prejudice

Electronic media regulation : from radio to the internet

Obscenity, indecency and violence : social norms and legal standards

Intellectual property : protecting and using intangible creations

Advertising : when speech and commerce converge

The Law of Journalism and Mass Communication offers students essential coverage and substantive discussion, but brings the subject to life with an abundance of photographs, useful feature boxes, timelines, a marginal glossary, and a colorful interior design. With an approach geared towards students as future practitioners, not as future lawyers, the authors provide a foundation for understanding the law by balancing conceptual learning with practical guidance."--From publisher description