1. Chapter 16 – Legal Controls While these slides were created using material from the above textbook, they are not official presentations from the publisher, Bedford/St. Martin’s. In addition, many slides may contain professor’s supplemental notes on various media topics.
2. “Our nation’s historical development can often be traced to how much or how little we tolerated speech during particular periods.” --Media & Culture
3. The First Amendment Models of Expression – Types of Press Forms of Unprotected Speech Our Responsibility As Citizens Copyright Net Neutrality
4. First AmendmentU.S. Constitution “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”
5. Freedom of the PressGlobal Statistics – Surveying 195 Countries 64% of the world’s people live in “partly free” or “not free” Source: FreedomHouse.org
6. Models of Expression – Types of Press Authoritarian Model: the belief that the general public needs guidance from an elite, educated ruling class. No tolerance for government criticism and public dissent. Private enterprise controls the news – there is concern about keeping the peace and maintaining the status quo. Communist or State Model: press is controlled by the government because state leaders believe the press should serve the goals of the state. (China, Cuba, North Korea) Fourth Estate: press operates as an unofficial branch of government that monitors the legislative, judicial, and executive branches for abuses of power. Usually press is privately owned. Spirit is to provide citizens information so they can make informed decisions regarding political and social issues.
7. Censorship is generally defined by the courts as “prior restraint” Courts and governments cannot block any publication or speech before it actually occurs
8. Seditious Expression during times of “clear and present danger” Copyright Infringement Libel/Slander Obscenity Indecency Gag Orders/Shield Laws A person’s right to privacy Forms of Expression Not Protected
13. As citizens, we must: Engage in public debate about media ownership Pay attention to those excluded from opportunities to buy products and shape the cultural landscape Challenge journalists and leaders Become watchdogs and critical consumers Our Responsibility…