About This Course

The course will educate students on how to publish information without violating defamation and invasion of privacy, how to gather information to avoid legal and/or ethical trouble and how to deal with subpoenas. We will also examine how to navigate the digital space of contemporary journalism and focusing on Fair Use, and other laws, policies and best practices in the use of photographs, trademarks, film clips and other copyrighted works. This is a rapidly changing and complex legal environment for journalists, publicists and other creative entrepreneurs. This is not a course to prepare you to practice law but how to see the fuzzy and the bright lines and when to call on legal help. Students will learn about their legal rights and obligations.