Mass Media Law and Policy

4 Units

This survey course will examine the constitutional, statutory, administrative, public and private regulation of media. We will examine regulations and case law governing television and radio broadcast, cable, satellite and streaming services, newsprint, wire and wireless telephony, and the internet. In doing so, we will learn about the structure, function, and power of the Federal Communications Commission, the Motion Pictures Association of America, processes of airwave allocation and licensing, and mass media ownership. Finally, we will explore contemporary issues of protest (e.g., George Floyd, January 6), communication torts (e.g., defamation, incitement), and the impact of such mass mediated events on law and policy.