Global Media and International Law

(4 Credits)

This course examines the legal and regulatory instruments that shape and influence the flow of communication and media across international borders, starting with the first international treaties for the post, telegraph and radio in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It then investigates how flows of communication and media are intertwined with current political and legal issues such as national security, freedom of expression, privacy, human dignity, and the general norms of world order. To what extent are media governed by law, and to what extent are they a law unto themselves, especially when they cross jurisdictional boundaries? Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Fulfillment: IMB major IMA/IMB elective; Social Sciences International Relations track 200 level