PSLEGRET7018 - Media, Journalism, and the Law for Paralegals

Self-Guided Learning

This course does not include traditional lectures. Instead, the student will utilize multiple study-support tools that act as a guide for the learning process. These tools may include:

Chapter Overview and Introduction
Lecture Notes
Chapter Review and Review Answers
Chapter Quiz (required to proceed)
In addition, students will have access to an instructor via email if any questions arise.

Estimated Course Hours (including study and online learning): 24 hours

Module 1: The Evolving Media Landscape – An updated introduction highlighting the historical evolution of media and communication technologies, from the printing press through radio, television, and the internet. This Module would set the stage by explaining how media platforms have changed over time and how law and policy responded, leading up to the current digital era. It provides context for understanding modern media law, including the groundwork of First Amendment press freedoms and key legal milestones in U.S. media history.

Module 2: Media in an AI-Driven World – A new Module focusing on the role of media in the age of artificial intelligence. It would explore how AI technologies are transforming journalism and content delivery – for example, AI tools used in news gathering, content production, personalization algorithms, and fact-checking. The Module would also introduce the emerging legal and ethical challenges AI brings to media, such as algorithmic bias in newsfeeds, deepfake content, and threats to freedom of expression and media pluralism. This overview ensures students grasp the “transformative impact of AI on journalistic practice” and the new questions it raises for media law.

Module 3: Print Media – Newspapers and Magazines in the Digital Age – Coverage of traditional print journalism (newspapers, magazines) and how legal issues for print have evolved with digital publishing. This Module would discuss First Amendment protections enjoyed by print media, libel/defamation in print, and how the shift to online publications blurs the line between print and digital. It highlights that while print media faces familiar legal issues (like libel and reporter liability), going “digital” introduces new concerns (such as online copyright enforcement and instant global audience).

Module 4: Broadcast Media – Radio and Television Regulation – Combining traditional broadcast Modules, this section examines the regulatory framework for radio and television in the U.S. It would cover FCC oversight, licensing requirements, and content regulations (e.g. indecency rules, public interest obligations) for over-the-air broadcasting. The Module compares radio and television regulation, noting both historical differences and modern convergence (such as streaming radio and TV over the internet). Students learn how broadcast law (spectrum licensing, FCC rules) contrasts with the freer regulation of print, setting up understanding of why newer media like cable, satellite, and streaming have differing legal constraints.

Module 5: Social Media Platforms and Online Speech – An updated take on the “Traditional vs. Social Media” topic, focusing on social media and user-generated content platforms. This Module would discuss how legal responsibilities of platforms differ from those of traditional publishers, highlighting Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act which shields platforms from liability for user posts. It compares social networks to legacy media outlets, explaining concepts like content moderation, community standards, and the debate over platform accountability. By contrasting social media with traditional media, students see why the law treats them differently (e.g. editorial control vs. open platforms). Current issues such as misinformation, hate speech moderation, and algorithmic content curation would be introduced here as well, since they directly tie into how social media is governed.

Module 6: Privacy and Media – From Invasion of Privacy to Data Protection – This Module covers the spectrum of privacy issues in media law, both the classic privacy torts and emerging data privacy concerns. It would include traditional “invasion of privacy” claims relevant to journalists – e.g. intrusion upon seclusion, publication of private facts, false light, and appropriation – illustrated by cases where media outlets overstepped privacy boundaries. Additionally, to reflect the AI era, it would address how modern media handle personal data (for instance, big data and targeted content raising privacy questions). Discussion of digital data breaches or surveillance technologies could be included to balance new issues with the traditional privacy framework. By the end, students appreciate how privacy law restrains the media, from paparazzi tactics to AI-driven personal data use.

Module 7: Newsgathering and Access to Information – A revised title for “Access to Potential Source Material,” focusing on journalists’ rights and limitations in gathering news. This Module would examine reporter’s privilege and shield laws (the right to refuse to reveal sources), as well as mechanisms for accessing information like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and open records/open meetings laws. It highlights that paralegals must understand how reporters legally obtain material – from public documents to undercover investigations – and where the law draws lines (e.g. trespass or fraud during investigations). The Module could include recent developments in source protection and emphasize that even in an AI age, transparency tools (like FOIA) and court access remain vital to journalism.

Module 8: From Journalists to Influencers – New Media Actors and Legal Responsibilities – This new or refocused Module merges “Reporting, Podcasting, and Influencers” into a cohesive look at modern content creators. It discusses how the law applies to professional journalists versus non-traditional media figures like bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and social media influencers. Key issues include whether laws and privileges treat these new actors as “media” (for example, do bloggers get the benefit of shield laws?). It would also cover legal risks faced by online content creators: defamation liability for what they publish, FTC rules on endorsements for influencers (e.g. the requirement to disclose paid promotions), intellectual property pitfalls (using music or images without permission), and right of publicity or privacy complaints if they use someone’s likeness improperly. By examining influencer culture and podcasting alongside traditional reporting, students see how core media laws (like defamation, IP, and privacy) apply across old and new forms of media content.

Module 9: Digital Media Law – Internet Publishing and Platform Liability – This Module (expanding on “Digital Media & the Internet”) zeroes in on laws governing online content and distribution. It would cover topics such as website liability for user content (with a detailed look at Section 230’s scope), content takedown rules (e.g. DMCA notice-and-takedown for copyright infringements), and the regulation of online speech (how First Amendment applies on the internet vs. government restrictions). Emerging issues unique to the online realm, like content moderation algorithms and state attempts to regulate social media, would be discussed. This section can also highlight that as AI-generated content proliferates online, there is debate over whether generative AI outputs are protected or if platforms might lose their immunity for AI-created posts. In sum, this Module teaches the legal frameworks that govern the Internet as a medium, complementing the earlier social media discussion by delving into the statutes and cases shaping online media law.

Module 10: Intellectual Property in Media – Copyright, Fair Use, and Trademark – A new Module dedicated to IP issues that media professionals encounter. It would explain copyright law basics (what can/can’t be used in reporting, the concept of fair use for news commentary or quoting sources, and recent questions about AI-generated works and copyright). This section also covers trademark and rights of publicity as they affect media – for instance, using brand names or celebrity images in news and the legal limits thereof. By including this Module, the textbook acknowledges that “copyright and trademarks” are foundational topics in digital media law. Paralegal students would thus learn how to avoid IP infringements in media contexts and understand the legal protections for creative content in journalism.

Module 11: Defamation and Other Legal Limits on Press Content – A clearer title for “Legal Limits on Media and Journalism,” focusing primarily on defamation law (libel and slander) as a key content restriction. This Module would teach the elements of defamation, defenses like truth and opinion, and the higher burdens of proof when media report on public figures (New York Times v. Sullivan standard). It also would survey other content-based limits and regulations on the press: for example, laws against obscenity and indecency (especially relevant to broadcast media), incitement, threats, or publishing national security secrets. The idea is to outline what speech is not protected by the First Amendment and how those exceptions apply to media today. By covering defamation in depth along with these other restraints, students see the balance between free press and the laws that restrain media content in the interest of reputation, morality, or security.

Module 12: Media and the Justice System – Free Press vs. Fair Trial – This Module examines the critical interaction between news media and the courts. Topics include coverage of criminal trials, the impact of publicity on the right to a fair trial, and judicial remedies like gag orders or change of venue to mitigate prejudicial press coverage. It would also address cameras in the courtroom and the legal debates on broadcasting trials. Additionally, the Module can discuss reporters’ privilege in the courtroom context (when journalists are subpoenaed for their sources or notes) and contempt of court issues if they refuse to comply. By analyzing cases and laws at the intersection of media and the justice system, students learn how the law tries to balance an open, newsworthy justice process with the defendant’s rights – a classic tension in U.S. media law. This ensures paralegals grasp why certain high-profile cases lead to courtroom closures or media restrictions, tying back to First Amendment versus Sixth Amendment considerations.

Module 13: Emerging Challenges – AI-Generated Media and the Future of Media Law – A new concluding Module looking forward at how emerging technologies will continue to test media law. It would delve into AI-generated content issues in detail: deepfake videos and images (and new laws addressing them, such as the federal Take It Down Act criminalizing non-consensual deepfake porn), the potential for AI to produce defamatory or false information and who might be liable, and whether AI-created works receive any First Amendment or copyright protections. The Module could also discuss regulatory proposals on the horizon – for example, debates on carving out Section 230 immunity for AI content, or requiring algorithmic transparency on platforms. By reviewing these trends, this final Module ties together the textbook’s theme, reinforcing how “freedom of expression, AI-driven decision-making, privacy concerns, [and] deepfakes” all converge as pressing issues for the next generation of media law. It encourages students to think critically about how legal frameworks might adapt in an era of rapid technological change.

Paralegals seeking to further enhance their knowledge and skills
Professionals preparing to become a paralegal in law firms or government agencies.
Professionals seeking a legal understanding of media and journalism law

Financial assistance information can be found on Rice Financial Aid's Visiting and Continuing Education Students page.

Please be aware that on-demand classes are not eligible for refunds. Additionally, credits cannot be applied towards future courses.

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