Mass Media Law, 2007/2008 Edition with PowerWeb

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review




Wonderful for the working journalist, March 1, 2008
By V. mcvay (seattle)
This book is up to date and comprehensive, but well organized and accessible enough for the non lawyer who needs to know the ins and outs of current First Amendment decisions. It's a great guide for the working journalist as well as students, and I especially appreciate the tips on what to do in certain circumstances (such as when a judge decides to close a court hearing) as well as the forms (FOIA requests and model releases, etc.). It goes into some detail, in layman's terms, but it also has handy summaries if you're looking for a quick reminder. It balances historical precedent with significant modern decisions as well as information on how certain issues (such as privacy and military tribunals) are trending...



Student text -- Why so much??, August 31, 2007
By Erika Foxx (Chicago, IL USA)
I do think authors of student text books take advantage of the fact that a large group of students will be forced to buy this text by a professor who doesn't care about the hefty price tag. I don't know if others have attempted libraries... but they're usually out of the text books you need if you don't check them out a month in advance.

This price was painful to me, being a student. I think professors are just as able to teach a course successfully in class without assigning books such as this one to their students.

And... FYI, this book has a serious ZZZ factor. I paid for the class. I sure hope the professor is a better read.



Great for reference and classroom text, January 29, 2007
By Journalism professor
I teach mass media law and a variety of other journalism classes. This is the only text I would consider for the class. It is updated on a regular basis to include recent, relevant cases. It also thoroughly examines the classic cases that have established the basis for freedom of press in this country. As a former journalist, I found the text invaluable. As a professor now at Campbellsville University, I continue to find it invaluable. It provides the general knowledge of mass media law that my students need as they enter the world of journalism.



Leading Text for the Thinking Student, December 1, 2006
By doomsdayer520 (Pennsylvania)
This book is pretty expensive, but it's a rare example of a college textbook that actually justifies its premium price. Not only is it robust in size and quantity of material, but it's also written in an enlightening manner by a couple of the leading educators in the field. Also, this is not necessarily a law school textbook, but is more tailored to upperclassmen in communications, particularly journalism students who want or need a solid grounding in the areas of law that will impact their work. The opening chapters provide a useful and comprehensive overview of the general legal system in America and issues surrounding the First Amendment. The meaty bulk of the book covers the primary legal issues that will come into play for the serious future journalist, particularly libel, invasion of privacy, information gathering, obscenity, copyright, and regulations. All of the above is presented in a masterful fashion that will both make sense to relative neophytes, and will be seen as a comprehensive summary by experienced practitioners. This is a very well written textbook that gets the job done for a complex and wide-ranging topic. Students of journalism and other areas of communications will be well served in their future careers by the knowledge presented here. [~doomsdayer520~]