As we near the end of the semester, I hope that you can see that the Media Law topics are highly relevant to current events and the world around you.
When you consider the wide range of topics that we've discussed -- from the value of free speech in a free, democratic society to libel, privacy, intellectual property and other topics -- what did you find most interesting?
Did any of the topics have extra relevance to you because of a personal experience? Or, did any of the topics spark an interest in learning more ? Or, did any of the topics make you pause and reconsider something that you thought you knew? Or, maybe there was a discussion in class that you found intellectually stimulating?
You have wide latitude with this question. Just be sure to identify the Media Law topic and address one of the questions above. Also, be sure you provide some context and explanation.
As always, be sure to include your first name, last name initial and your class (either 11 a.m., 2 p.m. or Online).
193 comments:
Copyright information was handy for me to learn since I want to write books (of the fictional novel sort). However, I think I may be a bit of an anomaly among the journalism majors.
There were many things that sparked my interest this semester, but I think that the privacy laws were the most intellectually stimulating. I think it is really cool to see how far we have come as a country, but also in current events the regression we are experiencing currently. I would love to learn more about the different privacy laws.
Brenda Camacho
T. Th. 11am
I really enjoyed learning about all topics related to free speech, but I especially enjoyed libel. It's good to know these things for future jobs, and what you can and cannot do. I feel like all the information I have gotten from this class makes me sound smarter and now I can show off to my sister who is a lawyer. This class really had taught me so much when it comes to my rights, everyone should know them because it is very important to know.
I think the most interest topics of interest in this class, for me, where based on understanding the essential rights of free speech. More importantly, using those rights to defend yourself in a state of court. Understanding court cases Glipnsky v. New York helps to understand how you to understand what rights you do and don't have under state law and how you might be able to protect yourself against people who violate those laws. Moving into laws governing negligence, obscenity and more I really enjoyed understanding how media outlets where and weren't held liable for inciting eminent harm on individuals and how rhetoric shapes that harm. I like to learn about the emotional damages that can be impacted on individuals and how the use of words or speech is so important in controlling that.
Sunday, November, 29
Paige Swanson
6:08 p.m.
Elyse Rountree 2 P.M.
Media Law was by far one of my favorite classes throughout my college career. I was so intimidated to take this class, so I decided to wait until my last semester to take it. Throughout the semester, I learned so many interesting things I didn't know prior to taking this course.
But I think the most interesting thing was the copyright laws. I had no idea that some images you found on google and posted on social media could be copyrighted and you could get sued for it. It also taught me a lesson for my future career in Public Relations in the social media aspect when doing Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for clients.
Laura A 2PM
I really liked to learn about privacy laws. Understanding privacy in times of peace and how we give up a little bit in hope to deter terror is surprising.
Privacy seems very important as a journalist to understand privacy.
Yanira D. 2 p.m.
I found defenses of libel to be the most interesting chapter.
Since I want to pursue a career in reporting, I think it's important to know the difference between defamation and reporting facts. I wasn't aware that it is so difficult to win a libel case, especially when someone is a public figure. I also found it very interesting that libel laws are different for someone in the public eye. Now I understand why tabloids and rumors can be reported because of this chapter.
I got a lot from this class! I very much enjoyed it!
Learning about my free speech rights was very eye opening. I feel as though a lot of people don't know what their right to free speech means and this class cleared up a lot for me. I enjoyed hearing about how just because something is offensive doesn't mean its illegal or violates another persons free speech. A person has right to an opinion (fair comment and criticism)- I really enjoyed every chapter!
This class was very interesting for me to understand the progression of the First Amendment to what it is today. My favorite discussion topics of the class would be learning where the line was drawn(Brandendberg) for what is or isn't protected under the First Amendment. I don't think I realized before this class the extent of what the First Amendment protects. I also enjoyed learning the different concepts of libel and how most cases rule in favor of media outlets and journalists...
...and that Sullivan is the answer to almost everything.
Britney S. 11 a.m.
I learned many new things during the course of this semester. I enjoyed learning more about past media law cases and how they have influenced current media law. Especially New York Times Co. v. United States (1971), many debates were had in my house over the Pentagon Papers and Edward Snowden. My husband and I have differing opinions on prior restraint and freedom of information. I found the lectures on this case insightful and provided new points for both of us to consider and discuss.
My belief and opinions on the first amendment have been strengthened throughout this course after gaining a better understanding of the rights given in it. I now feel prepared to defend my rights and have the knowledge to understand if they are being hindered. This course has been enjoyable and exceeded my expectations for comprehending and expanding my knowledge base.
Kayla R. T/R 11 a.m.
The libel section of this course caught my attention. I really enjoyed the cases we discussed following the "Emotional Distress and Physical Harm" chapter. Throughout our discussions, it was insightful to hear how our world has changed with these cases that have set standards for many things and how they have evolved over the years. Going from the Bowers case to gay marriage now being legal in the U.S. is inspiring to see how laws can change overtime.
Meredyth Wiegand 2pm
I really enjoyed the relevance of this class. It was so great to have current events surrounding the topics we were studying. I thought that intellectual property was riveting, especially learning that Disney paid George Lucas 4 billion dollars for the Star Wars franchise, in case Mickey Mouse falls into the public domain. Upon learning this it made me think about what I personally think about IP law and helped me discover creative commons. I tend to side with Laurence Lessig,
Of everything we've learned this semester, I found Chapter 7: Emotional Distress and Physical Harm to be the most interesting. I am specifically interested in this chapter because of my personal interests in psychology and sociology. I was especially interested in seeing everyone else's opinion in the forum for that week regarding their take on video games and violence. I wish this would have been a topic of discussion for a paper. I would have loved to learn more about different cases like Hustler Magazine v. Falwell.
-Lauren M. (online class)
Janelle H.
Online
I could relate most to the libel topic/chapter. I have had issues in the past with libel and defamation of name and character and this chapter helped me gain insight into all the areas of libel. It is good to know my options now in case I ever have an issue with it again.
HannahO Online
In Chapter 7, it discussed how court cases arise when people blame the media for societal problems. We also had a forum discussion on this where most people expanded on possible truth of real life violence and depression spawned from video games.
In my forum post, I made the argument about how america stresses sex and nudity more than violence.
Recently, I started listening to a podcast called Guys We Fucked. It's an anti-slut shamming podcast where two female comedians, Corrine Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson talk about sex and have guests on to share stories. They are funny and talk about...well sex. Sex is something that we all do. America puts it in our face with sexy ladies in advertisements and then hides the content for after 10pm on TV with explicit warning announcements.
Even a PG-13 movie can get away with murderous killing, like in the Hunger Games, but never will you see a nipple in a PG-13 movie because we don't want our kids to "exposed". Exposed to what? Being scared and not knowing about their body until it's awkwardly presented to them as an adult.
I'm not quite sure what America is afraid of. But Texas is still preaching abstinence only to high schoolers.
What my rant brings me to is that I currently am on the radio. I would love to discuss dating and sex like these podcasters do but I know I couldn't cause it would 1-break FCC laws for my daytime hours and 2-be frowned upon by my company cause it would make us look "unmoral". Then it brings me to possible starting my own project where I can talk about such things on a podcast or youtube but it still puts me in fear for my job cause regardless I'm associated with that company, even if I'm not broadcasting the sex content on their airwaves.
Thoughts?
Rachel Sipe 2 p.m.
Since I am a photographer, I especially liked learning about copyright rights and intellectual property. I totally get the annoyance of someone using your photos without authorization. Now that I know more about this subject, I can use this with my own business and can protect my rights/receive credit where credit is due. After talking about the details of copyrights and how long you can have a trademark or copyright on something, it makes sense that the process to patent/copyright something is very long and tedious. It makes me interested in learning more about how this works in the photography business and what kind of contract or form I can use to protect my rights as a photographer. I really do not use anything to do so but I am learning that it will be necessary to grow my business. This class has helped me become interested in certain subjects that I knew nothing about before, but intellectual property made me think about something I'm really interested in and do for a job so it has helped me understand and given me the ability to act on that.
Some of my favorite discussions in class revolve around our recent chapter on Intellectual Property and a previous chapter covering lawsuits. The latter of which I am currently dealing with.
I felt this class was very out of my league when I started because I just didn't know much when it came to the law.
There's so much information we need to know that is packed into this class, but I like that you did not rely on the book. While it is a suitable guideline, your lectures were far more informative and entertaining.
You tied current events into our discussions and this tactic really resonated with me. Being Mass Media students, its important we discuss these events and the Legal Point of view was quite refreshing.
One of my favorite things about this class was really being able to take the First Amendment and apply it to my life. Before taking this class it was so easy to say "well, people can just say whatever they want, it's their right…", but that is only true to a point.
It is nice to know that libel and defamation aren't "okay." On the flip side to that it's also nice to know that we have the right to say what needs to be said, or give information that needs to be given like with the NYTimes Vs United States and the Pentagon Papers.
Overall this class was very informative and it really helped me be able to apply my rights directly to my life.
Lauren Indian
Media Law Online
Richard Murphy T/Th 11 AM
Before the semester I was not at all excited about this. I thought since I was an advertising major that I had nothing to gain from media law. I was wrong. Since starting this semester almost everyday I see things that I can relate back to this course. Particularly I notice things in the sports media that directly relate. For example last week a friend of mine who is a college football player was in the news because there was an alleged rape that occurred in his home. He was not the person who committed the crime and not even a suspect but they were putting his name on all of the reports all over sportscenter and social media. Coming from a small town there was an outrage on facebook with all these people saying he was being slandered and all this other crap because they were using his name. But since I know he is a public figure and the fact there was an alleged rape at his house that makes it newsworthy! I really enjoyed this class and I'm glad its a required course because if it wasn't I probably wouldn't have ever taken it.
The most memorable thing for me in Media law this semester definitely has to have been learning the difference between the criminal conviction of murder and the civil conviction of responsibility for someones death. We discussed this topic when viewing the OJ Simpson cases. It was difficult to understand at first, but after hashing out he details it fell into place logically.
I was shocked to find out that someone could essentially be tried for the same crime twice, but it is not a case of double jeopardy because one charge is in civil law and the other is in criminal law. Both cases view the same incident, but have different consequences in their outcome and different levels of requirement for proof.
As a college student and a young adult in my 20s, I found Amanda Bonnen v. Horizon Group Management to be very interesting. As a generation who's lives revolve around social media and technology, it was eye opening to realize that someone can be sued for libel just for venting online about anyone or any company. Most people don't think about what they are writing before posting on social media and as Mass Communication students, we must be aware of what is being said before it goes viral.
Joni G.
11 AM
Sara Elmiaari
11 a.m.
Studying Media Law is something more interesting than I thought it would be. It really is like taking the mind of a lawyer and mashing it with journalist's.
Not to be a pessimist, but learning about everything we have, showed me that there really is no such thing as complete freedom, and there will always be some sort of conflict when it comes to what one person thinks verses another.
At the same time, it did show me the true power that the U.S. Supreme Court has and their allegiance to protect the rights of citizens, especially when it comes to freedom of speech. This is rather important considering how some countries are not as fortunate to have the ability to say as much as we can.
I feel like I might dabble in learning more about emotional distress and things of that sort, because I feel like many people toss that in to their lawsuit against others.
Michael Pope
2p.m.
I did enjoy Media Law, and the topics I found most interesting were the Freedom of speech cases we learned about. I liked how in depth we went and it really showed you the process of what is protected by the first amendment and why they are. I really enjoyed the class discussion we had about what was going on in mizzou. This really got me heated as we watched the video, because of the facts I learned in this class. I think that this issue was very relevant for our generation because it dealt with a lot of issues that have been coming to the surface in our society today. I think that by taking this class it has made my understanding for such issues way better than it had been previously. It also shows how complex some of these issues that I once thought were so one sided truly are.
I learned a great deal about copyright law this semester and I am interested in researching more about it. Specifically, I am interested in ways around copyright. I feel that our current system of copyright has placed a choke hold on creativity. The way humans get better at things is by taking an old thing and remaking it into something better or creatively different. It works this way with artistic and intellectual pursuits. When we place profit above the betterment of the species, we are destined for a great fall.
One option we discussed in class as an alternative is putting things under a Creative Commons license. This way people are free to share the work but would not legally be allowed to profit from it. I plan on researching and learning more about creative commons.
11 a.m.
I think the free speech, libel, and privacy sections were all pretty interesting. The cases that we learned about really stuck with me because it helped me to better understand the law. The recent Mizzou protest against the student journalists also helped me to understand my rights as a journalist. The privacy section stuck with me because a friend had recommended that we watch this movie on Netflix called "Nightcrawler." The movie is about a freelance, amateur videojournalist who chases crimes during the night. Being a mass media student, I was noticing a lot of things that my friend didn't. The main character would set up scenes to make them "look better" and even entered victims' houses without permission. Overall, the movie is horrible and I wouldn't suggest anyone in our industry watch it because your skin would be crawling the whole time.
Ryan K 2 pm
I enjoyed learning about a lot of the topics throughout the semester. It made me think a lot more about how important free speech is and what it really does for us as citizens. This class has given me a whole new appreciation for my first amendment rights. I thought the flag burning case was very interesting because I always hear the most patriotic people say how we should punish anyone who desecrates our countries flag. And yet those individuals are the same ones complaining about their rights being taken away by the government. People love to pick and choose what rights apply to them through their own personal beliefs. This class has given me a new perspective on free speech which has helped me understand the importance of protecting our rights as citizens.
The words "free speech" should always have an asterisk next to it, I've learned. Free Speech doesn't necessarily mean that all speech is free. The definition terms free speech to be "the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint." However, there is much controversy over what the first amendment actually covers. While you do have the right to have your own opinion where you decide to preach your opinion is not always protected from the first amendment. It does not include the right to shout 'fire' in a crowd of people which could potentially harm others such as in Schneck v. United States. It also does not include the right for students to print articles in their school newspaper over the objections of the school administration such as in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. However, intererestingly enough it does cover the right not to speak or salute the flag such as in West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette.
Freedom of Speech is something we have all heard and memorized since our first history class but it hasn't been a topic that I had fully researched or understood. I have a much greater appreciation for our country when you understand what freedom of speech truly gives you the right to do compared to that of other countries with little freedom of speech.
-Julie Weilnau (online)
I really enjoyed the discussions and lessons related to free press issues. The notion of the media being able to disseminate state secrets has always, and should always be, a cornerstone to a free and open society. It's also an interesting debate when we consider what is important for the public to be aware of versus what should remain secret. It is, and will always be, an ongoing discussion. Our legislators today can't even agree on how to handle whistle blowers and Edward Snowden types. I can't imagine that we will reach a consensus anytime soon. But we will, however, continue to see state secrets leaked to the public.
Dustin Evans
Online
Media Law seemed like an extremely intimidating course to take but it was so worth it because it taught me so much throughout the semester. I could go on and on about the different topics that really sparked some interest in me, like Emotional Distress and Physical Harm, and the examples of video games and violence or learning about Copyright and everything that comes with it. But I will focus on the current events we had to speak on this blog. My favorite controversial topic was the abortion post. It was really interesting to see people's valid opinions and have them share their personal views. I liked seeing both sides of the issue and be able to understand both sides all while having my own personal belief. It was really nice to have mature young adults come together and speak freely on this topic that is actually in the process of being handled in the present.
Sean Munoz(Online)
One of the topics that had the most relevance to me personally was the topic about the rights of intellectual property. This grabbed my attention because as musician, I am on the verge of having to gain the rights to the material that I am going to release in a few months. I especially liked the TED talk regarding user generated content and how the market should allow for all kinds of content to be easily accessible because it allows for the culture to thrive and prosper.
Naomi R.- 11 a.m.
The topic I found most interesting was the free speech section. Used to, when I thought of free of speech, I thought free speech was not so limited in America because that's the number one thing we're known for..."freedom." But, learning through the discussions in class, not all speech is protected by the first amendment. We are all entitled to our opinions, but how we express that opinion in/to the public makes all the difference when it comes to the first amendment protecting us. The topic of free speech not only sparked my interest in learning more about the topic, but I think in this day of time, it has extra relevance to me with all the things going on in our world today. For example, there have recently been many protests going on right here at home in America (flag burning, group protests and election debates), with the knowledge I've learned over free speech, I now have a clearer understanding of what is actually free speech and what is not.
When having a family discussion after watching the news or just talking with friends over what's "actually" free speech, I now better understand and can debate with them over the limitations that deals with free speech. It makes me feel pretty good when I can actually name a case to prove my point or use it as an example.
Courtney G
11am
I enjoyed this class a lot more than I thought I would. It is so interesting to see the way in which our current laws and way of life played out. In particular it was interesting to learn about the rights of students especially in Hazelwood V Kuhlmerer. This case laid the foundation for what it seemed like most of the class had in common when it came to their high schools rules. From dress code to newspaper articles and yearbook this was the case that changed everything and continued to have a direct impact on us. It was interesting to see where it came from and why our principles had the authority to do so.
I thoroughly enjoyed this class! It was very interesting and I learned many things that I had thought differently on. One of the most interesting topics that was intellectually stimulating was the discussion in class on privacy. Particularly, the Firestone court case. It was interesting to learn that the wife of the heir to the company was in fact considered private even though she has made statements publicly more than once. Overall, every discussion we had in class was entertaining not only for a good laugh, but for also educational purposes. Thanks for a great semester, Professor Martinez!
Paul L. 11:00 a.m.
What I found the most fascinating is how the law evolves. Yes, we learn--briefly--how laws on made, but how they transform over time with new evidence and situations is truly interesting. I enjoyed reading the USSC rulings and how they changed laws that affected the entire industry.
Bowers V Hardwick is an example. To think that it was 1986 and it could be said that a group of citizens did not have the right of privacy and that it took--Lawrence V Texas--17 years for that to change. And just now to have same sex marriage legalized recently. It's cool to be a part of seeing laws change--but also to be able to fully appreciate it now--by knowing the steps it has taken to get where we are now. Taking this class has given me a new perspective on the laws and protections that we sometimes take for granted as American citizen.
Desiree T. T/TH 2PM
Haley C. T/TH 2:00
I enjoyed a lot throughout the semester, learning libel and appropriation were my two favorites. I mostly enjoyed learning about the Hustler Magazine v Falwell case. It was shocking to me how a business could do something that is so morally wrong and it still be acceptable, both legally and by the people who read it.
Magdalena A. 2PM
I was dreading this class since the day I registered for it, but in all honesty it expanded my knowledge. Like a cake, it added layers to what I already knew. It’s fascinating to see the changes from then to now, and it’s intriguing to make an educated guess for the future. I’m excited to see how the copyright law will play out for Mickey Mouse. How are they going to keep the rights? What will congress decide? Will Disney do anything? (This is a fair question.)
But the most important thing I will carry with me is that, “Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.”
Patrick S. 2p.m.
I suppose the day that made actually had an effect on my life was the class on abortion. I believe that abortion in most cases, is for the most part, immoral. However, when we discussed Sandra Day O' Connor's comment on why she changed her mind, it actually made me change mine. I believe now that it is not our right to enforce what we currently call morals on citizens and their private lives. ESPECIALLY IF IT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. This was something that I noticed was a significant impact on my life because I don't think I've ever left a class thinking, "Wow. That actually falls pretty deep into my beliefs and is making me question them". Great stuff.
Other than that, I really loved some of the cases and examples we talked about. Mr. Martinez, congratulations because you have found a way to "reach these kids".
Alexandra Walker
TTH 2pm
With this course being dominated by court cases, one of the court cases that was insightful to me was Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. Recently, a man took it upon himself to kill 3 innocent individuals inside a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs. This incident has caused many debates amongst social media users, disputing their ideas on whether Planned Parenthood is a good or bad idea.
With this terrible incident, I thought about this particular court case and how in the past particular states such as Pennsylvania wanted Planned Parenthood services eradicated. But since that failed, they made it very difficult for women to get services.
Planned Parenthood has a been a hot topic of discussion amongst supporters and naysayers for quite sometime now, even back in the 90's with Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. Women have been placed with undue burdens for quite some time now and it's sad that is has come to murder in this century.
Sam I.
11:00 a.m.
This class made me take a step back and consider how speech is being suppressed in our country. We learned that the First Amendment's main goal is to protect as much speech as possible, but so often in today's society people's speech is suppressed because it goes against a majority view or it is not "politically correct". This is very discouraging. The First Amendment gives us the opportunity to express our opinion and thoughts on topics. We are free to disagree and back up our disagreement with speech. This class was very enlightening!
Taylor Farrell 2pm
I enjoyed many of the topics we covered in class. I found a lot of the information to be extremely interesting and it made a lot of things going on in the world make more sense. I especially found the classes we spent on emotional distress and physical harm interesting because of the gap between the law and ethics. I know I have personally seen cases go in a different direction simply because of what the constitution states.
Brach F.
2 pm
One thing I learned to enjoy about this class was the every day relevance, and whether it were the cases we studied or laws that applied to all of us throughout a daily basis. Copyright is what stood out to me the most since everyday, each and everyone of us is applicable of copyrighting based upon if it's via social media or making an alike "creative" idea.
Using Disney as a money hungry example and how specific they are with copyright laws, they once at a time paid Joel Zimmerman (Deadmau5) to use one of his popular songs called "Ghost's n' Stuff", and then three to four years later attempted to sue for his similar looking logo. Like Disney, Joel Zimmerman's logo is a mouse which looks somewhat iconic to the classic Mickey Mouse shape. Essentially, with references such as this, it made me realize how constant and frequent cases dealing with Media Law pop up in our world day by day.
I found the section about intellectual property interesting, and how the rights to copyright end, leaving the property into the public’s domain for use at no expense. I never realized that, once any intellectual property is created, whether it is an essay or a doodle on a piece of paper, it is protected through copyright so no one is able to use someone else’s property for their own financial gain. The example of how Disney could lose the copyright to Mickey Mouse was surprising and interesting to me. Because the creator of Mickey Mouse was Walt Disney, and the current copyright term is the author’s life plus 70, the Disney Company might not hold the right to Mickey Mouse in less than 10 years. This would mean the iconic character of Mickey Mouse, that has been the foundation of the Disney image for the public, could be used by anyone. I do not see how Disney would not put up a huge fight to keep the copyright under their control. I am curious to follow this story and see how Disney will try to prevent losing these rights, and if they will succeed in the end.
Amanda G. 11 a.m.
I thoroughly enjoyed the emphasis on free speech. I continually find this topic relevant with how much social media has become embedded in modern life. Learning my rights of free speech according to social media has opened my eyes and made me more aware of posts that I make before I publish them. I think many people in our society forget how serious one post can become like in the Bonnen v. Horizon Group.
This is class has honestly opened my mind in many ways that I had not initially anticipated. My father is an attorney and I was active in "mock trial" in high school, but I've never learned about law like I have in this class. Learning about the ins and outs of some of these significant cases throughout history and how they have dictated laws, has been quite fascinating. I would have to say in particular one topic I found of interest was the public and private figure cases. I thought it was interesting to consider if someone is "public" or not and under what circumstances. It's especially interesting to consider how social media plays a role with this in this day and age. Now at the grocery store I give the tabloids a much closer look, I read all the headlines and think: Should they expect this criticism because they brought themselves to the public light? Anyways, I will take a lot from this class and especially my rights as a human being.
Danielle N. 11 a.m.
During this class, I found the topic of libel to be the most interesting. It made me really think about the things that I say about another person especially when it is online or in print. The case, Horizon Reality Group vs. Bonnen boggled my mind that Bonnen was sued for that little comment she made to her friend. It's scary to think that something you say no matter how small you think it is, can make someone feel like you are damaging their reputation and they could sue you for it. Libel is something that I would enjoy learning more about!
N, Sterling (Online)
Overall I really enjoyed this Media Law class. At first I was skeptical about taking it because I wasn't sure what to expect. During this class the topics that I found most interesting were the Freedom of Speech cases and the copyright law. In my opinion both of these topics (as well as others that you covered) are very relevant to our generation/society today and there will always be instances when these issues arise. With today's technology advancements and how viral social media platforms can be, the laws that we have studied throughout the semester can be applied on a daily basis. Although I have come to find that case briefs are not my forte, I have learned a lot of useful information from taking this class, and I thank you for that!
Shannon Carrico
T/TH 11 a.m.
I thought that the Amanda Bonnen v. Horizon Group Management case was pretty interesting. Social media has made it possible for people to share their thoughts and emotions instantly and I thought it was crazy that the company sued her over the tweet she sent out. I think it goes to show that it's always important to monitor what you say on social media so that if you ever enter into the professional setting, you really have nothing to hide from your boss.
Brooke C.
T/TH 2:00 p.m.
This class was way interesting!! I didn't realize how much this does relate to current events or just our life in general. The New York Times Co. v. United State was one I really enjoyed learning about. I also liked learning about privacy laws, it was fascinating to see how those evolved over time and formed our laws we have today. I feel more prepared with graduation coming up and going into the real world that I know my rights better now. Another neat thing about this class was the class atmosphere. I really enjoyed the classmate interaction (in class, blogs and on Facebook.) We felt support from the professor the whole time and it made the class that much better.
Courtney H.
T/TH 11am.
I was so surprised that I enjoyed this class! Honestly I was dreading taking it for fear that it was going to be boring and overwhelming but it turned out to be like story-time every other day. I truly enjoyed it. With that being said the case that I feel like I related to the most was the Snyder V. Phelps case. My father served in the Army and was buried in Arlington Cemetery. When I heard about how the Westboro Baptist Church behaved I was appalled. My heart literally broke for Snyder and his family. I know personally how it feels to bury someone you love in such an honorary space and for Phelps to behave in such an impersonal manner and not respect the father enough to lay his son to rest with his fallen comrades was just so wrong.
Cecilia Long 2 p.m.
This class was nothing less than interesting and useful. Knowing the law and practicing it in the world of public relations will be extremely useful. I really enjoyed thoroughly learning about our first amendment rights and up to what extent that right can be used. I never realized how serious that amendment can be taken and how much of an influence it has on the media. It allows us to speak our mind but to a certain extent and that I feel is a useful tool to a functioning everyday society. I also enjoyed learning about emotional distress and physical harm and the difference/boundary it creates between law and ethics.
I have always had respect for our government and the laws we must obey. In fact, law school has always been in my plans once graduating and after taking this course and really learning about huge court trials and the process of learning these trials as well as adapting them to everyday situations has inspired me more to pursue that route. I would like to thank you so much Mr. Martinez for an amazing semester and for allowing me to engage my mind in a way that I have never done before.
Scott Mitchell 2 p.m.
I really liked talking about the first amendment and how important it is to our society and how relevant and how much discourse there is about the first amendment to this very day. I am above grateful to have this new understanding of the law and how it pertains to my life and my future career. This class was so much fun in general because it is all new content. There is no other MC class like media law, and it was nice to learn something new and relevant.
Paige B. 2pm
I enjoyed most of the topics discussed during class and on the blogs but the ones i enjoyed the most were the ones about libel and slander. I enjoyed learning about what elements need to be present for one to have a case to be able to sue. I also liked learned the differences between libel and slander and how each one goes for certain types of people and the status they may hold.
During the semester, there were many topics that sparked my interest. One of the most interesting topics that I liked was free speech. This is something that people will continue to learn for years and it will most likely stay the same. I feel as if some of the other laws can possibly change depending on what new technology we come up with next (for example, privacy). Knowing what free speech is and where you can and cannot do this is something that every person should know. It is easier to defend yourself when you know what you are talking about. Everyone has a right to his or her opinion and just because it may offend someone else, does not mean it is illegal to talk about. This topic intrigued me to learn more about it and fully understand it.
Karlee Tobola - 2pm
I think learned a lot this semester about the First Amendment. One thing in particular - what speech is protected and what speech is not. Cohen v. California (Fuck the Draft) and Tinker v. Des Moines (the black wristbands) cases really caught my attention. In high school, I was kicked out of our elite chamber choir because I wrote on my Facebook page that my directors were power happy & that they completely ruined the program for me and everyone else. Well, my choir directors saw my post and kicked me out of choir, with no opportunity to apologize, explain myself or fight back. I though that this was completely unacceptable and that they were violating my rights and that I should have been able to express my opinions on MY social networks, whether my elders deemed fit or not. I realize now that the 1st Amendment protects me from the government - not from my school authorities. I realize that I probably disrupted the school environment & my post could have probably caused a disruption with the rest of the choir members & their feelings towards our directors.
Jordan Aragon
2PM
The topic I found most interesting from the semester is the First Amendment. I never realized how important the First Amendment was until I took this class. The First Amendment ties to almost everything, especially personal rights. When we were shown the interviewer at the Missouri campus being told he didn't have the right to photograph students on public property. That video made me so mad because of how important the First Amendment is. I wouldn't have been so angry before I took this course. I guess some people aren't properly educated on its importance.
Media Law and Ethics contained several interesting topics and came with new found realizations of our constitution and our Supreme Court. This class forced me to reconsider my narrow-minded perspectives on topics involving obscenity and freedom of speech. "What might be offensive to you may not be offensive to somebody else" is a quote that has stuck with me from Media Law and Ethics. I did not realize how much weight that the first amendment holds prior to this class. This class taught me that I cannot always think in my own perspective but also have to think of the potential perspective of others as my own perspective is not necessarily the just or fair perspective. Obscenity and emotional distress were my favorite topics we discussed in this class and sparked an interest to learn more. I found it interesting that as Americans, you have the choice to sue someone for different types of emotional distress.
Jordan M 11 a.m.
Intellectual property
I personally think intellectual property and the rights associated with that was the most interesting topic to me. I'm a Hip-Hop artist, and it was beneficial for me to learn a little about how to protect my artistic works. I also never knew there were certain differences between trademark and copy right so covering this helped to explain a little bit of that for me. In order to make money off of my creativity, I learned you have to have the right protections that will enable me to do so and prevent people from stealing my work.
Conor H. - 2pm
I want to start out by saying that this class will be in my top 5 most interesting classes I've taking as a college student, and I enjoyed just about every topic we discussed. I will say that all the cases dealing with reproductive rights really caught my attention because at the time I had a couple of family member's who had an abortion and another who wanted to get on birth control. This class has opened my eyes to some of Americas biggest domestic problems and showed me the power of free speech and using it to stand up for what you believe in, all while helping America progress as a nation.
Nicole S.
2 pm class
I was genuinely interested in all of the topics we covered this semester because in some way, directly or indirectly, all of these topics are relative to my life or current events. I think the most interesting topic was the value of free speech in the 1st Amendment. How far 1st amendment protection can go, and how unbiased it is whether we agree or despise the speech in question are what really caught my attention. I think it's essential for our society to be respectful of other's opinions and for our government not to stifle and use unnecessary censorship on us. The freedom of speech is to protect our opinions, but has boundaries to protect everyone.
This class has been informative throughout the semester. I feel that I learned something new or expanded on previous knowledge in each unit and I have truly enjoyed the material. Some of the most interesting material covered this semester pertained to First Amendment Rights and privacy laws. I knew that the First Amendment granted us the right to free speech but I didn't understand the intricacies of what this meant. Learning the specifics of libel laws and offensive speech is something that I believe will benefit me as I move forward in my career. I also found the topic of privacy laws to be relevant and timely. With everything happening around the world today, ,a most recent example being the horrific night in Paris, it can be easy to think that we should sacrifice some of our privacy to ensure our safety. I think we should be wary of this argument. Studying the court cases that got us to where we are today I have learned that, privacy once given up can be hard to reclaim. A better understanding of our laws and justice system gives me more confidence to speak on the subject than I ever had before!
Derek L 2 p.m. class
I really enjoyed this class, not going to lie I was intimidated by the class coming in. And after the first exam I really got down, but I buckled down and got my grade up after the second exam. I enjoyed learning about the defenses to Libel, copyright law and honestly the stuff today about how CGI images of child porn being protected blew my mind. As I move forward to my career as the sports editor in Littlefield, TX I will keep my spiral from this class close just in case I ever need to reference anything. But, I think the most beneficial thing for me was learning what the defenses to Libel are and how to protect myself from a libel lawsuit...mainly by reporting facts and making sure my stories are straight before they go to publication. And to hold onto my notes and make sure I know where they all are so I don't have any issues like the reporter who had credibility but couldn't find in her notes where her subject called himself an "intellectual gigolo."
Thanks for a great semester Mr. Martinez...
Rachel Willis TTH 2pm
The most interesting part of this class, for me, was the evolving of rights over time. In high school and middle school they tell you the Constitution was signed in 1789 and there were suddenly all these rights to free speech, press, assembly and religion. But in this class I really began to understand the time it took to develop the rich heritage of rights and how long and sometimes hard the fight was to get them where they are today, specifically pertaining to free speech. I also have a new degree of knowledge of how important the judicial system is in not only interpreting our laws, but completely reshaping and even dismantling them through judicial review. From the beginnings of the Supreme Court interpreting the First Amendment in Schenck v. United States, where it seemed people didn't have much freedom for political speech, to the Supreme Court ruling in New York Times v. United States where the court said "any sysytem of prior restraints of expression comes to this court bearing a heavy presumption against its Constitutional validity". I think we have further to go regarding the preservation and inclusion of rights for people in the United States but I now have a much deeper understanding of the evolution of rights and how that affects me and the law.
Hannah Jackson
2:00 pm
One of the topics that I found most interesting was that of libel. I think this is so important for, not only media or law-focused professions, but for everyone to know. However, being someone who is planning to go into public relations I feel as though understanding libel is especially crucial because of the amount of legal trouble in which you can get, not only yourself, but the company for which you work.
Another topic that caught my attention was the "story of a lawsuit" simply because I had no idea there were so many steps, people, and institutions involved in one prior to this class.
Things I have learned in this class, even just simple law jargon, has made me feel more confident when discussing such topics with my family - specifically my father who is a lawyer himself.
Alexzandra A. 11am Class
The topics that we learned in class that I am always interested in is free speech in a free, democratic society and specifically free speech in schools. The case Tinker V. Des Moines Independent School District sticks out in my mind because it made me want to learn more about free speech in schools. It's interesting to know what rights students have and to see if they're aware of these rights. I found it stimulating to discover what each student in our class thought about this particular case. The case itself was interesting due to the time period of the case and the use of black armbands to protest a national issue and to find out how others reacted to it. This case was used as a stepping stone and template for other similar cases. Overall, one of my favorites.
11 a.m.
Through out the whole semester of media law there were many things that stuck out to me. I honestly had no idea what this class would offer or what I would gain from it. I would have to say the free speech, libel, and privacy cases stuck out to me the most. It was so interesting in particular what was protected by the first amendment and what wasn't. After knowing this information there were things I no longer questioned because my questions were answered from this class.
Jalyn Hall, online.
Everything we learned about this year has been incredibly helpful to our futures. As the future generation of mass comm professionals it is important to learn the laws, guidelines and ins and outs of all the concepts that pertain to how we will eventually handle our jobs, work loads and relationships with clients and other professionals in the field. I think the most interesting concept, that really stuck with me, was the ideas of freedom of speech and how it relates to mass comm. I think it is going to be evolving incredibly throughout the next decade because of the advancement of social media. Social media is the field that I am most interested in, and I think that it is going to be tough to evolve but will be necessary in order for society to still have their freedom of speech, but holding true to the limitations; with social media those lines are more easily blurred.
It will be interesting to see how freedom of speech, and different laws change over the course of time due to social media and people's online identities.
Every topic covered was interesting in its own dynamic. If I had to choose one that had the most impact on me, it would be free speech. I've learned that I am entitled to say things that might offend others but doesn't mean it's not protected by the constitution. - Travion Harmon Tue/Thurs 2:00pm
Ramiro Zapata-Online
I think I learned a lot about the right to free speech. I learned that not everything you say is protected by the 1st Amendment. Some is and some isn't. You can't just say whatever you want but at the same time you still have the right to voice your opinion and be heard.
Haley G, 2 p.m.
Over the course of the semester many topics that we've covered have sparked an interest for me. However the topic of free speech and privacy issues were most appealing to me. I found the cases to be informative as well as interesting. I think it's important for every citizen, especially in today's age, to fully understand their rights and why the USSC rules on issues pertaining to such issues. All too often you will hear an individual on their soapbox use a defense as this s my right when in reality they hardly understand their own country's constitution and/or judicial system. Media law has transformed the way that I view media reporting and current issues.
Olivia S.
11 a.m.
I found majority of the lectures in this course interesting. I really enjoyed listening and discussing all of the cases. One of my favorite case that we discussed in class was Horizon Reality Group v. Bonnen. This case was my favorite because I have seen tweets similar to Bonnens come across my news feed. People that I follow actually tag their apartment complexes or restaurants claiming and accusing them of different things. I would never tweet something like this especially after learning about this case. I have enjoyed media law and I look forward to applying what we learned this semester in the future.
Erin DeWitt 2PM
I really enjoyed the class as a whole. I can't say I specifically enjoyed one portion over the other since they all built off of each other. This course was difficult for me since there was so much material covered that related to the same topics, but I learned quite a bit. Overall the topic of free speech (aka this whole course) was interesting and brought to light a lot of things I had never really understood. I mean I obviously knew about the rights of free speech but I had no clue about the limitations and precedents set by the USSC and the major cases. I had never really been into journalism but this class related heavily to my writing for mass media class and shed light on the struggle the media has gone through to have the rights and protection they have.
Paige Stafford 2PM
I found many of this topics this semester interesting, but one i enjoyed most was learning about libel. Its good to learn in class, but i also think that it is important to know outside of class for when we step into the business world and try to get a job. I plan on going into a job of public relations, so I think it is even more important to know libel so that you don't get yourself or your company into any kind of legal trouble.
Gissel G. 11 a.m.
Although I can't say that I found every topic we discussed in class interesting, I definitely found all of the information we covered for the first exam very interesting and it made me want to learn more about cases involving the first amendment. I enjoyed seeing how cases turned out, especially once I got the hang of figuring out how a court might decide (although what I might thing could never be 100% accurate because it always depends on who the justices are on the court and where they stand on certain issues). At the beginning of the course, I always wanted to choose the morally right decision, especially with things like gay rights -- the Westboro Baptist Church case, to be specific. But I eventually realized that decisions are based on what's legally right, and whether that is ethical or not is another question all on its own. There weren't any topics we discussed that I have had any personal experiences with, however. The only things closest to personal experiences are gay rights and civil rights (for instance, when we discussed the Missou situation).
Juliana D. 2PM
I found the copyright topics very interesting. Finding out that work you've released to the world can be regulated was fascinating to me. I feel like no matter what, people are going to find ways around these laws, because people like to take credit for ideas that aren't theirs. This gives me a little more faith in that if someone has an amazing idea, their legacy can still live on 70 years later.
Another topic I found interesting was privacy. Learning that people have certain rights in public areas verses private places is a very helpful thing to know considering recording people doing certain things can be considered an invasion of privacy. This will help a lot in a media career if I have to record interviews or even just shoot b-roll.
I enjoyed learning about copyright law. Copyright law itself isn't particularly exciting. But I enjoyed it because I'm interested in blogging and so it was important for me to learn how to avoid getting sued. Plus, it's just important to know in general considering how active we all are on social media, publishing our own content on various sites across the web. This class was tough for me, but I'm really glad I learned about media law
Online Class
Jennifer Galvan Online
I mostly enjoyed learning about freedom of speech. I liked listening to the podcast about the fight for that freedom on our own campus. I think that was a great way to make that topic more relevant to us. You never realize who things come to be, you just assume it was always that way. I really enjoyed this class and I know i learned a lot.
Jonathan V. (2 p.m.)
Throughout the class there were many interesting and worthwhile discussions but I'd have to say the classes discussion over the USSC ruling on whether computer generated images of "children" in sexual acts were legally obscene. I found the conversation rather interesting in the respect that I did not think this type of discussion would have been had already. The envelope for free speech is being pushed even further with the digital age booming. I really wonder what cases our future USSC will have to be hearing.
I personally found the topics of free speech to be the most interesting. The most interesting case to me was Snyder v. Phelps. It makes sense that the church protesters were allowed to be there now because they were on public space. However, it's amazing that people could be so arrogant and ignorant. Also, it's amazing that the police didn't just ask them to leave. However, I am thankful that we do have a first amendment right to free speech. It's important that we are allowed to speak our mind, but I have always been taught to at least be respectful when it is due. For example, even if I did not approve of a war or anything of that manner, I would not protest it at someone's funeral. The family is in mourning at that time. It's just not humane.
I enjoyed this Media Law class. Learning about all of my free speech rights in the first few chapters was very eye opening, since I didn't know much about the topic even though it is so very important. This class really showed me how entitled I am to my words and to these free speech rights, while also showing me what is not protected by the First Amendment. I found it so interesting learning about the cases, especially the ones I thought people would get in trouble for but ended up not because of their First Amendment protections, like for example the Snyder vs. Phelps case. I also found it crazy and extremely interesting to see how important it is to sue for the correct thing...and how important it is to have a lawyer who knows their stuff (haha). It seems like a lot of the cases we went over ultimately came down to Freedom of Speech rights..which goes to show just how important they are and how people should take this class to become more knowledgeable of them. I am glad I took this class.
Anna Siegmund
11 am T/TH
The most compelling lesson I've learned from Media Law is that SCOTUS rulings don't always produce results that are emotionally satisfying. Take for instance the case of Brandenburg v. Ohio in which Brandenburg seems to have incite violence towards Black and Jewish people. But the court hands down made the right decision because there was no imminent lawless action that occurred as a result of the hate speech. Although I firmly believe that racism is wrong and that we as a nation should combat the institutional racism that exists in America, it would be wrong of me to condemn other people's beliefs that don't directly inflict harm to others. This lesson provided me with another perspective of how we should tackle racism. To silence a group of individuals would go against the ideas that our government was based upon. Though these people might be wrong, it would be an injustice to our system to deter their speech through content based regulation. The only way to successfully change the flaws within human thought would be to incite more free thought, not to limit it. As infuriating as the decisions made by the USSC are, they are progress as we continue to refine and modulate our understanding of the constitution in order to create a more suitable and compatible version for modern society. We should continue to innovate and question the laws of the past in order to improve our current situation, whether that be laws on abortion, the right to bear arms, or new possible laws in unknown regions such as net neutrality and censorship on the internet. I have never realized just how important the USSC is to creating a better society, and I kind of wish I had a say so in who gets appointed.
RynyGyto, O 2pm
Catherine B 11am
I really enjoyed this class. I really enjoyed learning about libel and slander. It was interesting to find out what one has to prove. Another topic I enjoyed was free speech and how you really can't just say anything you want all the time.
The topic that really stuck with me was free speech. When I was younger I used to test the free speech all the time. In middle school I use to purposely swear to my teachers, just to see the type of reaction I would get from them. Then after I would go to the principal office I would argue I had a freedom of speech and then they would tell me no I don't because I was disrupting the class. Now that I been in media law I realize I was wrong for disrupting the class , even though the teachers probably deserve it.
Corri Hughes 2pm
The most important topic for me was that of Intellectual Property. I feel very strongly that Lawrence Lessing is right and creative works are meant to be shared and repurposed. The creative commons is the most vital part of the media society. We need to realize that works are meant to inspire more creativity and should be used and honored by new artists. This topic reminded me of another ted talk I watched in my intro to PR class about how education in America and in general does not allow for children to be creative beings. I hope that as a media professional I can help youth be creative and be an advocate for creative works being shared among society.
Mary H.
11:00 a.m.
I enjoyed talking about the Tinker v. Des Moines case. I enjoyed this case because it made me think of a story that my mother has told me a million times. She was in grade school during the Vietnam war and wore an armband and walked out of her school with her classmates in protest, just like the students did in Tinker v. Des Moines. The whole time we were talking about this case in class, I was thinking of her story. The Supreme Court ruling on this case did not surprise me because my mother and her classmates also did not get suspended for their protest and were treated as adults.
Coming into this class I must admit I was nervous, but the topic we talk about in this course are so interesting. The most important topic for me was free speech. It was interesting to find out what is considered free speech and what wasn't.
Maggie S. 11 a.m. --
I really enjoyed doing the cases talking about students because it really made certain things (especially in high school) come in perspective. There were certain things we were not allowed to do or say in high school and now it makes sense because of the court decisions that make it okay for principals to do so.
Luis Luna
TTH 2pm
The topics of libel and privacy were perhaps the most interesting to me, especially the cases dealing with gay rights. This past summer gay marriage finally became legal in the U.S. but that battle was not easy. Before taking this class I never knew about Bowers V. Hardwick or Lawrence V.Texas. So it was great to learn about these landmark cases that had a huge impact in the LGBT community.
This class taught me so much from beginning to end. My favorite topics to learn about was free speech and the cases related to that. I liked learning the cases really in depth so I can relate them to other incidents. Everything I learned from this class is useful in many instances. For example, I watched a special about O.J. Simpson on the history channel and when they were talking about how he won the criminal case but lost the civil case I understood how that could happen because of this class. My favorite blog post was the one that had to do with the "San Marcos 10" because I had no idea that happened here and it blew my mind.
Gina Boss TTH 2pm
Makyla Jo M.
2pm TTH
Personally I dreaded taking this class because I expected it would be very hard and boring. However, to my surprise I ended up actually enjoying this class and learning about the different cases that have taken place, most which I had no idea even existed. I found the defenses of libel and slander to be most interesting throughout this course and will be able to take the knowledge I learned and apply it to a job in public relations. I also found the cases regarding emotional distress and physical harm to be entertaining, specifically Hustler Magazine v. Falwell.
Among all of the topics we covered, I found one thing particularly interesting and it happened to be sort of a side note. A while back, an incident within my organization occurred which led to threats of a lawsuit. This was eventually dropped and everyone moved on. Recently, another incident happened where the same threats of a lawsuit were brought back up. Our class had been discussing defenses to lawsuits the week this was happening and we learned about other defenses, which included statute of limitations. Because we learned about this in class, I decided to look up the deadline for this specific claim and found out that the lawsuit would not hold up because the deadline to file had passed.
It is nice to have learned things that you can directly relate to personal experiences. I'm glad that I learned about other defenses to a lawsuit because I saved many members grief. Although the threats had nothing to do with libel, I was able to use the knowledge in a way that helped me understand it better!
Victoria R.
11 a.m.
I found most of the topics covered in this class very interesting. The law has its way of becoming tricky and sneaky, letting people get away with things they shouldn't get away with in my opinion. What really crosses my mind though, is the second case brief that I wrote about with the case Winter v DC Comics. This case dealt with whether celebrities had right of publicity after a comic book company published comics with pictures that were very similar to the plaintiffs. Just by tweaking minor physical characteristics and changing the name "Winter" to "Autumn", the defendants won the suit that was brought against them and the plaintiffs did not have their right to publicity. While it makes sense the way it was explained, it blows my mind that even though the pictures in the comics were clearly using the Winter brothers' pictures, that the comic books were legal and there was nothing wrong with it.
Randi S
Online
Media Law was by far one of my favorite classes this semester, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the topics discussed, especially those related to human rights. I found the cases of Bowers V Hardwick and Lawrence V Texas exceptionally interesting. I had never considered how much the attitude of the country towards an issue could impact the United States Supreme Court’s rulings. This class has taught me so much about my rights and our judicial system as a whole. I believe I am now better prepared for a career in public relations because of the knowledge I have gained in Media Law and Ethics.
Jessica G T/Th 11:00
Emotional distress really caught my attention because in the past couple years I have had to deal with a roommate that told me she would sue me for emotional distress after a small argument. It was frightening, I am happy to know that courts generally do not side with emotional distress claims because people are crazy and always try to get money out of a dumb argument. I think it is very smart that there has to be a substantial argument and proof of emotional distress to keep the crazies from getting money for nothing.
Ashleigh Setta 2pm T/TH
Taylor Wright tu/th 11
The flag burning cases were all very interesting to me. My dad told me when i was little that it was disrespectful to let the American flag touch the ground, and that it was surely illegal to burn the flag.
After attending your class, and talking about these cases, i immediately assumed that these cases would all end up with each person who was arrested, to stay in jail or go back to jail. But to my surprise, it is considered a sign of free speech and symbolic speech. I thought that was really cool, and realized that the USSC really does represent the people and their freedoms more than i expected.
Jacob Mickle T/Th 2:00pm
I have enjoyed this class and the free speech cases that we've learned. I have to say there are some cases that I don't agree with, but that's what makes this country great. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I know the United States has it's own problems, but I do believe this country is amazing because of the freedom we as Americans have. No one should take that lightly.
Charlotte Howe - T/Th 11am.
Throughout this semester in media law, a topic that I found particularly interesting is free speech. Offensive speech still being protected by the first amendment is interesting as it is obviously not in the public’s interest. It allows the speaker to express how they truly feel without the consequences that come from violating the law.
I found all the content on test 2 to be interesting which is probably why I saw an increase in my grade. I enjoyed learning about privacy torts and about libel. I was unaware of how harsh the laws against gays were such as if they were caught in sexual acts in their own homes then they could be arrested. It sparked my interest to learn more about cases that relate to that. I also thought if you told someone you didn't want something published such as in the Supple case when he told them he didn't want his sexuality published they couldn't do it.They did it anyway and I thought it was ethically wrong and didn't agree with how that case played out. Overall, I really enjoyed this class and even though law is not a subject I get excited about I learned a lot.
Kasidy, H
2 p.m.
Mario Garcia, 2pm TTh
I found the topics of libel and copyright to be interesting and extremely informative, but my favorite topic has definitely been free speech. I've always known the rights the First Amendment guarantees us as U.S. citizens, but I was never too sure about just how far a person could go in exercising those rights. After discussing the flag burning cases, Cohen v. California's famous "Fuck the draft", and even the awful protests of the Westboro Baptist church, I have a firm understanding about what free speech really means. I can go forward knowing that I, even to the disapproval of others, can voice my opinion. And I go forward knowing that, even if I disapprove, others are free to voice their opinions as well.
To my surprise I really enjoyed media law. A topic that really stuck with and interested me was the idea of free speech. After studying and analyzing the first amendment in class I really feel like an educated member of society. Of course i always knew as an American i had the right of "free speech" but I never really thought about what that right meant. I find it amazing that the government cant tell me what to believe, think, or say and that as a society we prohibit government censorship. I find in it so interesting that various first amendment court cases such as Tinker and Hazelwood have really defined what it means to have the right of free speech. As a journalism major I found this course to be so valuable, and i genuinely believe every student should take some type of law class.
Trevor F
Tue&Thur @ 2pm
Jennifer A. - 2 p.m.
Media Law was one of my favorite classes this semester. I found many of the topics that we discussed to be interesting, but I found the cases about the First Amendment to be the most interesting. I think it's so neat how the U.S. has changed so much and has allowed things to become more acceptable. I also found our classroom discussions throughout the semester to be extremely interesting and I wish I would have participated in them more. I really like we are given time to discuss issues and our opinions in class.
Michael M. T-Th @ 2pm
This whole semester has been filled with information that pertains to my future as a public relations person. Each and every class/lesson was super helpful and has helped me better understand how I need to be careful of what I actually do say or write even though I do have the First Amendment backing me up, it doesn't cover all grounds. I thought that would protect me the most but honestly it only goes so far, I'd say that was my favorite part, learning that the First Amendment could actually only do so much. The time we took to discuss things in class also helped me understand certain peoples points and views that I wouldn't have ever seen had this been an online class.
Lea Del Bosque T-TR 2pm
Copy right was a huge help. I now have a better understanding of what is expected and what can be used in the future. But everything this semester was helpful. Privacy is something else i now have a better understanding about. Privacy can go in many different directions, what you may think is protected might not always be the case.
Being that I am a blogger, the electric media chapter (11) and the intellectual property chapter (13) were the most influential chapter for me to study. Being that I will be publishing events that are not originally my own and reporting on specific people by name, I will need to know the regulations regarding how to do so and protect myself from any legal misunderstandings.
jalondra j. Online
My favorite topic to cover was free speech in a free, democratic society. I think that because we're mass communication students, it was just a topic where we had a lot to talk about and the class discussions were very engaging. I loved learning how the Court makes decisions because I had no idea how they did that. And I love the consistency of the Court in making them. I like to know that I live in a society where free speech has so much value because even though not everything is perfect, we at least know that our voice has power.
Alicia V. 11 a.m.
Jasmine Davis T/TH at 2 pm
I have come a long way about learning about our government, especially what the USSC finds constitutional. The most highlighted topic that stuck was how the USSC delegates their decision. I was always the one to see things ethically and one-sided. After learning about how they look at everyone's well-being and delegate if it is constitutional or not surprised me. Sometimes, we need to look at the big picture instead looking at our own personal values.
Also, I didn't know the difference between a copyright and trademark. Actually, a family member used a trademark in the wrong context, and if it wasn't for this class, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to refute my mother!
Like mostly every senior, I was extremely nervous about taking this class, but this is one of my favorite throughout my whole college career. I have learned a lot of real world information that not only made me grow as a person, but also made me grow as an intellectual human being.
All I can say is, thank you Dr. Martinez.
Francheska Bridwell 2pm
I have a hard time answering this because I feel like I was no where near as educated on the law as I thought I was going into this class so in every lecture I was learning something that could benefit me in my future experiences and for a general basis of knowledge as well. The course was all around stimulating in each conversation that we had I do not feel that we wasted any time talking about irrelevant subject matter, making the learning experience even better! I found the cases more interesting that linked together with other cases and that is also because it was easier to remember and get a firm grasp on those cases because they were covered so much even after we had moved on to another case.
11:00 AM class
I really found the Missouri student protest video we watched the other day to be interesting. It was really crazy to think that students, and faculty didn't understand that the journalists were simply doing their job and could have helped their cause... But instead, created an entirely different story of how they worked so hard to ban media coverage on the real issue. I thought the student journalist working for ESPN, did a really good job "keeping his cool" and understood his 1st Amendment rights and stood by them. I liked learning about the different cases involving good journalists (like Assoc. Press V. Walker) and the cases where journalists made errors/failed to do their job (like Curtis Publishing Co. V. Butts).
Michael Subik 2:00PM
When I think about the topics that we have discussed in Media Law and Ethics, A lot of critical thinking comes to mind. There is a good amount of logical thinking to. A topic that I found very interesting is when we covered libel. Libel is a good example of court cases that focus on freedom of speech and slander, or a person's reputation. Libel is a topic that I would like to learn more about so that I could know how the freedom of speech or the freedom of expression are directly related to my rights as a american. I also found that the in class discussions were interesting and very enlightening. I enjoyed my time in this class and I hope to do well in the final.
In all honesty I was nervous for this class when I first signed up for it because though I know my basic rights, I didn't know them in depth, and much less did I know about media law. As this class went on I found myself being into the topics and engaged with how much this class made me learn about things that might apply to me in the future. As most I found our conversations on free speech very intriguing, but I also found really interesting our conversation on whether something was considered obscene or not. It's difficult to put our opinions aside when it comes to certain cases, but Justice Stewart's "I know it when I see it" quote really stuck out to me.
Daniela G 2pm
I liked learning about the different first amendment cases. Some didn't turn out the way I thought they would. I liked trying to see if I could figure out what was going to happen. Ethics definitely got in the way for some of the cases (for me).
Adriana Bueno
T/TH - 2 p.m.
I was somewhat intimidated by this class when the semester first started. I thought it would be a very hard class, but I ended up learning a lot and I really enjoyed the variety of topics we covered in class. I feel a lot more educated, when it comes to law, than I did at the beginning of the semester.
Some of the Privacy cases had extra relevance to me. Specifically, Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas. These two cases involve gay and lesbian rights. I was really shocked when we talked about these cases in class and we were told that the court ruled that gays and lesbians had no right of privacy in Bowers v. Hardwick. Of course that was 1986, and a lot has changed since then. Seventeen years later the court overturned Bowers v. Hardwick and ruled in favor of gay and lesbian rights. This to me is just a small reflection of how much we have changed as a society over the years and how we are slowly moving forward.
The reason why these two cases stood out to me is because I have always been a strong believer that gay people deserve the same rights as everyone else, and there is no reason why they should be treated differently. It's a topic that I've always been passionate about, and I really enjoyed discussing it in class.
Courtney Moufarrej 11 a.m.
It's so difficult to narrow it down to one thing because I found value in every topic. Some of the main ones that came to mind immediately is libel, privacy and free speech. I enjoyed learning more in depth about libel, slander and defamatory statements because it gives deeper insight to how to deal with certain situations, especially when dealing with clients in the future. It's important to know and understand each situation and how it can be accurately represented. And also knowing how to defend them, hence, the major defenses to libel. Aside from the importance of knowing just what and what can not be said or done in the workplace, it's vital to be aware of the world around us and just how the law works in various aspects. Which is why I appreciate the fact that we were able to touch base on various types of cases, from flag burning, to copyright, privacy, libel and emotional distress.
Hanna F. 11am
Honestly, there were many things about this course that sparked interest, as a matter of fact, this course has honestly made me consider studying law in the future. One of the things that stood out most to me was the privacy cases, it was really interesting to see how laws have changed (or not changed) regarding things like abortion and birth control. I found is especially interesting that condoms were not seen as a problem in the contraception cases, only female forms of contraception were taboo. I believe that says a lot about society, and particularly the society at that time. I really enjoyed this class, and as lame as it is, I'm actually really sad that it's over.
Malik M., 11 AM
Overall, I think this class as a collective was such a great learning opportunity. I really appreciated that this class really made us think about what we were discussing, not just find out why. As far cases, I think the most surprising cases were all the ones that we thought we knew. Let's take the flag burning case for example; we thought for sure that the flag burners would be convicted, but they weren't because of First Amendment protection. Throughout all of our cases, I found it so interesting that our judicial system has truly stuck to what we were founded on; the Constitution. It is so interesting that they do put personal feelings aside, and really look at both sides, finding the true conviction. It's very warming to know that they do use a non-biased opinion, but an informed opinion. That flag burning case was very wrong, but I just find it so amazing that our judiciary system can look past our personal feelings and truly look at what really matters, or First Amendment rights!
It's hard to narrow down to one specific topic we have covered. Since the beginning of class I have started to notice real world applications of the subjects we have discussed. The discussion we had on ethics most recently will probably be the thing that sticks with me for the longest. Knowing the legal side of things is great but approaching things with an ethical mindset will continue to be important throughout my career. Learning to see the bigger picture and paying closer attention to how laws and court decisions change over time based on changes in society will also help with my career.
Greg D. 11 am
Ron G. (2 p.m.)
In spite of how dry the textbook readings were (sorry), this was honestly my favorite class because of the class discussions. Every discussion we would have was intellectually stimulating, I’ve never been in a class so large where so many people were allowed to debate their views or even just speak their mind. One discussion that was particularly memorable for me was the section about privacy, when we discussed Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas.
Being gay these two cases resonated with me deeply. Learning the 1989 Bowers v. Hardwick decision, that gays and lesbians had no right to privacy based on the lack of procreation made me wince inside. The fact that Lawrence v. Texas was even an issue in 2003 made me even more aware that as much progress has been made for the LGBT community, as for all minorities, it’s still this slow, painful sort of progress.
Alex Young
11 am TH
This class as a whole was intellectually stimulating. I truly feel that I have gained a new knowledge for media law that has changed the way I think about the law, and changed the way I view society. I have a new appreciation for the various laws we discussed in class and I think from now on I will view controversial topics discussed in the media from more of a legal standpoint rather than an opinionated one. I was especially interested in Intellectual Property, primarily because I had very little knowledge of the legal and ethical issues that come with it before I took this class. I felt the same when learning about Privacy. This class really answered a lot of questions I had about both of those topics and I am very grateful to have been a part of a few of the discussions in class that came with it.
I am very curious about some of the legal issues going on in society right now - and because of this class I am now also very eager to tune in and see how/if some of these issues develop in the coming years.
Overall I found all of the topics that we discussed in class to be very interesting, but I would have to say that intellectual property was the most interesting in my opinion. I believe the concept of a person still solely having credit for their ideas and productions for 70 years after they die and then it falls into the hands of the public to be quite interesting.
I found the topic of this to be rather interesting and how in some cases that we discussed that chose to publish information even if most people would have thought that it was not ethically correct to do so.
Shelby Mueller 2:00 p.m.
I found the privacy cases to me the most interesting. I didn't realize before the lecture on privacy cases that there was no right of privacy for Gays and Lesbians back in the 1980s. The Bowers v. Hardwick case really opened my eyes. The fact that Justice Powell later admits that he probably made a mistake is what sparked my interest in learning more. I knew Gays and Lesbians were not accepted in society in that time period, but not to the extent of arresting them for committing sex acts such as sodomy in the privacy of their own home. I find it cool that in 2003 the Lawrence v. Texas case finally grants Gays and Lesbians their rights to privacy. It seems crazy to me it took up until 2003, however at least the issue of right to privacy was finally addressed.
I absolutely loved this class and your approach to teaching it to me. I never felt that I was in a class room setting, but more on a one-on-one experience. I have gained so much from this class and I would absolutely take it over again.
One of the biggest things that I learned was the value of free speech in our country. I never realized how powerful it was until taking this class. There were some things that I knew you couldn't do with Free Speech, just not the definition of what would make a certain speech illegal, but now I do.
The case that stands out to me the most is the Westboro Baptist Church case. I despise that group and church as a whole and everything they stand for. As a gay male, what this group of people say about homosexuals is beyond distasteful and very demeaning. Living in the 21st century and to know there are still people who act, believe and say the things they say is mind blowing to me. How could a society as advanced as ours, still produce people who think backwards and have everything they say be protected when it has so much hate behind it. BUT, that is the the law. The first amendment working. Just as they have and can create their platform to say what they want, I can very well do the same towards them or any group that directly targets a group of people which I am apart of. The only difference is I will do it will dignity and with class and not sink to the low level they do overtime they are picketing something or someone.
I could go on and on about other cases in the class which I remember happening or we spoke about that I felt on a personal level, but I would be here all day typing this up. But know your class has opened my eyes and mind to want to learn more about the law.
Thank you for a great last semester as an undergrad.
Adrian O 11 a.m.
Samantha Byrd, online class
I found the issues with the First Amendment the most interesting. It's kind of easy to interrupt the meaning of it in different ways, so I find it interesting the way the court addresses it, especially with situations like with those who protested at the stallions. I would be interested to learn more about the First Amendment and how to rule using it.
Jake N
2 p.m.
The intellectual property chapters and discussions were the most interesting for me. As I'm going into music PR, I found myself relating a lot of the material to future campaigns that I will be working on. I enjoyed learning about different aspects of intellectual property and how law has changed over time.
Thank you for a great semester. Have a good holiday break!
Kelsey B, T/TH 2 p.m.
Media Law has been my favorite class this semester and of all the time I've spent in college. Cases like the New York Times v. the United States and the New York Times v. Sullivan, definitely sparked my interest because of my obsession with journalism and why newspapers do what they do. The first amendment and the way freedom of speech works is extremely fascinating to me, because I do want to be a journalist when I graduate. So, knowing how much the first amendment protects and how intensely the Supreme Court works to protect those exercising their first amendment rights is fascinating to me and definitely makes me want to learn more.
CINDY C ONLINE
This has been a wonderful class. The format was very well organized and like another commenter said, it felt like a one on one experience versus a crowded classroom or disjointed online environment.
I found many subjects interesting and eye opening, but the extensive content on the First Amendment and Free Speech was my favorite. I enjoyed finding out history on how the USSC shifted its rulings over time and with different political appointments and how the makeup of the court swayed the overall rulings. I have an expanded appreciation for our First Amendment Free Speech liberties now, and have more patience for opposing views when I see them in print, online, etc. I may disagree with the Westboro Church and find their views disgusting but we can not pick and choose who to silence based on disagreeing with them. In order to have our freedoms, we have to be inclusive to ideas we do not agree with so that we share that liberty ourselves to express our own ideas.
Laura Carr
T-Th 2-320
There were lots of things I found interesting this semester, but above all else, it was interesting to see how the law works and legal system works, because while I did have the correct understanding of some things, others I was a little backwards on. I think sometimes people feel that, just as we discussed, legal things lean more ethically when it reality it isn't always like that. Having to try to understand why someone who sets a cross on fire in someone's yard on fire may get off easier than we as a country think they should, or someone legally being able to reproduce computer generated child porn. While morally it may not sit with us, it is interesting to see the court's reasoning. While it was sometimes hard to swallow their decisions, it was a little reassuring to see that for the most part, they decided the way they did for the protection of the future. Not necessarily ruling one way on a case, because it would undo all the work of a previous landmark case decision. This did not ALWAYS sit well with me, but I think it is great that at least most of the related cases were held to the same standard as whatever relevant landmark case on the topic, and if things differed, the court could tell us WHY they decided differently, what they needed to prove but didnt, all of that.
Personally, I enjoyed the free speech/first amendment cases the most, simply because in the past I feel my rights have been swept under the rug in certain situations, and having knowledge of my rights and what I can and cannot do for SURE helps me feel at ease to voice those rights with any other situation I may encounter regarding my rights being violated.
Allison Crawford
T/TH
There were a lot of things that interested me that we learned this semester. This class, after taking some time to adjust how the class is run, turned out to be one of my favorite classes I have taken at Texas State throughout my 3 years here.
I really enjoyed learning about the topics related to free speech and libel. I also really enjoyed our last class lecture regarding ethics. The information that I learned from this class I will carry on with me for the rest of my life. I don't even plan on throwing away any of my notes and keeping them to reference back to in the future. This class has really taught me a lot and it very important to know about our rights and this class has really given me some great insight when it comes to them.
The most interesting topic for me was copyright, because I make videos on YouTube and I've always had questions about what would and wouldn't be fair use for music and other copyrighted content that I might want to include in my videos.
Pam Paz MC 4301 Online
Speech in schools was a topic that really resonated with me. As a former staff member for my community college's independent newspaper, I learned how some are resistant to the media. One of our forum discussions asked us to comment on how we were affected by free speech in high school. The example I gave was really the only one I could speak to in relation to the question. There was an incident at my community college where I felt we were, in a way, being censored. When the first edition for the fall 2015 semester became available, several staffers, including myself, handed out issues to students, faculty and staff in the mall area of campus. I handed an issue to a member of Student Life staff and she told us that we were not allowed set up in the mall without previous permission. She said all clubs needed to have permission from Student Life before they set up in the mall area. We explained to her that we were not a club and that we had the right to be there. Since she was in a leadership role for Student Life, we went back to the newsroom and told our adviser. Our adviser immediately called the director of Student Life and asked why we were told to leave. He apologized to her and said that we were able to hand out papers in the mall without permission since we were not a club and assured us he would communicate this to his staff.
Megan Lopez
2 p.m.
Coming into this class I didn't think I would find that many things interesting but boy was I wrong. One thing that I found really interesting is the whole Copyright aspect. I never knew exactly how long copyright lasts and learning about how it's effective for the authors whole life plus an additional 70 years is crazy to me.
I also never knew that Disney paid 4 billion to get Star Wars and how Disney is most likely going to take over the world. In all, I found copyright and trademark really interesting especially since I like to edit and take photos and now I know what is protected out there and for how long.
Cassidi Johnson 2pm
I found chapters 4 and 5 having to do with libel the most interesting discussions to learn about for a few different reasons. For starters, it seems like proving whether or not a person was libeled is a pretty subjective conclusion to come to. I guess I think this because we did not focus on in-depth details, like what proof was given in the case to decide the outcome so, it seems hard to prove that someone actually knew what they published was false. This is the whole actual malice and negligence part of it libel. Of course, as we saw in many cases it was obvious the defamatory publication was trying to be controversial or spiteful, for example Curtis v. Butts and Gertz v. Welch. I guess I'm just thinking of "he said, she said" arguments I've heard in person but there are also people out there who "deny till they die," because they truly believe something to be true even though it is proven false or is generally accepted as false by society.
All that is pretty vague, but I also liked some of the justifications on cases by the USSC to solve the issue of subjectivity when it comes to libel. For example, I liked Justice Brennan's three reasons for the decision on New York Times v. Sullivan but especially the implementation of actual malice as a new standard to hold upon public officials (and later on public figures). It's great this case identified that public officials who placed themselves in the spotlight should expect criticism.
In the Philadelphia Publishing Inc. v. Hepps case, I thought it was awesome that the USSC put the burden on the plaintiff even though it has traditionally been placed on the media. This was great because if Hepps truly wasn't affiliated with organized crime, then it would have been a piece of cake to prove his innocence. The case stood out to me because I lived in the North East this summer, and was surprised to see how many companies were "cash only" to avoid the IRS. I also heard of many companies, some that were relatively famous, that were under investigation for embezzlement and fraud, so I guess not much has changed since the 80s.
Also referring to the Philadelphia Publishing Inc. v. Hepps case, I really liked the fact that the burden was placed on the plaintiff because it was a matter of public interest. I don't care if it was the best snack store or restaurant in Phillie, anyone cheating their taxes deserves to get caught and pay their dues back to society.
I really enjoyed learning about all of the topics we covered this semester. But, I found learning about learning about our right to the freedom of speech especially interesting. Not many people realize how extensive our right is when it comes to freedom of speech and that even when something is offensive to someone they still have a full legal right to express themselves in most cases.
Katherine Byland
11 a.m.
Tiffany B.
2p.m.
I found that the most interesting element of Media Law was a the discussion of a democratic society in regards to liberty and security.
The topic of a democratic society sparked my interested when discussing New York Times v. United States. The incident regarding the Pentagon Papers has major relevancy on today's argument on whether Edward Snowden is considered a hero or a detriment to the United States. In my opinion he is a hero because he showed society that the government should NOT invade the public's privacy to the extend they did.
What I found most interesting this semester is what we learned about libel. I thought it was plain and simple - if you wrote something that was a downright lie about somebody, you would be charged for libel. I didn't realize that people could be protected to a major degree if it was considered political satire or obviously exaggerated. It was interesting because no matter how hurtful something could be, if it didn't harm a person extensively or harm their reputation, charges would be dropped.
Courtney S.
2 p.m.
I really enjoyed this class overall and learned a lot of things related to law and ethics as well that I had never known about before. All of the topics that related to free speech as well as liberal were very interesting and taught me a lot. The topic that I really enjoyed the most was libel because these are things that pertain to future careers as to what you can and cannot due and knowing your rights.My aunt and step father are both lawyers and this class has allowed me to speak about cases with them and also got me really into what is going on in our world and how it pertains to media law. A lot of things that are going especially with these shootings and what is getting filmed pertains to what we learned in media law. The first amendment allows them to film what is going on. One example was what you used in class with the video of Mizzou and how the 1st amendment allowed the student to film and not get sued. All of things that I have learned from this class have allowed me to gain more sense of what is being talked about on the news and in our world in general. This class taught me so much when it comes to my rights, as well as everyone else's rights and what we should know them. This pertains to our everyday lives and as well to what is going on in our society. I really enjoyed this class, I will say it was difficult but it teach me a lot. It has sparked a new interest in keeping up with the news and not only watching one news outlet but many and the different coverage that they get.
11 a.m. TTH
After taking this class I realized civil disputes are not cut and dry at all. I was very surprised about the number of cases we discussed in class that took seemingly forever to decide on a conclusion. It seemed like many of the cases were always in a grey area of who is right and who is wrong.
One case that was interesting to me was Sipple v. Chronicle Publishing. Even though he did not want the publishing company to publish that he was gay, they did anyways for a greater cause at the expense of him. It's just interesting to see that happen especially after learning of the SPJ Code of Ethics.
This class was very interesting to me and I learned a lot of great information about media law. The thing that is going to stick with me throughout my life is how many ways the first amendment can be interpreted. The Supreme Court's rulings in the past have not alway followed the first amendment but you can see over time how the courts rulings progressed over the years. Especially how they handled privacy cases dealing with homosexuals in the privacy of their own homes. Enjoyed the class very much!
I found free speech to be among the more interesting topics. There is this notion i grew up with thinking that a person can say within reason, whatever they would like under the protection of freedom of speech. I knew that idea wasnt completely true, I was gravely unaware to the extent of how limited that idea was. I found the examination of the supreme court cases that dealt with free speech like Cohen V. California to be compelling. I definitely have a more concise understanding of how the first amendment and its application.
Justin Clark T/Th 2p.m. class
The thing I found the most interesting is how protective of the first amendment the USSC has been, especially when it game to the hate speech and obscenity laws. I tend to agree with the courts on these topics, while I may not agree with the content of what a person says or symbolically does, I do think they should have the right to express that opinion the same way I can express mine.
The topic that was the most relevant to me was the copyright law, I used to run a YouTube channel (would one day like to get back into that) where I had to be very careful of not violating any copyright restrictions because YouTube has a very harsh 3 strikes you're out policy.
I think we covered a lot of interesting topics this semester and had some good discussions both in the classroom and on the blog. The cases I found most interesting were the ones involving libel and free speech. What jumped out to me about libel was when we covered emotional distress, it was eye opening to see what is considered damaging to a persons emotions and the possible outcomes. Some of the cases regarding free speech and what was considered protected under the First Amendment was surprising to learn about. For example, cases like Brandenburg v. Ohio, though the speech could be considered dangerous and offensive, it is still protected by the First Amendment. Both libel and free speech are subjective and each case is unique, which I found pretty interesting to learn about.
Breona Horne 2pm class
Thao-My Nguyen
2PM
I enjoy Media Law class very much, something I never thought I would like because I've never have much interest towards law. I found this class challenging but I learn something new every single class. I don't particularly have a favorite topic that we've discussed in class because to me, they're all so very interesting. But if I have to pick, I would say learning about the process and how the USSC make their decision for each cases were very interesting. Especially on hate speech and fighting words, and how the USSC make their decision on preserving and expanding the First Amendment as much as possible. What is consider protected and not protected by the First Amendment.
Learning about Copyright was very interesting to me, and I learned a lot I did not know before. I am wanting to write in the screenplays for the film industry, and the copyright section helped me understand the law regarding personal work or using others work.
Shane S. 2 p.m.
Megan C. Online
There are various topics that interest me throughout the semester. I must say this is one of the most difficult yet interesting classes I've experienced. Learning details of the freedom of speech is the most interesting topic to me. It's fascinating how our law allows many situations yet disallow particular situations. Understanding the rights we have to speak publicly whether others agree or disagree with ones thoughts is a significant right! Also, learning how to defend ourselves is explained well in this class and I definitely learned details I had no clue prior to Media Law.
Jim Schaefer 11am class
I came into this class expecting to learn about the do's and dont's of news reporting. Essentially how to cover your ass as a journalist and avoid lawsuits. Instead what this class was an entire semester covering what the first amendment means and how it has been interpreted over the years. I found it interesting to discover that this one amendment is so much more complex than I had ever thought. As an American, when you think of the first amendment you think of it as absolute. Free speech is free speech right? I've learned that in many ways, the first amendment is not absolute (i.e. obscenity and draft card burning). I've also realized that we as humans can be so reactive to situations that we will voluntarily hinder our own free speech without thinking about it (we don't like flag burning so we tried to ban it even though it is federally protected political speech). This class as a whole has been an eye opening journey through the always changing first amendment.
As several people before me have said, I really enjoyed this class. I all I heard about it from friends who have taken the class just went on and on about how much info there was. They forgot to leave out that all the info was really cool and interesting stuff that can be used later in my career in advertising. Naturally, being a advertising major, I really found the copyright laws interesting. I can use that later in my career when trying to find material for ads. Makes you really wanna be careful in what you use so you don't get a lawsuit on your hands.
Tyler Hull
TTH @ 2
Nick Hayes
11am
First entering the class I was a little skeptical after hearing the rumors that Media Law was hard and so on that we all know about. Once the course really started to take off I found it more interesting than I expected too. All the material I felt can be very useful in the real world for obvious reasons related to the law and the media. One section in particular that I would guess stuck with me the most was when we were going over libel and elaborating over defamation because I think in today's reality like it was back then people's reputations are very important to one another; so given the right information like from class with the elements that have to be proven, you would know exactly what to do in a situation where your reputation was harmed in court. Everything that was taught carries relevance with it, so it's not like it was some blow off class that you just have to take for the credit. I see now that media law is important for people who are want to work in the mass communication field like we all are.
Kate G.
T/TH 2pm
In most cases we've gone over, I've agreed and celebrated the court's decisions that ultimately gave people more freedom. However, the cases I found most interesting were the ones that made me realize that some freedoms aren't necessarily a good thing (at least in my opinion). For example, the Westboro Baptist Church has the freedom to protest at people's funerals. When we went over that case, I understood how they were protected, but I still felt it was an injustice to that father and all the other people who have been hounded by this group. Shouldn't funerals be off-limits? Another situation that bothered me had to do with pornography. While child pornography is illegal, we learned that it's okay to depict it, whether that be animation or photoshop and that there's nothing a parent could really do to prevent their child's face being used like that. To me, even depicting a child in a sexual context is deplorable and shouldn't be accepted. I know that violent video games aren't proven to cause real violence, but there have been many studies about how porn can affect your sex life in a negative way. I fear that people who watch simulated child-pornography will only end up wanting the real thing. How important is the freedom of sexual expression when it creates a dangerous culture that sexualizes children?
A topic we discussed in class that I didn't expect to find intellectually challenging was free speech. Free speech is something I always thought I really knew, and the reason why I wanted to get into journalism in the first place. It was surprising to me to find out about all these different types of free speech and it was extremely interesting to hear about how they came about. Free speech is something I that I always thought to be very straight forward and I learned in this class that there is so much more to it. It was also very cool to see what words people found offensive compared to now.
I could write a book about all the things I found interesting in this class, but for the sake of brevity I'll focus on just a couple.
1. The power of the USSC and the power of the First Amendment. Wow! I mean I had a vague idea of what the Supreme Court does and doesn't do, but now that I have a more thorough understanding, it really gives some perspective to how our country has progressed and evolved as we age. I mean yeah, we've made some pretty stupid decisions. But luckily, those decisions almost always get overturned in favor of freedom for all. As for the First Amendment, it just makes me thankful to live here, which sounds contrived but it's true. I used to get really bothered by people who spout off ignorance or can't hide their hatred for other human beings. But if those people aren't allowed to have their views and opinions heard, why should I? As we learned, the truth will always win. And that's a great comfort.
2. The devil is in the details. Court cases are won and lost over tiny details, and that blows my mind. OJ Simpson and his Isotoners walked free because of details. The kids who set the cross on fire in the yard walked free because of details. The whole system is way more complex than I could have imagined and I loved picking these cases apart.
I walked in to this class more than a little apprehensive, knowing that law is not exactly my chosen field of expertise. But I'm walking away with a new appreciation and fascination with the legal and ethical side of my career choice. I think credit for that goes to you, Mr. Martinez! I'm sad to see this class end.
Avery A 2pm
Media Law was such an interesting class with so many parts but I would have to say I found learning about the copyright laws the most interesting. Being advertising major and wanting to work in a creative field with images I feel like learning about copyright was essential. In my career I will need to know these laws in order to safely advertise with images without stealing from someone else’s work. I was always a little unclear about the specifics of copyright material but after this class I feel confident in my knowledge. Thanks for such a fun and interesting semester!
You were able to make all of the topics interesting, but the one I found the most interesting was free speech. We are pretty protected by the 1st Amendment under certain provisions to say what we feel.
The topic that has the most relevance is libel. Since I am a PR student, it is extremely important to know what is legal and illegal when writing a news release or reporting about someone. Those are laws that will stick with me throughout my future career.
Shayla Patel- 11 a.m.
Jessica S. 11 a.m.
Media law has definitely been an interesting class. I feel that I have enjoyed everything we have learned this semester because it is relevant to our everyday life and for our future career paths. I think that everyone who isn't a mass comm major should take this class so more people are informed with what the power of the First Amendment upholds. I found Libel and Copyright law to be the mot intriguing to me because it is important to know as a PR professional what can be put out there and what will land you a lawsuit.
Media Law this fall was very informative from the current events to the cases and I have seen the relation of the topics to the fields we are about to enter after graduation and the importance of being responsible. I found copyright to really caught my interest because I was told recently that 50 years was the length they lasted but I learned that it's much longer because it's 70 years after the authors death. I went and showed the person who was convinced it was fifty and they were very surprised to find out.
Through out the course I have learned a lot, but the topic that stuck out most to me would have to be free speech. I didn’t really understand how important free speech was and there were so many cases that came down to free speech. It was interesting to see what was considered free speech and what was not. The cases I considered people to get in trouble with were protected by the first amendment and that gave me a better understanding of the rights we have. People always think they can say what they want but free speech explained that they only have the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint.
I really did enjoy this class. I learned a lot during the course of the semester, but the last few chapters were definitely the most appealing to me. The earlier chapters were more difficult for me to grasp, mostly because it's hard to think of myself in the position of those people at that time. Learning the ins and outs of what free speech truly is and learning about libel were definitely the two most interesting topics of the course. After learning about these, looking back at the previous chapters made learning that content more clear. This was a very valuable course that will help me in the future, regardless of the career I end up in,
Kristen Redwine-- Online Class
Laura Garza
2pm
Like many people have said, I also dreaded taking this class because I heard of how hard it was. This class was a lot of information to take in, but it was all valuable information that I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn. One part of this class that I found particularly interesting was when we went over the privacy cases, especially Bowers v. Hardwick. I know that we've evolved from conservative ways but I had no idea there was a point where states could forbid sex acts between people of the same sex. Overall, I enjoyed this class a lot more than I thought I would and I'm glad it's a requirement.
I enjoyed learning about free speech more in depth. Not only dod I find this interesting, but that it also is applicable to my future endeavors. I feel more knowledgeable and well rounded from this class. Pretty much everything we covered in this course is applicable to real life, not just "busy work" like some classes.
- Brennen
Miguel Perez
11 am
Learning about the limits and exact rights we have with the first amendment was pretty fun. Libel was my favorite because I found out exactly what words I can say to others and online while still being protected by the first amendment. I'll be honest, this class taught me about the exact things I can say and can't say.
Laura H. 2 p.m.
As a prospective law student, I expect to know what area of law I want to study, which this class definitely elaborated on that. Initially, I only wanted to study entertainment, but after this class media law has won me over. Never did I think I could apply the First Amendment so much outside of the classroom.
I discovered my interest in media law after we discussed New York Times v. Sullivan -- libel. Although we touched many topics, libel stood out the most to me. The mere idea that one could be punished for harming another's reputation solely based on the words they used fascinated me. This concept is what I want to learn more of and focus my studies on; especially as a public relations major with an interest in law, libel law definitely speaks my language.
Tom Woessner
11am
I'm fascinated by the difference between what is legal and what is ethical. Even though a specific action may be legal it may very well be unethical, or vise-verse. Ethics is such a gray area and is viewed differently among people, unlike law - which is easier to define. Journalists sometimes have acted unethically but for a greater good. The FOOD LION case earlier in the semester is a great example, because the reporters went skeptically undercover to expose a serious problem within the grocery store.
Alexis A. 2PM
I really enjoyed this class and my favorite topic would have to have been the extension of freedom of speech over the years. Understanding where we started and the progression of the law puts into perspective that the constitution truly is a living, breathing document. A lot of times, people misinterpret the constitution and their rights or don't understand what protects them. I found it extremely helpful to break down the first amendment and the progression of the meaning of it over time. It puts it into perspective where we are headed in terms of freedom of speech.
Wesley S. 2 p.m.
I really enjoyed learning the stories behind E.T., George lucas/Disney, and Disney(copyright) and Mickey Mouse. Also I found the fact that we address serious issues going on around us in class quite useful because in my opinion society has run itself into the ground. It's hard to see the world changing considering how far we've come. It was awesome to hear that there are still people around me that will still listen to reason rather than just believe what they're told to believe/what they believe through jumping on a "bandwagon."
"If you see me in the streets, throw up the media law gang sign" was classic "Gmart"!
Sepehr O.
Online
As an advertising young professional working in an ad agency, I found the copyright topic to be the most interesting and relevant to my field. At my agency, HCB Health, we look at Trademarks more than just a TM slapped at end of a logo or a name. It is a crucial thing in our day-to-day communication and process. If there is one thing that this class and my job has taught about copyrights, it is the need for accountability. We need to accept that there will be consequences to our actions. Unethical behavior should not be tolerated. And guess what - copyright does exist on the internet. It is not different than if someone writes a book or a song - it is copyright to that individual the minute it is published online or offline. It's not there for the taking and we need to respect copyright and read the conditions attached to the website we are visiting.
I must be completely honest, I am intrigued by law but I also dislike it. I can't say I liked a specific topic because would be lying. I did in fact like bits and pieces of what we learned. For example criminal and civil lawsuit I find to be cool. In a way its like saying I couldn't put you in jail but sure as hell I will try to get money for you. That has actually helped me understand issue on a day by day bases for example in jury duty. As for freedom of speech well its become so much more in depth. It's helped me to better deal with law enforcement and even at work. Over all I do dislike learning about law, but enjoy the perks that law provides.
Sean Guion T/Th 2 p.m.
I believe the argument of abortion is a major problem in our country and has the House split. A lot of people believe in the "freedom of choice" argument but the other side believes that it is morally wrong to take a life. I personally agree with both sides like many other people which is why the long-running issue has yet to be resolved. But it is time for the government to decide a concrete decision on the abortion issue.
Macey K. 2pm
I found a lot of the topics discussed this semester interesting, mainly because I had little knowledge on most of the information prior to this course. Learning the elements of libel and slander were helpful since I've been able to apply what I've learned in my journalism courses. I found the defenses used in court for these allegations interesting. I was surprised by how much evidence is necessary for these cases.
Sean Guion T/Th 2 p.m.
One of the many topics that really jumped at me was deciding whether or not someone is a public figure. And the example that I loved discussing was the Chicago Cubs Fan Steve Bartman. I loved how you used him as an example as an involuntary public figure. I have recently watched a documentary about him and how he just completely fell off the face of the earth. Being a baseball fan myself, I always enjoy when professors reference to it during a lecture.
Throughout the semester we discussed about several topics of interest. the one that stuck out to me the most was our conversation concerning copyright and patents. I took to this topic mostly bc i was going to Disney World for my thanksgiving break. When i was there i took notice of a lot of things. how they exploit their workers and demand outstanding prices for merchandise. why can they do this and get away with it? bc of their brand name Mickey mouse. I find it fitting the Disney corporation lobbied so hard for an extension on their rights to the Mickey Mouse brand. Through the Sonny Bono Copyright extension Act, it effectively froze the advancement date of the public domain in the United States for copyright rules. it will be interesting to see what Disney does when this term is over (good thing they have the Star Wars franchise).
Beau M
T/TH 2:00p.m.
My favorite thing this semester was going over the privacy cases! I thought it was fascinating how these basic rights we have now (such as birth control access) weren't as obvious not that long ago. I really enjoyed this semester (more than I thought I would) and it's kind of making me regret not going into law :)
Katie S TTH 11 a.m.
My favorite subject over this semester was probably the misappropriation cases. I enjoyed the misappropriation cases because I'm an advertising major and it was one of the subjects that I could clearly see applying to my major and career. Although the cases involved (Jabar vs Oldsmobile, Midler vs Ford) may have seemed like common sense, it was nice getting a further insight as to how the cases played out and their explanations. I really like being able to apply the things I learned to my major and future career.
- Jeremy Goldsberry, TTh 2 p.m.
Jamie H. 2 p.m.
Coming into this class I was completely dreading anything to do with law. Now that we've completed class lectures, I can honestly say I found everyday more and more interesting. The topics of libel and slander as well as the topic of free speech, is what I found most intriguing. Hustler v. Falwell was probably one of the most entertaining cases to talk about. I can honestly say I truly enjoyed my time in this class. Although it has not been one of my easiest classes, I believe I have learned so much that will be useful in the future.
Some of my favorite parts of this course where also some of the most challenging. When learning about cases, it is hard to know what the whole case was about. Learning about all of them took time, but I now know what they are about and can say I have heard of it. Our Case Briefs were a challenge even though it was cool to be able to read about the whole case. Some of my favorite topics would have to be things dealing with being libel and the privacy laws. I am always fascinated in learning about something new.
Torie F. Online Class
Hans M.
2 PM
I found the constant theme in the supreme court cases of holding to the beliefs in the first amendment highly interesting. It's been fascinating to see how the first amendment has been challenged over the years and how the supreme courts decisions have held to those ideals. The topic I found the most interesting was the subject of copyright. I found it interesting to see how the opinions oon the length of ownership have changed over the years. The discussion about how Disney bought Star Wars to build themselves a safety net due to the loss of copyright over the Mickey Mouse ears was fascinating.
Hans M.
2 PM
I found the constant theme in the supreme court cases of holding to the beliefs in the first amendment highly interesting. It's been fascinating to see how the first amendment has been challenged over the years and how the supreme courts decisions have held to those ideals. The topic I found the most interesting was the subject of copyright. I found it interesting to see how the opinions oon the length of ownership have changed over the years. The discussion about how Disney bought Star Wars to build themselves a safety net due to the loss of copyright over the Mickey Mouse ears was fascinating.
Sarah Hyde- Online
I definitely learned a lot from this class and very much enjoyed it. I think my favorite part was learning about all the different laws, especially free speech. I have never known too much about all that so it was very eye opening to learn and actually understand everything. Even though this class was online I thought Professor Martinez was great Professor and definitely knows what hes talking about!
Thank you for making this class very interesting and easy to understand. My favorite topic was the first chapter. I enjoyed learning the way laws and regulations were created in this country but also to see how each case contributed to discussions and changed original laws. I really admire the U.S. for giving the opportunity to anyone to speak openly and make changes in the society.
I enjoyed the way you challenged us to think critically and let everyone participate.
My favorite case was Food Lion v. ABC. I found it very daring that Food Lion sued ABC even though Food Lion was guilty but still found a way to build a case against ABC.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Laksna
Mason Taliaferro 2pm
me personally i could relate to libel cases the most out of everything that we learned this semester.i mean libel is something that we deal with everyday, i have personally had to deal with libel and defamation statements that where towards me, after taking this class, i learned a lot about what i need to prove and how i need to do it, i never went to court with it but i feel like the law pf libel is something all american need to know,so if something pops up again, i will know a lot more about what is going on.
Mason Taliaferro 2pm
me personally i could relate to libel cases the most out of everything that we learned this semester.i mean libel is something that we deal with everyday, i have personally had to deal with libel and defamation statements that where towards me, after taking this class, i learned a lot about what i need to prove and how i need to do it, i never went to court with it but i feel like the law pf libel is something all american need to know,so if something pops up again, i will know a lot more about what is going on.
What sparked the most interest to me in Media Law was how well and serious the first amendment is taken when it comes to the courts. Wether it be flag burning, speaking terrible of another person (without it being libel), or showing up at someone's funeral to degrade the deceased, the first amendment protects almost any form of free speech, even if its terrible. It really interested me that no matter how bad the circumstances were, the judge and jury have to set aside whatever was said or whatever the act was and simply look at it as wether or their actions were protected by the first amendment - which most of the time they were. There were so many court cases where I really believed the defendant would lose the court case but they ended up being protected. The first amendment is a huge deal and I never really thought about how many things it applies to and protects before taking this class.
Christina S.
Tuesday/Thursday 2pm
I thoroughly enjoyed this class as I predicted I would when the semester began. My minor is in criminal justice so it was great to take a class that was a mix of mass communication and law. I really enjoyed the topics over freedom of speech and what elements would be needed to have it change into fighting words or not protected under the first amendment. Basically going over how though an opinion may be an unpopular or disturbing opinion, a person still has a right to say it as long as it doesn't cross a line with the law.
Estela P.
T/Th 2 p.m.
I really enjoyed this class and how it gave me a better insight into media law. I also thought it was interesting discussing how new technology is forcing the government to change or reconsider certain laws that pertain to our privacy. Learning about why Disney bought Star Wars was kind of cool too.
Carolyn L. 11 a.m.
What I really enjoyed learning about in Media Law is a more in-depth look into not only my personal rights, but my rights as a PR professional. What really stuck with me is when we talked about the libel and slander cases, especially dealing with the Westboro Church. It taught me to be more opinion minded on other' people's view points on things and that even though I may not agree with others, they have a right as well to do what they're doing.
I was really intrigued about copyright law and appreciated hearing about creative commons. As an artist, I'm particularly interested in the balance between protecting my own creative ideas and having the freedom to take inspiration from others.
- Anne W. Online
Osita O. 2 p.m.
The class and the professor combined for a great semester. Neither is substitutable. What I found most interesting was all the minor details in mostly all the cases and how explicit the professor conveyed them. The story telling was phenomenal. It was also interesting putting into perspective how less than 10 years ago, how much the law has altered. This class fueled my already burning desire to foster intellectual conversations in any forum. Also, this class provided much needed knowledge one could use immediately in the real world.
I was really interested in learning more in depth about libel and slander. I thought I had a pretty good understanding but there was so much more we had to learn with it. I was always confused between the two but I'm now confident in understanding the difference. Also going over the different libel cases was real interesting to me as well. Sad this class is over!
Kelle G - 2 pm
Greetings,
I would like to mention two topics that actually had extra relevance to me. The first out of this two topics is the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988) case. This is the case associated with the high school student newspaper that was monitored by the principal in what I still continue to believe a clear defiance of First Amendment rights despite the fact that the law states otherwise. At any rate, this one has huge parallels with my own experience as editor-in-chief of The West End Post, a Laredo Community College publication that was not sponsored by the school. Anyhow, I always published good articles until I published one concerning the accreditation troubles of the school. Despite the fact it was a popular item around the city and even in near communities and was in the 10 PM news, my sponsor, a professor at LCC rip the story. Of course, I complained back but she ultimately told me to either don't publish it or get out of the newspaper. Eventually, I quit that very same day after providing a bit of a fight but I believe the parallels that my experience between Hazelwood and I are significant.
Another thing I would like to mention is that the First Amendment never ceases to amaze. Despite the fact it is something we learn since grade school, time and time again we get to know more about this important amendment in our Constitution.
For now folks, I wish you all good in your finals, especially this one, and how everyone has a great Winter Break!
-Jorge V. (2PM)
Post a Comment