Jeffrey Toobin, a staff writer at the New Yorker Magazine and senior legal analyst for CNN, writes commentary about legal issues.
He wrote a brief commentary about the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, announced yesterday. Here's the link: http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/an-unexpected-victory-for-affirmative-actionhttp://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/an-unexpected-victory-for-affirmative-action
After you read Toobin's commentary, return here and add your comment. Do you agree with him about the Supreme Court's majority decision? What do you think about university administrators using race and ethnicity as a factor in deciding enrollment issues? You may choose to share a personal experience or your own experience at Texas State and other institutions.
As for Toobin, he's also written several books, including some relevant to Media Law topics. I would especially recommend "The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court," published in 2007. He's also written "The Run of His Life: The People vs. O.J. Simpson," upon which the American Crime Story series was based. I've not read this but have it on my reading list. You can read more about Toobin here: http://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jeffrey-toobinhttp://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jeffrey-toobin
Please remember to include your first name and last name initial.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Free speech at Texas State
We've examined a few cases that involved the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s: New York Times v. United States, United States v. O'Brien and Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. We've also discussed cases involving free speech and students.
Our campus also involved political protest in those tumultuous times. Ten students at Southwest Texas State University took part in a protest on campus, but were suspended and expelled from the university.
Check out this brief video by The University Star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ygdK1awjMA#t=15
Also, listen to this NPR report broadcast from Oct. 23, 2001, in which two of the San Marcos Ten were interviewed: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1131946
Consider that this interview was conducted less than two months after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
After you watch and listen to this reports, return here and add a comment with your reaction. Also, consider whether there are any causes -- political, environmental, social or otherwise -- that would motivate you to take part in a protest.
Please remember to include your first name, last name initial.
Our campus also involved political protest in those tumultuous times. Ten students at Southwest Texas State University took part in a protest on campus, but were suspended and expelled from the university.
Check out this brief video by The University Star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ygdK1awjMA#t=15
Also, listen to this NPR report broadcast from Oct. 23, 2001, in which two of the San Marcos Ten were interviewed: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1131946
Consider that this interview was conducted less than two months after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
After you watch and listen to this reports, return here and add a comment with your reaction. Also, consider whether there are any causes -- political, environmental, social or otherwise -- that would motivate you to take part in a protest.
Please remember to include your first name, last name initial.
Monday, June 6, 2016
Welcome, Summer 2016 Class!
Welcome to my Media Law blog. I use this blog as a teaching tool that
allows me to comment on current events and topics related to media law.
It also allows you to participate in discussions involving media law
topics.
As the name of the blog suggests, I want you to use this forum to speak freely about the topics that we will discuss in my class, MC 4301 Mass Communication Law & Ethics.
We will discuss some controversial topics -- and often, we may not agree. You may not agree with me, or you may not agree with your classmates.
But this is a forum of expression, so you have the right to express your opinion. My opinion is not correct just because I'm the instructor. You should feel free to disagree with me.
Think about this as the First Amendment in practice.
A few ground rules, please. Some of our discussions may become heated. While you have the right to express your opinion, I urge you to be considerate of others, especially those with whom you disagree. Avoid attacking or belittling someone just because you disagree with his or her opinion. And, I suggest you double check your comment for grammar, clarity and sensitivity before you post.
With your comment, please include your first name and initial of your last name. I need this information to keep track of your comments for participation points.
You can get an idea of how I used this blog in past semesters, though you are not responsible for reading or commenting on previous blog entries.
Now, let's start with something light.
Share with us a favorite book, movie, TV show, song, etc., that is related to law, then tell us why it's your favorite and include a brief summary of the work.
I'll go first. In past semesters, the movie I would call my favorite is "Twelve Angry Men" -- the original with Henry Fonda. But in 2012, I saw Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" and was thoroughly impressed. The movie recounts President Lincoln's effort to encourage Congress to pass the Thirteen Amendment, which abolished slavery. A movie about passing a constitutional amendment? How perfect for a media law prof!
I look forward to reading your comments.
As the name of the blog suggests, I want you to use this forum to speak freely about the topics that we will discuss in my class, MC 4301 Mass Communication Law & Ethics.
We will discuss some controversial topics -- and often, we may not agree. You may not agree with me, or you may not agree with your classmates.
But this is a forum of expression, so you have the right to express your opinion. My opinion is not correct just because I'm the instructor. You should feel free to disagree with me.
Think about this as the First Amendment in practice.
A few ground rules, please. Some of our discussions may become heated. While you have the right to express your opinion, I urge you to be considerate of others, especially those with whom you disagree. Avoid attacking or belittling someone just because you disagree with his or her opinion. And, I suggest you double check your comment for grammar, clarity and sensitivity before you post.
With your comment, please include your first name and initial of your last name. I need this information to keep track of your comments for participation points.
You can get an idea of how I used this blog in past semesters, though you are not responsible for reading or commenting on previous blog entries.
Now, let's start with something light.
Share with us a favorite book, movie, TV show, song, etc., that is related to law, then tell us why it's your favorite and include a brief summary of the work.
I'll go first. In past semesters, the movie I would call my favorite is "Twelve Angry Men" -- the original with Henry Fonda. But in 2012, I saw Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" and was thoroughly impressed. The movie recounts President Lincoln's effort to encourage Congress to pass the Thirteen Amendment, which abolished slavery. A movie about passing a constitutional amendment? How perfect for a media law prof!
I look forward to reading your comments.
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