What part does the law play in today's changing mass media?

The SAGE Guide to Key Issues in Mass Media Ethics and Law

Los Angeles, The First Amendment protects the freedom of the “press,” but what is the press in this up-to-the-minute age of tweets, posts, and blogs reported through computers and smart phones by bloggers, everyday Americans, celebrities, and mainstream journalists? Unlike the days when an event was considered news only if the newspapers (and later, radio and TV) reported it, there’s no longer a consensus among lawyers and ethicists about what makes a “real” journalist. The SAGE Guide to Key Issues in Mass Media Ethics and Law helps clear up confusion by exploring the varied viewpoints of the most contentious aspects of the subject.

Specifically focusing on matters that are regular front-page headlines, such as national security concerns, cameras in the courtroom, and the rights of celebrities, this authoritative and rigorous two-volume reference set assesses the most debated issues and legal precedents, noting current ethical and legal trends and likely future directions. Readers can choose the order in which they peruse more than 50 chapters, each written by a distinguished scholar and organized into these six thematic sections:

• Section 1: Ethical Responsibilities versus Legal Rights
• Section 2: Newsgathering and Access
• Section 3: Privacy
• Section 4: Reporting and Reputation
• Section 5: Business Considerations
• Section 6: Social Media and the Internet Change the Rules

Each section in The SAGE Guide to Key Issues in Mass Media Ethics and Law opens with a general introduction by the editors, and each chapter closes with a wrap-up exploring probable future trends. Readers also have access to cross-references as well as suggestions for further reading. Because this reference guide serves as a vital source of knowledge for all those who are interested in expanding their knowledge of mass media, and the ethics and law surrounding it, it belongs on the shelves of all academic, school, and public libraries. A FREE 30-day online trial of SAGE Knowledge, including The SAGE Guide to Key Issues in Mass Media Ethics and Law, is available at www.sagepub.com/freetrial.

Co-Editor William A. (Bill) Babcock is Senior Scholar/Professor of media ethics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Deputy Director of SIUC’s School of Journalism. Co-Editor William (Bill) Freivogel is University Professor and Director of the School of Journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.