William F. Starr Hall

This symposium will explore the developments that threaten the news media's ability to function in its historic role as the "Fourth Estate" and will ask whether the law can be used to address these challenges. For example, do the current laws (e.g., defamation, privacy, copyright, broadcast) adequately protect the news media and other parties? Can law be used to reduce media consolidation and address the loss of local media outlets? Can social media be regulated in ways that might help increase public confidence in the news media? How can journalists be better protected from threats to their newsgathering and publication efforts? Can or should there be limits on the ability of wealthy private actors to mute or silence media outlets? What can the news media do, if anything, to restore public confidence? The symposium will address these and other questions.

Conferences & Speakers, Student Activities