Finding a Problems in Media Law Paper Topic University of Michigan Law Library Seth Quidachay-Swan Faculty Services & Reference Librarian September 26, 2012

Road Map 2 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 1.Basics 2.Where to Get Ideas 3.Sources for Further Information

Basics Your Paper Topic Should Be: – Something that Interests You – Narrow Topic – Research-able – Current UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 3

Possible Topics What should the subject be? – First Amendment (Obscenity, Hate Speech, etc.) – Privacy Rights – FCC Regulation – Governance of the Internet – Journalistic Privilege – Libel & Defamation – Intellectual Property Rights (Copyright violations) UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 4

Where to Start Think while you read and watch television – TV News – Radio – NPR, etc. – Magazines – The Week, Wired, New Yorker – Newspapers – New York Times, Wall Street Journal Technology Section, Opinion, Etc – Online UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 5

Notable Websites Americans Civil Liberties Union URL: Issues Example: Free Speech, Censorship, Consumer Privacy – What they might have: Press releases, legal filings, updates of active issues.

Notable Websites (Continued) Electronic Privacy Information Center (Epic) URL: Issues – Examples: Domestic Surveillance, Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (Coppa), Social Networking Privacy What they might have: – Latest news and events

Notable Websites (Continued) First Amendment Center URL: Issues: – The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of free-expression issues, including freedom of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government. What you might find: – Current Events, News and overviews and leading cases on various subjects.

Notable Websites (Continued) Media Law Professors Blog URL: _prof_blog/ _prof_blog/ Issues – Copyright, Speech on the Net, etc. What you might find: – Discussions from academics about issues related to media law.

Notable Websites (Continued) The Media Institute URL: Issues: – The Institute exists to foster three goals: freedom of speech, a competitive media and communications industry, and excellence in journalism. The organization has evolved into one of the country's leading "think tanks" focusing on the First Amendment and communications policy. What you might find: – Lists of publications, lists regulatory filings and court briefs, Current issues watch, etc.

Notable Websites (Continued) Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press URL: Issues – Provides free legal advice, resources, support and advocacy to protect the First Amendment and Freedom of Information rights of journalists working in areas where U.S. law applies, regardless of the medium in which their work appears. What you might find: – News of the organization, Digital Journalists Legal Guide

Notable Websites (Continued) Student Press Law Center URL: Issues: – The Center provides free legal advice and information as well as low-cost educational materials for student journalists on a wide variety of legal topics What you might find: – Current news, events, legislative information

Additional Non-Profits Organizations Devoted to 1 st Amendment & Media Law Berkman Center for Internet & Society: Center for Democracy and Technology : Citizens Media Law Project: Electronic Frontier Foundation : Free Expression Policy Project : Free Speech Movement Digital Archive : James Madison Center for Free Speech: Media Law Resource Center: People for the American Way: Society of Professional Journalists: Thomas Jefferson Center: Tully Center for Free Speech: To find more associations on media law and first amendment, search Associations Unlimited ( by keyword or subjecthttp://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/Record/ UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 13

Lists of Sources ications+law/ ( ABA List of Popular Media & Communications Law Blogs) ications+law/ mendment_txt.html (List of First Amendment and Freedom of Expression Resources) mendment_txt.html ml (A list of websites related to 1 st Amendment Law) ml syr.edu/resources.cfm (Tully Center for Free Speech Free Speech Resources – a list of centers devoted to issues of freedom of speech) syr.edu/resources.cfm UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 14

Other Sources of Information eBrary – recent monographs and e-books eBrary Proquest Research Library – full-text law, non- law and popular press journals and magazines Proquest Research Library Access World News – full-text of 800+ worldwide English language newspapers Access World News Lexis & Westlaw news databases University Library Resources: full-text e-books and journals individually listed in Mirlyn or as databases in Search Tools.MirlynSearch Tools UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 15

Now I have a Topic Start with Secondary Sources – Treatises Book lists – Major Treatises in Various Subject Areas Book lists – Civil Rights & Liberties (includes Free Speech), Privacy, Computers & the Internet, Entertainment Law, Libel & Slander Use Keyword or Subject Searches in Mlaw CatalogMlaw – Some Possible Subjects: » Book industries and trade law and legislation; Confidential communications Press; Journal Legal status, laws, etc; Obscenity (law); Privacy, Right of; Advertising, Newspaper Law and legislation; Electronic Publishing Law and Legislation – Law Reviews and Journals Lexis & Westlaw Journals Database Index to Legal Periodicals & Index to Legal Periodicals Retro Index to Legal Periodicals Index to Legal Periodicals Retro UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 16

Research Sources 3 Campus Systems – Law Library – Mlaw CatalogMlaw Catalog – University Library – MirlynMirlyn – Kresge Business Administration LibraryKresge Business Administration Library Many of the Kresges Library Resources must be accessed on-site. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 17

Where to Find More E-Resources Three E-Resource Lists on Campus – Law Library Electronic Resources Law Library Electronic Resources – University Library Search ToolsSearch Tools – Kresge Business Library Electronic Resources Kresge Business Library Electronic Resources Many Kresge resources must be used on-site UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 18

Further Assistance Ask a Law Librarian – Visit the Reference Desk (Sub-1 of the Law Library) – Call: – – Chat – Research Consultations UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW LIBRARY 19