Freedom (of religion, speech, press, assembly, and thought) is the bedrock of Democracy
Syllabus Summer I 2008
The First Amendment to the US Constitution is the cornerstone of free speech and press law in the US.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Although it is subject to interpretation, the general principles of US media law are quite clear:
We [have] ... a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.". -- New York Times v Sullivan, 1964
The American commitment to free speech and press has inspired similar commitments in many other countries, and most significantly, in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
What you will learn in this class:
- What freedom of religion, speech, press and assembly means in the US and the world.
- How US law protects you and your ability to act responsibly and ethically. Avoiding
harm is not enough. You want to respect and protect freedom and you need to rely on the law to help you.
- How to avoid doing harm in your work. You will learn
how to recognize and avoid defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement
and other legal pitfalls.
- How to appreciate the strengths and flaws of media law, both in the US and internationally.
Textbooks 
Class times and location
1- 3:15 p.m. MTWTH CHIE 129 (Cook Hall)
Instructor and Office Hours
Prof. BIll Kovarik, Ph.D. email wkovarik@radford.edu ph: 831-6033
Summer Hours from 3-4, MTWTh @ 200 Jefferson 1-B. For more details and map of office location see this page.
Policies
- Attendance policy: Absense of more than 10 percent of the class will result in corresponding percent decreases in the grade. Missing more than 40 percent of the class would mean a D for an otherwise A student and so on.
- Late policy: Late completion of projects will result in reduction of grade by one letter grade per week.
- Disabilities policy: We are glad to work with all students to accomodate disabilities on a non-discriminatory basis. Students with special needs may be required to clear accomodations through the disabilities resource office of the university.
- Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each students makes a commitment to understand, support and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception.
- Plagiarism -- Students who directly copy work from anyone else will flunk the class and be reported to the Dean of Students office.
Assignments and grades
TBA