Media Law & Ethics Vocabulary Review

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms and definitions related to media law and ethics as outlined in the lecture notes.

First Amendment

Protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Fifth Amendment

Guarantees the right to due process and protects against self-incrimination.

Sixth Amendment

Ensures the right to a fair and speedy trial by an impartial jury.

14th Amendment

Provides equal protection under the law and due process for all citizens.

Qualified immunity

Protects government officials from liability in civil suits unless they violated clearly established constitutional rights.

Defamation

A false statement that injures a third party's reputation.

New York Times v. Sullivan

Established the actual malice standard for defamation cases involving public figures.

Gertz v. Welch

Held that private individuals must only prove negligence in defamation cases.

Defamation per se

Statements that are inherently damaging, such as accusations of criminal behavior.

Defamation per quod

Statements that require additional context to be considered defamatory.

Criminal defamation

Defamation that is prosecuted as a crime rather than a civil offense.

Invasion of privacy

A legal claim for interference with a person's right to be left alone.

Net Neutrality

The principle that ISPs must treat all data on the internet equally.

Communications Act of 1934

Legislation that regulates interstate and international communications.

Fair-Use Privilege

Allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission.

Transformative doctrine

A legal standard used to determine if a work is transformative enough to qualify as fair use.

Public Records laws

Laws that require government records to be accessible to the public.

Shield laws

Laws that protect journalists from revealing their sources.

Miller Test

A test for determining whether speech or expression can be labeled obscene.

Espionage Act of 1917

A law prohibiting interference with military operations or recruitment.

Commercial Speech Doctrine

Legal doctrine protecting commercial speech under the First Amendment.

Fake News

False or misleading information presented as news.

Cognitive dissonance

Mental discomfort due to holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions.

Social media privacy

Concerns regarding the handling of personal information on social media platforms.