chapters 14-16 Test study guide

Free Press Clause

Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech or press.

Categories of press restrictions

Federal restrictions, prior restraint, libel, privacy, right of access.

John Peter Zenger Case

Jury established truth as a defense against libel.

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Made 'false, scandalous, malicious writing' against govt illegal.

Espionage Act (1918)

Made it illegal to help the enemy through speech or writing.

Smith Act (1940)

Restricted free speech; reporters had to submit stories for censorship.

HUAC

House Un-American Activities Committee; aggressive anti-Communist investigations.

Prior restraint

Government censorship before publication.

Near v. Minnesota (1931)

Prior restraint allowed only for war/military info or obscenity.

Pentagon Papers Case

Supreme Court ruled public's need to know outweighed govt secrecy.

Progressive Case

Gov tried to block publication about nuclear weapons; case became moot.

Pool reporting

Reporters work in small supervised groups for war coverage.

Embedded reporters

Reporters travel with military units but face restrictions.

Wikileaks

Whistleblowing group releasing classified documents.

PATRIOT Act (2001)

Gave govt broad powers to track, detain, and investigate threats.

Censorship

Suppressing material considered objectionable.

Roth Test

Determines obscenity based on community standards and prurient interest.

LAPS Test

Evaluates literary, artistic, political, or scientific value of work.

Libel

False statement damaging reputation.

NYT v. Sullivan

Public officials must prove 'actual malice' for libel.

Opinion and Libel

Opinion cannot be libelous.

SLAPP lawsuit

Used to intimidate critics with expensive legal action.

Intrusion

Invading someone's physical or mental solitude.

Embarrassment

Publishing true but non-newsworthy private facts.

False light

Misleading implication about a person.

Misappropriation

Using someone's name/image commercially without consent.

Right of publicity

Protects commercial use of a person's identity.

Sheppard v. Maxwell

Case led to restrictions on press in courtrooms.

Shield laws

Protect journalists from revealing sources; varies by state.

Telecommunications Act of 1996

Deregulated media and increased competition.

Communications Decency Act

Attempted to regulate indecent Internet/cable content.

Cross-ownership rules

Limits on owning multiple media outlets in same market.

Fleeting expletives

Unexpected live TV profanity; FCC attempted to regulate.

Central Hudson Test

Standards for lawful, non-misleading advertising.

Texas Gulf Sulphur Case

PR professionals liable for misleading information.

Ethics

Rules guiding conduct.

Professional ethics

Standards for members of a profession.

Four media ethical issues

Truthfulness, fairness, privacy, responsibility.

Fabrication

Making up information; example: Brian Williams suspension.

Plagiarism

Copying others' work; example: NYT reporter case.

Misrepresentation

Deception to gather info; example: fake sheikh case.

Fairness

Impartial reporting; no personal gain or hidden bias.

Conflict of interest

Reporter has personal stake; example: Stephanopoulos donations.

Privacy ethic

Respecting personal information and victims.

Rape reporting ethics

Victims typically not named; debate exists.

Responsibility

Media must consider impact of reporting decisions.

Aristotle's Golden Mean

Virtue lies between extremes; relates to fairness.

Kant's Categorical Imperative

* your action becomes universal law.

Mill's Principle of Utility

Greatest good for the greatest number.

Rawls' Veil of Ignorance

Make decisions without knowing personal benefit.

Judeo-Christian ethic

Love your neighbor; treat all equally.

News councils

Organizations investigating complaints about journalism.

Readers' representatives

Ombudsperson responding to public criticisms.

Correction boxes

Publish corrections transparently.

Hot spot

Public wireless Internet access area.

TV license fee (UK)

Citizens pay yearly fee to support public broadcasting.

Authoritarian theory

Press serves the government, not citizens.

Communist theory

Press run by government for propaganda.

Libertarian theory

Press belongs to people; ideas must be freely discussed.

Social responsibility theory

Press must serve public good and avoid corporate dominance.

Developmental theory

Emerging nations restrict press to support growth.

Western Europe media

Print partisan; broadcast historically govt-controlled.

BBC

Government-funded British broadcast network.

Eastern Europe media

Transitioning from strict Communist control.

Middle East print media

Tightly controlled; journalists often jailed.

African media

Many languages; radio most important due to low literacy.

Japan media

Highest newspaper readership; many Wi-Fi hotspots.

Australia media

Murdoch empire controls most newspaper circulation.

India media

Massive growth of print; Bollywood major industry.

China media

Government produces most TV; limited press freedom.

Latin America media

Media tied to political and business power structures.

Televisa

Major Mexican media conglomerate.

Cuba broadcast media

Completely government-controlled.

Internet & global media

Expands reach but increases misinformation risk.

Digital Services Act (EU)

Regulates online platforms and digital services.