Instructor: Ron Bishop, Ph.D.

Office: PSA Building, Room 324

Office Phone: (215) 895-1823

Email: rcbsam@comcast.net or bishoprc@drexel.edu

Home page: pages.drexel.edu/~bishoprc

Office Hours: T and TH10-12, or by appointment.

We have a dual purpose: To learn the ins and outs of covering the court system, and to explore recent legal developments that have reshaped how journalists do their jobs.

Denniston, L. The Reporter and the Law. New York: Columbia University Press.

During the first six weeks of class, you will write two news stories, one on a civil case, the other on a criminal case. You can write your story about any stage in the case. The starting point is a visit to the courthouse of your choice (federal, state, or local),where you will search the docket, see what's hot, and cover the case. You should take care of this ASAP!! The subject of the case is up to you. It is probably best to pick cases that are in their early stages, although a story on a final ruling is OK.

Every Wednesday, you will submit a rough draft of the story you're working on to me via email, along with a list of sources, and questions that crop up as you put together the story.

The first story will be submitted during our second meeting in Week 3, the second during the second meeting in Week 6.

You will be responsible for one case brief on a current communications law case -- complete with comment from the attorneys and other concerned parties.

Finally, you will write an 8-10 page paper comparing the coverage of a high-profile case by two news organizations. This will require you to search our library databases to pull articles on the case (unless you're like my dad and you keep stashing back issues under the coffee table until it comes off the ground). The paper will be due during our final meeting.

It can be a state or federal case, local or national. I know what you're thinking: I'll review OJ! Well, be warned that there are literally hundreds of articles out there on the case. Choose wisely.

Just to make life interesting, each week, a few folks will be picked to brief and present cases to the class - don't worry: everyone will eventually get their turn. It's kind of like a kinder, gentler version of the Paper Chase. You will all be responsible for reading up on the cases, but only a few of you will present each week. Here's the format for the presentations:

* Facts (who's suing whom; who's been arrested)

* Claims (what's at issue?)

* Court Ruling

* Impact (what does it mean?)

We'll split each class session (evenly, I hope) between story concerns and issues and case law.

I work (as always) with a 100-point scale. The final paper is worth 40 points; the news stories are each worth 20 points. Your in-class work (this includes attendance and participation as well as the in-class briefs) is worth 20 points.

You may revise one of the two news stories. Revisions are due Week 8.

We will have two quizzes on the cases and the issues we discuss in class. The first will be held during week 4, the second during week 9. Questions will come from the readings and our in class discussions.

It's vital that you be here to talk about story strategies and case law. I'll take attendance only a few times during the term, but I'll do it at random. If you have to miss a session, please call or email me. Unexplained absences will result in a three-point deduction from your point total (so please get in touch...)

You can submit your work to me as hard copy, or via email. If you choose the email route, please send your work as a plain Word document attachment.

Your work must be double-spaced (so that I can make comments) and you must use page numbers (so that I can keep track of where I am -- after all, I'm over 40).

The text will be supplemented with additional handouts and web readings. For now, follow this schedule:

Week 1:Denniston, chapters 1-2

Week 2:Denniston, chapters 3-4

Week 1: The First Amendment; journalists under siege?

Week 2: Prior Restraint, School Newspapers, Hate Speech

Week 3: Libel - getting a case off the ground

Week 4: Libel - proving a case, defending a case...

Week 5: Free Press/Fair Trial

Week 6: Free Press/Fair Trial; Cameras in the Court

Week 7: Privacy and the invasion thereof...

Week 8: Access - gathering information, Sunshine Laws, gag orders, FOIA

Week 9: Sources - protecting them, guaranteeing their anonymity

Week 10: Obscenity, Copyright, and Regulation of Advertising

A few really nice web sources to start off:

reporter.org - run by the IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors)

facsnet. org

rcfp.org - site of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

journalismnet.com - a commercial site, but still a nice resource.

powerreporting.com - a great one-stop resource for journalists; a wonderful law and courts section.

bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/journalism/medialaw - journalism resources list from the University of Iowa

nolo.com - information on areas of the law not related to journalism.

npc.press.org/what/library/reporter.htm - the National Press Club's web site. A great resource - everything from area codes to zip codes, maps to members of Congress.

www.newslab.org/courtlinks-l.htm