WASHINGTON, May 15, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Knowing the essentials of copyright and libel
laws is critical for newsroom journalists and independent
freelancers — especially in an increasingly litigious media
environment.
Media lawyers report a significant uptick in defamation lawsuits
brought against journalists by plaintiffs who don't want to be
called on their false narratives or want to punish reporters for
their work. Some of these lawsuits are getting farther in the court
system than they used to, costing journalists and news
organizations precious time and money.
Copyright violations are a risk for media professionals, too. In
an era of artificial intelligence and social media, journalists
need to be aware of copyright and fair use law when working with
digital content, especially when it is easy to cut, paste, and
distribute content online.
Register now for a free, 75-minute webinar on Friday, June 7, that begins at 11:30 a.m. ET. Attorney Chad Bowman of Ballard
Spahr will outline copyright and libel law essentials for
today's media environment and take questions to help journalists
and freelancers understand their rights and how to follow the
law.
Participants will learn:
- Key legal pitfalls and strategies for journalists when it comes
to libel and copyright law
- When to ask questions of an editor while news gathering or
using others' content (i.e. when using quotes, photos, published
work, and other media in your stories)
- What to do if you are threatened with a defamation suit
- What independent journalists need to know to protect themselves
without the resources of a newsroom
This webinar will not be recorded or distributed to
attendees. The Institute is partnering with the National Press
Club's Freelance Team to produce this program.
About the speaker
Chad R. Bowman's practice focuses
on working with new and legacy media organizations, such as The
Associated Press, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post. Bowman
regularly advises clients about publication risk, reviews draft
television news scripts, magazine features, newspaper reports,
digital media stories, and other content, and advises on
newsgathering and intellectual property issues. As a litigator, he
has defended media clients in state and federal courts in contested
defamation, privacy, copyright, subpoena, access, Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA), and related First Amendment cases.
About the National Press Club Journalism Institute
The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged
global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips
journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways
that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit
affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers
journalism in the public interest.
The Institute depends on grants, foundation funds, and
contributions from individuals like you. Your donation today allows
the Institute to offer the majority of its programming at no
cost.
Press contact: Beth
Francesco, executive director, bfrancesco@press.org
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SOURCE National Press Club Journalism Institute