Media & The Law: What journalists need to know about copyright & defamation suits

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

The NPCJI partnered 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.