Media law for journalists: Copyrights and wrongs

Today’s journalists need to check more than their facts. In this cut-and-paste digital world, journalists also need to check their rights. Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute for an overview of copyright perils and solutions, presented by three lawyers with the Media & Entertainment Law Group from the Washington, D.C. office of Ballard Spahr LLP: Chuck Tobin, Alia Smith and Mara Gassmann.

Participants will leave the program with: 

• Best practices for the “fair use” of unlicensed work
• Tips to calibrate how much is too much when quoting or using someone else’s work 
• Ways to quickly determine rights to an image and how to license it, even via social media

Registration is now open for this program, which will take place online from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The Institute has waived fees for all of its services due to the pandemic, saving participants tens of thousands of dollars. In that spirit, we ask you to consider making a donation to support programs like this one.

About the speakers

Charles D. Tobin is a litigator, former journalist, and the Practice Leader of Ballard Spahr’s Media and Entertainment Law Group. He defends the media in libel and privacy lawsuits in state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country. He conducts prepublication content review and advises clients on subpoenas, access and privilege issues, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, copyright matters, and First Amendment rights.

Alia L. Smith’s practice focuses on defending publishers and broadcasters against claims of defamation and other newsgathering torts, and representing them in litigation over access, the Freedom Of Information Act, subpoenas, copyrights, and trademarks. In addition, she provides counseling and prepublication advice to a number of the firm’s clients, including many newspapers in the New York City area. Alia speaks regularly on media law topics to journalists and students.

Mara J. Gassmann‘s practice focuses on litigating and counseling news, entertainment, and other media clients in a wide range of matters implicating their First Amendment and intellectual property rights. Before beginning her legal career, Mara was a spokesperson for CNN in its Washington, D.C., bureau. During law school, she returned to CNN as a freelance legal writer during the confirmation hearings of Justice Sonia Sotomayor and worked with Reporters Without Borders analyzing the applicability of U.S. asylum law for foreign journalists.

About NPCJI 

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 civic engagement. The National Press Club Journalism Institute has added online programming, a daily newsletter, a weekly writing group, and other support for journalists since the pandemic started. The Institute has waived fees for all of its services due to the pandemic, saving participants like you tens of thousands of dollars. If you value what you’ve been learning from the Institute during this time, please consider donating whatever you can.