Book Review: A Practical Guide to Media Law, by Ashley Messenger Paper Knowledge: Toward a Media History of Documents, by Lisa Gitelman:

Ashley Messenger A Practical Guide to Media Law. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc., 2015. 3 16 pp. Lisa Gitelman Paper Knowledge: Toward a Media History of Documents. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2014.210 pp.Two newly published books on media law and the history of documents, both written by proficient scholars, make excellent textbook resources for a media law or journal- ism history course. Many books on media law focus on the primary legal concepts of First Amendment, libel, slander, copyright, privacy, Internet, digitization and file sharing-all valid tenets of any media law curriculum. Understanding these concepts is a must for the journalism student. However, the student should also know how cases involving media law disputes proceed through the court system, and this necessary foundation often is lacking in some media law works. A Practical Guide to Media Law by Ashley Messenger covers this thoroughly.The legal arena, with its terms, procedures, and traditions, can be intimidating to a new journalism student. Ashley Messenger's book resolves this issue by introduc- ing the reader first to the judicial process before tackling media law in the subse- quent chapters. It is this aspect that makes this book stand a notch above other media law books. In the preface, Messenger-a practicing media lawyer and media law professor-begins with a calming message that her work is "intended to help non- lawyers understand the legal issues involved in modern communications and jour- nalism" (p. xiii). In addition, she states further in the preface, "Law is not static; it is dynamic" (p. xiii). Her words set an important tone. For the classroom, especially, this is paramount to understanding the complex web the court system spins. Grasping certain legal concepts can be challenging for the student-or even the instructor who might have limited knowledge of the law or little introduction to the system and is tasked to teach basic legal concepts in newswriting or other undergraduate journal- ism courses.The book has twenty-one chapters, grouped into five comprehensive sections, each thoroughly discussing an aspect of media law. Each chapter provides sidebar material, such as information boxes, examples, figures, and frequently asked questions. At the end of each chapter, practical conclusions, or the main points of the chapter, are emphasized. These will help the reader to digest the material more clearly.In section 1, introductory material is presented, including the basics of the U.S. court system and the First Amendment. The first chapter is crucial. Students need to know how the judicial system is organized with two court systems, federal and state. We as faculty sometimes begin discussions on media law-focusing immediately on libel, copyright, and privacy-without explaining first the court system. The question then becomes, "How can we expect students to know about media law if we don't share with them how a court case runs its course?" The logic makes sense.Section 2 focuses on civil claims and the ways people can be sued for what they publish. Specific legal concepts highlighted are libel, privacy, copyright, and trade- mark infringement. Each of these topics is covered meticulously in separate chapters. The chapters also discuss using photos and music, both important to the multimedia business.Section 3 organizes issues related to the newsgathering process, such as access to information or places and civil and criminal liabilities for newsgathering activities. Messenger acknowledges that each state has its own laws addressing various liabili- ties, such as libel and open government laws. However, chapter 11 provides an effec- tive general overview of these areas.Section 4 looks at the ways the government can interfere with speech or press. These include authority of the Federal Communications Commission, rules regarding search and subpoena power, prosecution based on protests and other public speech, attempts to restrict publication of sensitive topics, and the regulation of election speech and advertising. …