Archive | Journalism

Welcome Our New Research Fellow, Rachael Jones

By on August 23, 2017 in Journalism, Transparency

The UNC Center for Media Law and Policy is proud to announce that it has hired its first research fellow, Rachael Jones.  Rachael, who started this week, will oversee the Center’s research initiatives, with a particular focus on government transparency.

Prior to joining the Center, Rachael served as the Jack Nelson/Dow Jones Legal Fellow at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (“RCFP”). At RCFP, Rachael assisted journalists daily, and primarily focused on state and federal public records act matters. She has presented her research on free speech issues at the Yale Information and Society Project’s Freedom of Expression Scholars Conference for the past two years and served as a panelist for freedom of information topics for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s Law and Policy Division. Rachael earned her J.D. with honors from the University of Florida in 2016, where she was a research editor for the Florida Journal of International Law. While at UF Law, Rachael served as a research assistant to Dean Lyrissa Lidsky and as an extern-clerk to the Honorable Stephanie Ray of the First District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida. In addition, Rachael has studied comparative constitutional law and dispute resolution at the University of Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. Rachael received her Bachelor in Fine Arts degree from the University of Florida in 2011 and hails from the Destin, Florida, area.

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Video Available for “Freedom of the Press and the Trump Administration”

By on April 2, 2017 in First Amendment, Journalism

The video from the Center’s discussion of “Freedom of the Press and the Trump Administration” is now available on Vimeo.  The March 21 event was headlined by George Freeman, executive director of the Media Law Resource Center and former assistant general counsel of the New York Times Co., who discussed the challenges to press freedom that are likely to arise (and have already arisen) under the Trump administration. Mr. Freeman provided opening remarks on this subject and then sat down with Professor Mary-Rose Papandrea, a noted First Amendment expert, for an open-ended conversation that explored the administration’s positions on executive branch transparency, journalists’ access to government officials, whistleblower protections, the scope of defamation law, and respect for journalists, among other topics.

You can view the video here:

 

Freedom of the Press and the Trump Administration from Center for Media Law and Policy on Vimeo.

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Graduating Media Law Ph.D. Student Lands Faculty Position at LSU

By on February 28, 2017 in Journalism

Brooks Fuller headshotUNC media law Ph.D. student Brooks Fuller will begin work as an assistant professor in the Manship School of Communication at Louisiana State University in the fall. Brooks will teach classes in media law, ethics, and First Amendment issues.

Brooks will graduate from the Ph.D. program in the UNC School of Media and Journalism in May.

Brooks’s dissertation is titled “Words, Wounds, and Relationships: a Mixed-Method Study of Free Speech and Harm in High-Conflict Environments.” His work uses a mixed-method approach – legal analysis and ethnographic fieldwork – to better understand the importance of contextual analysis in determining whether potentially harmful speech is protected by the First Amendment. Brooks has conducted extensive fieldwork at an abortion clinic, where he observed and interviewed protestors on both sides of the abortion issue.

“I can’t really say enough about how important the growing attention to interdisciplinary research has been in positioning me for the job at LSU,” Brooks said. “Opportunities made available through the Park Fellowship and the Center for Media Law and Policy allowed me to explore outside my discipline and make connections with scholars similarly exploring at other institutions. The mentorship I received from the faculty in the MJ-School helped me find a path that I think will make me truly happy.

Congratulations, Brooks!

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Summer Grants for UNC Law and Graduate Students Interested in Media Law and Policy

By on February 21, 2017 in Journalism

summer-job-pictureAre you interested in pursuing a career in media law or policy?  Are you worried that you won’t be able to take that plum summer job in New York, Washington, or Los Angeles because it’s just too expensive to live there.  Well, the Center for Media Law and Policy is here to help.  For the sixth year in a row, the Center will be providing stipends to UNC law and graduate students who have a summer job in the field of media law or media policy.  In past years, UNC students have received Center stipends while working at a wide range of organizations, including the Federal Communications Commission, National Public Radio, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), Future of Privacy Forum, and Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society.

The Center’s summer grants program is administered in conjunction with the UNC School of Law’s Public Interest Summer Grants Program, which provides funds to law students taking unpaid or low-paying public interest jobs. Funding for these grants comes from several sources, including the Carolina Public Interest Law Organization (CPILO), private funds given by generous donors, law school funds allocated by the Dean, and student organizations that fundraise to support students working in a particular area of interest.  In 2016, the law school awarded more than $160,000 to 64 students.

Wait, you don’t have a summer job yet?!  Head over to our media law and policy Jobs Center, where you will find dozens of summer (and post-graduate) employment opportunities. You can easily find the perfect job for you by using our advanced search feature to search by location, keyword, or practice area.  Also, try browsing by job type or category for a more expansive look at the jobs listed. Still not sure what you want to do for the summer?  You can read about the summer experiences of your fellow students on the Center’s blog.

Requirements and Information on How to Apply for a Summer Grant

For UNC law students interested in both a Center grant and a law school grant, the deadline for applying is March 12, 2017.  The application process and general requirements for both grants is the same. Simply check the box on the  application for the law school’s Summer Public Interest Grant indicating “Media Law or Policy” under the heading “Substantive Areas Your Summer Employment Will Involve” and you will be automatically considered for Center funds in addition to the law school grant.  If you have already filled out an application, just log back in and check the box for “Media Law or Policy”; you can make changes to your application until the application deadline.

For UNC graduate students and law students who are not eligible for law school funds, the deadline for applying for a summer grant is also March 12, 2017, but you will need to download the application form and send it directly to us at medialaw [at] unc.edu along with the other supporting material described below.

Please note that you must have a job offer from one of the following types of organizations to be eligible for law school funds: a nonprofit organization (an organization that is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the Code), a legal aid office, a state or federal government agency, a public defender office, or a district attorney office. If are a UNC graduate student or law student who is not seeking law school funds, your employer does not need to meet the requirements described directly above.

Applications will be evaluated based on (a) your demonstrated commitment to working in the areas of media law or policy and (b) the quality of your essays (each essay must not be more than 500 words).

Required documents include:

  1. Resume (without grade information)
  2. Offer letter from your employer
  3. Essays (no more than 500 words each) *

* Essay questions:

  • Essay #1: Describe your work responsibilities and how they relate to media law or media policy.
  • Essay #2: Describe your commitment to public service. How have your past interests and work experiences contributed to your proposed summer internship responsibilities?
  • Essay #3: How do you see this summer work experience contributing to your long-term career goals?

Be sure to check out these Tips for Writing a Strong Grant Application. You will be notified of a decision in early April.

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Dual-Degree Student Wins ACLU Award

By on January 23, 2017 in Journalism

Chanda Mimg_0598arlowe, a fourth-year student in Carolina’s dual-degree program, recently was awarded the ACLU of Northern California’s 2016 Paine Award. The Paine Award is given annually to an “especially deserving” summer intern who demonstrates a commitment to public interest work.

The Paine Award is named for Robert Paine, who passed away just as he was graduating from law school with plans to practice public interest law. Chanda earned the award, which provides her with a $1,000 stipend, after spending a summer interning with the ACLU of Northern California.

As a litigation intern, Chanda conducted legal research and writing in support of active and potential impact litigation on issues of student privacy. She also toured the San Joaquin Valley and gained new insights into the ACLU’s subtle but important work supporting local organizations.

After she graduates in May 2017 with both a J.D. and a master’s in mass communication, Chanda plans to pursue a career practicing public interest privacy law.

“I was incredibly honored to learn that I was chosen as the recipient of this year’s Paine Award,” Chanda said. “I loved my summer working with the ACLU and am looking forward to continuing to work in public interest law.

Congratulations, Chanda!

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