226.14 sec. 1 - Law in Media (Fall 2026)
Instructor: Jonathan D Glater (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 2
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
W 08:00 AM - 09:50 AM
Location: TBA
From August 19, 2026
To November 30, 2026
Course End: November 30, 2026
Class Number: 33140
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 30
Waitlisted: 5
Enroll Limit: 35
As of: 05/02 06:13 AM
This seminar will explore the role of law in and impact of law on the news media. In our class discussions, we will grapple with questions such as, how do journalists address and explain law to a lay audience? How do lawyers work with and speak to journalists? How do journalists get information and how do news organizations navigate potential legal obstacles to publishing? What can lawyers learn from journalists about telling a story? In search of answers, we will explore how the law is presented in the media, how the news media describes legal reasoning and describes lawyers, how lawyers speak to the media, and how law enables and undermines newsgathering. Each week we will address a different aspect of the complex relationship between law and media, examining journalists' efforts to obtain and publish information and media portrayals of judicial opinions and of the legal profession, among other topics. Students will have an opportunity to discuss and comment both on judicial opinions and on the media coverage of law and legal institutions in class discussions and in response essays written over the semester. Students are also expected to participate in presentations of doctrine that frames our discussions.
Attendance at the first class is mandatory for all currently enrolled and waitlisted students; any currently enrolled or waitlisted students who are not present on the first day of class (without prior permission of the instructor) will be dropped. The instructor will continue to take attendance throughout the add/drop period and anyone who moves off the waitlist into the class must continue to attend or have prior permission of the instructor in order not to be dropped.
Exam Notes: (F) In-class Final Exam
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Exam Length: 2 hours
Course Category: Public Law and Policy
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Class materials may also be available on bCourses.berkeley.edu
Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Instructor has indicated that no books will be assigned.