Rules of the Game Media and the Law

What is Language?
Formal system of symbols through which people can
communicate meaning
Types
Ambiguous 10 interpretations
Symbolic words, images, gestures
Communicative words and body language, sound
Culturally specific may mean something different culture
ALLOWS BROADER UNDERSTANING OF LAWS THAT GOVERN
LANGUAGE
What

can we consider language?

Dance
Art
Poetry
Photography
Speech
Text

Reconsidering Language

Can include all ways in which we communicate meaning

Visual images
Movies
Fashion
Advertisement
Music lyrics
Sound/music
Behavior

Why Control language and speech

Why control language?
Control who is going to speak
Private speech vs public speech
1. What should language/speech be controlled?
(a) Offensive
(b)Obscenities
(c) Language is power
2) Should anyone be able to say anything without legal repercussions?

It depends on the situation, constrain by ethical

situations
Private to keep communication private and to prevent third
parties (including and especially the government) from
overhearing private communication
Public Communication
Political speech influences people
Expressive speech expresses thoughts and vision
Commercial speech is essential to economic
activity, Production of goods, buying and selling
goods and services in the market place
1. Protect government
2. Maintain power
3. Protect the public
Why Rules of Language?
i) Language and communications are fundamental to the ways
in which we live, structure or societies and find meaning in the
world
ii) Statutes have been created to control how people express
themselves and what they say
iii) Language has power, and speech can cause great harm,.
Speech is constrained by ethical considerations
How do governments control speech?
2. Content censorships (government reviews material before it is
published or broadcast, restricting material before reaching
intended audiences)
3. Access limiting access to the means of communications
1) Requirement for television, radio, etc.
2) Sanctions for using certain words/language, apparel
Different Laws for Different Speech
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Public
Private
Political
Expressive
Commercial

Control who is allowed to speak

Licensing speakers
Medical

Legal
Questionshould journalists be licensed? Why or why not?
Right to Privacy
Government cannot listen in on private communication
without cause
Media cannot unreasonably intrude into peoples lives
Communication between certain relationships is too
valuable to risk exposure
The use of an individuals name or picture for advertising
or trade purposes