Media Law Resource Center

The purpose of the Insurance Committee is to bring together in-house counsel, defense attorneys, and insurance professionals to consider issues and developments of importance in media defense and insurance that will result in greater knowledge and understanding of the nuts and bolts of insurance coverage, the media insurance marketplace, and the risk management challenges faced by media clients today.

Committee Member List

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The Criminal Law Committee addresses the growing intersections between criminal and media law, including anything from protecting journalists and sources from criminal liability to dealing with search warrants and government subpoenas.

Committee Resources

What to Do When Your Reporter is Arrested at the Scene

The MLRC Anti-SLAPP Committee meets bimonthly and focuses its attention on recent SLAPP rulings, the progress of new anti-SLAPP bills in state legislatures without strong SLAPP legislation, possible model SLAPP statutes, and advice and counsel on securing federal anti-SLAPP protections.

Committee Member List

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Model Anti-SLAPP Laws & Guides

Society of Professional Journalists

Institute for Justice

American Legislative and Issue Campaign Exchange

American Legislative Exchange Council

MLRC Guide to SLAPP Laws in the 50-States

MLRC members are eligible to join issue-oriented committees to work and network in smaller groups on particular areas of interest and expertise. The committees cover a wide range of topics, from litigation practices and legislative developments to internet, entertainment and international law developments. Committees meet regularly, generating initiatives, materials and programs that benefit the entire membership. Details are available on the individual committee pages.

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Committee Rosters

Advertising & Commercial Speech
The Committee considers limitations on false and misleading advertising and reviews proposed restrictions and regulations on forms of advertising, such as advertising related to drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Recognizing that these restrictions and regulations occur on a state-by-state basis, the Committee attempts to provide membership alerts when appropriate.

Anti-SLAPP
The MLRC Anti-SLAPP Committee meets bimonthly and focuses its attention on recent SLAPP rulings, the progress of new anti-SLAPP bills in state legislatures without strong SLAPP legislation, possible model SLAPP statutes, and advice and counsel on securing federal anti-SLAPP protections.

Criminal Law
The Criminal Law Committee addresses the growing intersections between criminal and media law, including anything from protecting journalists and sources from criminal liability to dealing with search warrants and government subpoenas.

Data Privacy
The Data Privacy Committee's purpose is to monitor domestic and international developments in the law governing the collection, maintenance and use of data concerning individuals and entities as relevant to MLRC’s media members, and to educate members regarding those developments, their impact on both the business of and the content produced by members, and areas of legal risk and best practices for reducing that risk.

Employment Law
The Employment Law Committee applies the expertise of MLRC member firms regarding libel, privacy and related claims tothe employment context, where such claims frequently appear in wrongful termination and related lawsuits.

Entertainment Law
The Entertainment Law Committee holds monthly conference calls to discuss developments in entertainment law and practice, including idea theft and related copyright claims, right of publicity law and legislation, litigation over violent video games and broadcast indecency.

Insurance
The purpose of the Insurance Committee is to bring together in-house counsel, defense attorneys, and insurance professionals to consider issues and developments of importance in media defense and insurance that will result in greater knowledge and understanding of the nuts and bolts of insurance coverage, the media insurance marketplace, and the risk management challenges faced by media clients today.

International Media Law
The International Law Committee addresses the issues that our members encounter when they publish and gather news abroad.  It is the charge of this committee to keep our members and their counsel abreast of international developments, and to avail ourselves of any opportunities to be heard on issues that will affect member media organizations.

Internet Law
The Internet Law Commitee focuses on media law issues as they relate to content on the Internet, as well as rules that apply specifically to this relatively new medium.

Litigation
The Litigation Committee concerns itself with all aspects — pre-trial, trial and post-trial — of defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuits brought against the media.

Media Copyright and Trademark
The Copyright and Trademark Committee provides a forum for MLRC members from a broad cross-section of organizations to discuss recent legal developments and day-to-day issues affecting the media in these areas.  The Committee serves as a resource for members to stay up-to-date on copyright and trademark issues directly relevant to the media business.

Newsgathering
The Newsgathering Committee focuses on legal issues involved in collecting news and information. These issues include source confidentiality, access to places and note retention policies.

Next Generation
The Next Generation Committee provides a forum for lawyers of any age who have been practicing media law for a decade or less.

Pre-Publication/Pre-Broadcast
The focus of the Pre-Publication/Pre-Broadcast Committee is on legal processes prior to publication or broadcast. These include newsroom seminars on libel and privacy issues and pre-publication legal review.

State Legislative Affairs
The focus of the State Legislative Affairs Committee is to track and advise on legislation at the state level impacting the media industry.  The Committee will advocate for the advancement of laws that further First Amendment concerns and access to government information, and defend against laws that minimize First Amendment rights or decrease access to government information.