Why Join MLRC?

MLRC provides media organizations and leading media attorneys with the essential tools they need to advance First Amendment and media rights, and fosters a supportive community in which counsel can discuss emerging legal issues and prepare for the future of communication.

Through our publications, conferences, committees, and advocacy work, our members are exceptionally well informed, connected, and engaged.

Our members include

ABC News • Associated Press • The Atlantic • Bloomberg • BuzzFeed • CBSViacom • CNN • Disney • Dow Jones • ESPN • Facebook • Greenpeace • Financial Times • Fox • Gannett • Google • HBO • Hearst • MacMillan • Meredith • NBCUniversal • Netflix • New York Times • New Yorker • NPR • Penguin Random House • Penske Media • Reuters • Univision • VICE • Vox • and The Washington Post

Our law firm members serve the needs of the media, from counseling to litigation.

To see all of our members, click here.

MLRC offers a variety of ways to connect with fellow lawyers in the media bar: issue-oriented committees; a searchable member database; a listserv for legal advice, news and gossip; and a job board with exclusive offerings.

All the lawyers working for a member organization can enjoy an array of benefits:

Participation in over 15 subject matter committees
Invitations to members-only conferences and events, an invaluable networking resource
Webinars with top lawyers, journalists, and newsmakers, including Bob Woodward, Maggie Haberman, Nicholas Kristof, Margaret Sullivan, Michael Barbaro, and Emily Bazelon.
A First Amendment Scholar’s Hour with some of the nation’s leading academics, including Tim Wu, Mary Anne Franks, Lee Bollinger, Geoffrey Stone, Jamal Greene, and Cass Sunstein.
MediaLawDaily – our indispensable daily update of breaking media law, policy, and business issues, including court decisions, briefs and legislative initiatives.
MediaLawLetter – the leading monthly publication for media lawyers. Each issue contains articles and updates on court decisions and legislative initiatives of interest in the U.S. and abroad
MLRC Bulletin – Published three times a year, the MLRC Bulletin contains articles and reports on trends, developments, and news in media law and litigation, including a yearly digital-themed issue. The Bulletin also tracks trials and damage awards involving the media in a regularly updated study
Practice Guides and resources created by our Committees – Actual Malice Practice Guide, Risks and Tips for Digital Images, Discovery Roadmap, Jury Instruction Manual, Use of Releases in News and Entertainment
A private listserv for members to crowdsource legal and other issues
A private member job board with exclusive listings of open legal positions at member organizations
Member discounts on the MLRC publications and events
A listing in our member directory, a key resource to find media counsel

We have a variety of membership categories:

Media Members

Media membership is open to:

All content creators, publishers, and distribution platforms
Media trade associations or professional journalism associations
Media-related public interest organizations
Members of the media insurance industry
Media and free speech nonprofits

Online application

Media member application

Defense Counsel Section

Over 200 law firms are members of the Defense Counsel Section. Members pledge not to represent plaintiffs in defamation, privacy, newsgathering and related tort lawsuits or take steps in contemplation of such litigation against the media.

Non-U.S. law firms that cannot make this pledge may be eligible for Associate Membership (see below).

DCS application

Associate Member

Associate Membership is for non-US law firms that counsel media organizations and support the mission and efforts of MLRC and do not seek or encourage defamation or privacy lawsuits against the media.

Associate_member application

Academics

Academic memberships is for those who study and work on media law issues at universities, colleges, law schools, or other academic institutions. Academic members may include faculty members, research fellows, and attorneys working in academic clinics or research projects.

Academic member application