Focusing on the implications of the law for media practitioners, this annually updated text examines legal issues and decisions affecting traditional journalism and the ever-changing commercial and electronic media. The 2002 Update of this top-selling media law text includes the most current information available, explaining the law as it applies to the daily work of writers, broadcasters, advertisers, cable operators, Internet service providers, public relations practitioners, photographers, and other public communicators. By presenting statutes and cases in a cohesive manner that is understandable even to students studying law for the first time, the authors ensure that students will acquire a firm grasp of the legal issues affecting the media.