07/24/2015

Deadline approaching for free 3-day Media Law School

The 2015 Media Law School, hosted by the University of South Carolina School of Law and College of Information and Communications and sponsored by the American Board of Trial Advocates, will provide selected journalists with the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the key stages of civil and criminal proceedings and to learn enough basic law to report accurately on many important issues in the news.

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, approximately two dozen journalists who are selected as 2015 Media Law School Fellows will not only receive instruction from law professors and experienced lawyers, but they will have an opportunity to interact with and ask questions freely of the instructors. 

Best of all, the school is able to provide this experience with no registration fee, no housing cost, and with a $400 travel allowance to help offset the cost of coming to Columbia.  Fellows will stay three nights at The Inn at USC Wyndham Garden and classes will be held within walking distance of the Inn on the campus of the University of South Carolina.

Deadline to apply is Aug. 15.  For more information: http://www.law.sc.edu/media_law_school/

USC Dean Robert Wilcox noted in announcing the program that in reporting on many important issues, journalists frequently are required to understand key legal questions and are called upon to describe accurately the developments in sometimes complex legal proceedings. 

Unfortunately, lawyers and judges involved in a particular matter are not always available or willing to provide the information needed by members of the media to fully understand or explain the significance of certain legal aspects in a story they are covering.

“We invite you to apply or to nominate other journalists to apply to become a 2015 Fellow.  If you know someone who might be interested in applying for this opportunity, please pass the information along,” Wilcox said.

Applications will be accepted through August 15 and accepted fellows will be notified immediately thereafter. 

To apply, simply send a letter explaining your interest, along with a current resume or a description of your current position and professional background, to medialaw@law.sc.edu or to Professor Jay Bender, University of South Carolina School of Law, 701 South Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208.  You may also apply on-line, view the tentative program, and obtain other information about the 2015 Media Law School at: http://www.law.sc.edu/media_law_school/