Rights vs. Responsibilities: The Supreme Court and the Media (Contributions to the Study of Mass Media and Communications)

In the past 65 years, the United States Supreme Court has outlined, through its decisions, its conceptions of the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. media. Analyzing every Supreme Court media case from 1931 to 1996, this book explores the changes in how the Court has conceived of the media's freedom. Hindman focuses on the educational and political functions of the media, the ethical principles of truth telling, and the conflict between collectivist and individualist interpretations of the First Amendment. The author challenges accepted views in the field, arguing that despite the justices' rhetoric, the Court has treated media freedom as a social goal rather than a right. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction Rights and Responsibilities, Politics and Philosophies......Page 12 One Functions and Canons: Defining Media Responsibility......Page 36 Two The Early Years, 1931–1953......Page 68 Three The Warren Court Years, 1953–1969......Page 92 Four The Centrist Years, 1969–1981......Page 112 Five The Move to Conservatism, 1981–1996......Page 132 Six Positivism and Policy......Page 160 Appendix Chronological List of Media Cases......Page 170 Bibliography......Page 186 B......Page 192 C......Page 193 F......Page 194 H......Page 195 M......Page 196 P......Page 197 S......Page 198 W......Page 199 Analyzing every Supreme Court media case from 1931 to 1996, this book explores the changes in the United States Supreme Court's conception of the media's freedom and responsibility.