The Florida Bar
Facebook logo Twitter logo YouTube logo LinkedIn logo Instagram logo
Rules, Ethics & Professionalism
Find a Lawyer
  1. Home
  2. About The Bar
  3. Committees
  4. Media & Communications Law Committee

About The Bar

Media & Communications Law Committee

Mission

The Media & Communications Law Committee provides bar members a forum for sharing information about the law applicable to free speech and communications. The committee explores legal issues pertaining to the full spectrum of communications and media, including print, broadcast, cable and emerging technologies.

Committee Activities

First Amendment Seminar

The committee plans the First Amendment Seminar that is typically held in conjunction with the Annual Convention. This year’s seminar is on June 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in Orlando.

Seminar Outline

2024 Seminar Materials

The Reporters’ Handbook

Authored by the Media & Communications Law Committee, the Reporters’ Handbook serves as a resource guide for members of the media about topics in the legal profession.

The Reporters’ Workshop

Each fall, in most years, the committee presents a two-day, on-site event for print, TV, radio and online journalists new to the courts and legal beats or new to Florida.

Parker Thomson Awards for Outstanding Journalism

The committee presents the Parker Thomson Awards for Outstanding Legal Journalism in Florida to honor a longtime champion of the First Amendment and counsel to journalists.

Past Seminars

First Amendment and the U.S. Supreme Court Seminar

At Annual Convention on Friday, June 23, 2023

The Media and Communications Law Committee will present its annual First Amendment seminar at the 2023 Annual Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton. The program will examined the changing face of the U.S. Supreme Court and the court’s First Amendment docket, and discussed upcoming cases for the 2023 term.

Seminar Outline

Download Seminar Information/Cases Packet

Like, Share or Cancel: Social Media & The First Amendment

Recorded Thursday, April 14, 2022

Course #4680: 1st Amendment and the U.S. Supreme Court

Recorded June 25, 2021

The seminar is approved for 2 hours of CLE credit.

First Amendment Cases – October Term 2020

Previous Seminar

Recorded June 19, 2020

2020 First Amendment Cases – October Term 2019

Fake News Seminar: Defamation Panel Materials

Presentations found on committee pages are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace professional judgment. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are those of the presenters individually and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, are not the opinion of The Florida Bar or its committees. The Florida Bar does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, accuracy or completeness of the information presented. Any feedback should be provided to the event organizer.

Log in to the MyFloridaBar Members Portal to access your committee materials or contact Nellie Louis, staff liaison, 850-561-5764.

Committee Members

▲