Instructor Resource
Trager, The Law of Journalism and Mass Communication 6e
CQ Press, 2018
Class Activities
Chapter 9: Regulating Electronic Media
1. For decades, courts have justified broadcast regulation on the basis of spectrum scarcity.
Have students discuss if that rationale still can be defended in an era of abundant media
outlets. With cable television, multichannel video program distributors, online video
distributors, and all of the traditional mass media, should broadcasters be given the same
First Amendment rights as the print media?
2. The Communications Acts of 1934 says the Federal Communications Commission should
make decisions based on the public interest. Have students discuss what they think the
public interest is. Also ask them to apply their definitions of public interest to selected FCC
rulings. Would they reach the same results the Commission did?
3. Show students the Last Week Tonight with John Oliver segment on net neutrality. Have
them break into small groups to discuss the basic ideas behind net neutrality. Ask the
groups to make a meme that shows whether they are for or against the concept and why
(here’s an example of a pro–net neutrality meme:
jess.makes.org/thimble/LTE0MjU2MDQzNTI=/i-fight-for-net-neutrality). Ask the students
to e-mail you their memes and share the best memes in class the following day.