Resources
Student Press Law Center
The SPLC offers free legal advice for student journalists and advisers. They also have great resources including a public records request letter generator.
ACLU
The ACLU publishes information on your rights at a protest — including covering one.
FIRE
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression conducts research and does advocacy for freedom of expression matters.
Oregon Department of Justice
The DOJ published a manual for public records and public meetings in Oregon. The manual is primarily geared toward public agencies and officials, but it thoroughly outlines Oregon freedom of information laws.
Public Records/Meetings Manual
University of Oregon Libraries
UO offers a research guide for their Communication Law course. The guide has several materials to aid in understanding media law.
Courses
JDM is developing a series of free online introductory journalism courses. Upon completion of the course, students will earn a certificate demonstrating their competence in a specific area of journalism skills.
These courses are great if:
- Your school has limited journalism class offerings — or none at all
- You want to refresh your skills and knowledge
- You’re preparing for an internship or reporting assignment
The courses blend practical tips with key concepts and principles. They include practical exercises as well as content knowledge quizzes.
Journalism Writing Fundamentals
The JDM Journalism Writing course provides a comprehensive introduction to the essential writing techniques used in professional newsrooms. Writing for journalism requires a shift from traditional academic essays to a concise, objective and precise style.
This course focuses on the mechanics of the story. Students will learn how to gather information effectively and synthesize it into a narrative that is both informative and compliant with professional standards.