This volume brings together scholars from law and communication to discuss the theoretical and methodological approaches used in studying the First Amendment and general communication law issues. For scholars and students in mass communication and law.

Contents: Preface. A. Reynolds, B. Barnett, Introduction: The Benefits of a Multidisciplinary Approach in Communication Law. Part I: Theoretical Perspectives and Approaches.J. Cohen, T. Gleason, Charting the Future of Interdisciplinary Scholarship in Communication and Law. F.H. Cate, Method in Our Madness: Legal Methodology in Communications Law and Research. A.L. Fargo, Social Science Research in Judges' First Amendment Decisions. D. Pritchard, Introductory Comments to Chapter 4. D. Pritchard, A New Paradigm for Legal Research. J. Bruschke, The Intersection of Legal Practice and Social Science on the Issue of Pretrial Publicity. R. Jensen, Pornographic Knowledge, the Law, and Social Science. D.S. Allen, Creating Meaning, Creating Citizens: The U.S. Supreme Court and the Control of Meaning in the Public Sphere. S. Braman, Introductory Comments to Chapter 8. S. Braman, Information and Socioeconomic Class in U.S. Constitutional Law. Part II: Multidisciplinary Methodological Approaches.B.F. Chamberlin, Introductory Comments to Chapter 9. B.F. Chamberlin, C. Popescu, M.F. Weigold, Merging Legal Research and the Practices of Social Science: Comparing State Access Laws. R.M. Entman, Introductory Comments to Chapter 10. R.M. Entman, Blacks in the News: Television, Modern Racism, and Cultural Change. G. Leshner, Introductory Comments to Chapter 11. G. Leshner, The Effects of Dehumanizing Depictions of Race in TV News Stories. R. Drechsel, T. Grimes, Introductory Comments to Chapter 12. T. Grimes, R. Drechsel, Word-Picture Juxtaposition, Schemata, and Defamation in Television News. B. Barnett, Introductory Comments to Chapter 13. B. Barnett, The Stories They Couldn't Tell: How Journalists Use Public Record Databases. A. Reynolds, Introductory Comments to Chapter 14. A. Reynolds, The Impact of Walker's Appeal on Northern and Southern Conceptions of Free Speech in the Nineteenth Century. C.L. Book, Introductory Comments to Chapter 15. C.L. Book, The People and the Cable Guy: Federally Empowered Public Interest Standards. M. Hoefges, K. Lancaster, Introductory Comments to Chapter 16. M. Hoefges, K. Lancaster, Utilizing Mass Media Advertising for Legal Notice in Class Action Lawsuits.