FIRST EXAM STUDY GUIDE:
Think critically as you read. Why do you agree or disagree with the statements, opinions and conclusions of the author? What questions or issues would you have added to the guide for these readings?
- Part I: Son of Wal-Mart by Jon Katz
- What acts of censorship do records producers commit to get their CDs sold by Wal-Mart? Explain why?
- That kind of censorship alters the marketplace of ideas to deprive us of what?
- Would it be censorship to economically boycott Wal-Mart to stop its censorship?
- How are corporations committing censorship?
- What reasoning says corporations aren't censoring?
- Part II: Chilling Effect by Jon Katz
- What is the connection between censorship and overseeing morals and conduct in society?
- Who censors more? Government or Corporations
- Be familiar with the examples and motivations to explain whether corporate actions can constitute censorship? For example, what kind of censorship occurred because of Chrysler's advertising dollars?
- How do corporations exercise censorship?
- Why would media conglomerates yield to corporate censorship?
- SLAPP readings
- What does the acronym SLAPP stand for?
- Who files them for what purpose?
- Are SLAPP suits filed to win in court? If not, where do they win and why? So what effect do SLAPP suits have?
- How do SLAPP suits achieve their objectives?
- How do SLAPP suits impede the resolution of public issues?
- Besides freedom of speech, which other First Amendment right is jeopardized by SLAPP suits? Why?
- So what do SLAPP suits threaten?
- What kind of libel lawsuit provided for by state statutes is an extension of SLAPP suits? Why? Does OKLAHOMA have one?
- Are these lawsuits/statutes intended to chill criticism of the food industry? (Note the comments in Kopperud's letter to Consumer Reports.)
- How do these statutes change the burden of proof in a libel lawsuit?
- The chilling effect created by these statutes/lawsuits could create what harm? In other words, why should we all care?
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