One of the most exciting aspects of media law is its dynamic and everevolving
nature. It is shaped by the changing nature of communication
careers, rapid developments in technologies and the social dynamics of
politics, economics and culture.
In no period of human history have such changes come about as
quickly as in these first two decades of the twenty-first century. We
have updated this book to reflect the many changes that have occurred
in media law and its interpretation since our last edition in 2015.
Our target audience has broadened with each edition as
technologies such as the internet and social media have combined
to transform journalism and its allied professional communication
careers, including public relations, strategic communication, social
media management, professional blogging and their many hybrids.
While the book is Australian in its orientation, media law is
now international in its application as the internet and its resultant
communication platforms leave Australian communicators and
their employers vulnerable to publishing laws across hundreds of
jurisdictions internationally. The book tries to offer a taste of such risks
faced by those working internationally, while still detailing the most
important restrictions and defences in Australia’s nine jurisdictions at
the national, state and territory levels.