What is Media Law?

Media law is the practice, study, and theory of law pertaining to mass media and interactive media. Media law is a subset of communications law and deals with issues that arise when new and old forms of media collide with legal systems around the world. How intellectual property relates to the creation and distribution of music, literature, film, television, radio, and the Internet has developed a need for professionals who understand how to navigate through complex legal systems in a rapidly changing world.

Media law is a relatively new field of study. It emerged from the growing demands of the entertainment industry. Media lawyers are generally employed by media owners or creators to handle issues arising from any number of laws ranging from copyright, privacy, defamation, and taxation to rights of publicity or employment agreements.

Why study Media Law?

Many students take media law courses as part of their undergraduate degree but often pursue the subject further at the postgraduate level. A master’s degree in media law can either be taken through an institution's graduate school or through law school. Students who wish to specialize exclusively in legal issues related to mass media can do so at the doctoral level. A doctoral degree in media law equips individuals with the necessary training to analyze and apply legal principles to communications issues using a combination of theoretical and practical approaches.

What careers are available in Media Law?

Once a student completes a course in media law, there are many career choices available. These can include working as a copyright lawyer, media consultant, entertainment lawyer, or intellectual property attorney. Other possibilities include a career in journalism or public relations.

In all, there are over 4000 Higher Education Institutions in Europe offering a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. With more and more of these organizations offering English as the language of education for at least some of their degree programs, universities in Europe are now of higher quality than ever before. Universities in Europe offer a friendly welcome to foreign students and to give a course of knowledge that meets their profession needs in today’s global demand.

After an individual’s undergraduate education has been completed, he or she will need to pursue an LLB in order to actually practice in the field of law. This program typically takes three to four years to complete.