Media Law Conference on Friday, April 15 at Stetson University College of Law

Are you planning to attend the Media Law Conference on Friday, April 15 at Stetson University College of Law?  If so, have you registered? All panelists who are members of the Media & Communications Law Committee are required to register. All registered conference attendees who are members of The Florida Bar will receive 5.50 CLE credits.

The Opening Plenary Session: Journalists’ Ethics:  Is Objectivity Dead?

Panels: Free Speech and Violent Video Games; Access/FOIA/Open Records Laws; SLAPP Suits; Internet Activism, Hacking and Publication of Leaked or Confidential Documents (a la Wikileaks); and Blogging, Anonymous Posts and Defamation

Panelists: Florence Snyder, David Warner, Wendy March, William F. “Casey” Ebsary, Jr., Ahmed, Bedier, Manjit Gill, Matthew Leish, Clay Calvert, William Henslee, Cassandra Willard, Kathryn Lancaster, Brittany Maxey, Samuel J. Morley, Peter Kurdock, Penelope Canan, Robert Rivas, L. Martin Reeder, Jr., Virginia Sherlock, Catherine J. Cameron, Juliet Davis, Gregg Leslie, Muhammed Malik, Stephanie Tripp, James Hetz and more.

The keynote speaker is Kendall Coffey, a partner at Coffey Burlington law firm in Miami and a legal analyst who  provides commentary for numerous national and  international networks. Coffey is the author of  numerous legal works ranging from “The Due Process Right to Seek Asylum” in the Yale Law and Policy Review to the recently published treatise, “Foreclosures in Florida.”  His new book, “Spinning the Law: Trying Cases in the Court of Public Opinion,”  looks at celebrity trials over the years, and how the spin affected the outcome of the case.

The closing speaker is Neil Brown, Editor & Vice President of the St. Petersburg Times. He’ll  talk about PolitiFact and the Truth-O-Meter that he publishes in the newspaper to “help you find the truth in American politics.”

Electronic registration is available for the Media Law Conference this year. Please see link below. If you’d prefer to print out and fax or mail your registration form, that document is attached to the flyer. Registration fees are the same as last year:  $100 for lawyers (includes CLER), $40 for judges, non-lawyer media, non-lawyer faculty, and public relations practitioners and $20 for students. The Florida Bar has applied for 5.0 CLE credits for members.

http://www.regonline.com/2011MediaLaw

There’s still time to register and there’s still time to be a co-sponsor of the 2011 Media Law Conference. The minimum amount for solo practitioners/individuals is $100 and the minimum amount for larger firms is $250. If you, your law  firm or  media organization would like to be included among the co-sponsors, please let us know.  Checks and money orders only will be accepted for payment. Checks should be made payable to The Florida Bar, with Media Law Conference in the memo section and sent to the attention of MCLC liaison Karen Kirksey:

Karen Kirksey
Public Information & Bar Services
The Florida Bar
651 E. Jefferson St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300

The Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Tampa is providing a reduced room rate to Media Law Conference attendees. You may call the hotel directly. Ask for the Stetson University College of Law rate when making your reservation. The hotel does not provide shuttle service from the airport, but it does provide shuttle service to and from the conference site, the Stetson University College of Law-Tampa Law Center.

Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Tampa:      $99 per night + Tax

102 E Cass St
Tampa, Florida 33602
813-229-1100
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/fact-sheet/travel/tpadt-courtyard-tampa-downtown/

Ground transportation to hotel:
Tampa International Airport – TPA
Hotel direction: 7 mile(s) W
Driving directions:
Follow Signs To I-275 North, Follow I-275 North approximately 6 Miles To Exit 44, Downtown Tampa. When you get off on this exit, the road will split; stay to the right (Ashley Street). At the 2nd stop light, make a left onto Cass St. Hotel immediately on left.
This hotel does not provide shuttle service.
Alternate transportation: Blue One Transportation; fee: 15 USD (one way) ;reservation required
Estimated taxi fare: 25.00 USD  (one way)

St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport – PIE
Hotel direction: 20 mile(s) E
Driving directions:
Follow Signs To I-275 North, Follow I-275 North approximately 15 Miles To Exit 44, Downtown Tampa. When you get off on this exit, the road will split; stay to the right (Ashley Street). At the 2nd stop light, make a left onto Cass St. Hotel immediately on left.
This hotel does not provide shuttle service.
Courtesy phone available
Estimated taxi fare: 35.00 USD  (one way)