Media Law and Government Transparency Practicum

A Chicago police officer fatally shoots a teenager, but police refuse to release dash-cam video until a journalist invokes the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. A lawsuit accusing the Chicago City Council of violating open meeting laws is filed after reporters learn of private discussions on the city’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. A journalist covering a protest over the death of George Floyd files a federal lawsuit accusing police of violating his First and Fourth Amendment rights for spraying him with a chemical agent. As these and other cases demonstrate, journalists in these contentious times need to turn to the law to confront increasing challenges to newsgathering and investigative reporting. This unique joint Practicum with Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law – comprised of externships and weekly seminars – aims to advance the public’s access to information, to hold institutions accountable, and to defend free speech and press freedom. Through externships of 10-12 hours a week at media organizations, non-profits, and press-advocacy groups (provided and matched by faculty), Medill students will learn how to research and prepare access requests and how to research legal or policy matters related to investigative and accountability issues. Through lectures and guest speakers, students will be introduced to the major transparency laws and other topics inherent in the relevant casework. Working collaboratively with law students, Medill students will deepen their understanding of the subject matters, share their experiences on outside projects, and discuss the legal and ethical issues that arise. Students will be matched with existing externships.