The Citizen Media Law Project, a joint venture between the Berkman Center for Internet & Society and the Center for Citizen Media, provides legal assistance, education and resources for individuals and organizations involved in online and citizen media.  The CMLP has five primary objectives: legal education and training; collection and analysis of legal threats; litigation referral, consultation, and representation; community building; and advocacy on behalf of citizen media.

Activities:

The CMLP is currently working on the following projects: 

Litigation referrals, consultation, and representation: The CMLP is building up a pro bono and clinical legal assistance network to help citizen media creators and other online publishers with their legal needs.  In conjunction with the Berkman Cyberlaw Clinic, lawyers and clinical law students at the CMLP will provide legal advice to individuals and organizations that operate citizen media sites.

Legal guide for citizen media: The CMLP has created a state-specific legal guide that covers a range of topics relevant to citizen media creators, including the risks associated with online publication such as defamation and privacy torts; legal issues related to newsgathering; access to government information and meetings; and intellectual property issues.  

Over the course of the next year, we will be creating new legal guide materials relating to two topics: (1) legal liability associated with the online publication of user-generated content; and (2) citizen media coverage of election proceedings and events.  In addition, we will be updating the sections of the legal guide we created last year. 

Legal threats database: The CMLP is compiling a comprehensive, interactive database of "legal threats" faced by citizen media. The database contains lawsuits, cease-and-desist letters, subpoenas, and other threats directed at those who engage in online speech.

Advocacy and coalition building: The CMLP provides research and advocacy on free speech, newsgathering, intellectual property, and other legal issues related to citizen media. We are also building a community of lawyers, academics, and others who are interested in facilitating citizen participation in online media and protecting the legal rights of those engaged in speech on the Internet. 

Intern Responsibilities:

Interns will collect cases, perform legal research, and draft new sections of our legal guide relating to legal liability for publishing user-generated content like comments, consumer reviews, forum posts, and social networking profiles.  To do so, interns will need to develop a firm understand of the relevant areas of the law, as well as the ability to translate complex legal issues into practical information for the ordinary reader.

Interns will also assist CMLP staff members in building up the pro bono and clinical legal assistance network.  In addition, interns will work on updating the existing sections of the legal guide and analyzing recent lawsuits and other legal threats involving citizen media for the legal threats database.

The required time commitment is flexible, but 10 hours or more is preferable. Interns generally are required to work on site at the Berkman Center one day per week, but otherwise may work remotely.

Required Education, Experience and Skills:

Law students with media and/or cyberlaw experience, or a background in journalism, are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in and enthusiasm for journalism, citizen media or technology-related legal issues, along with excellent research and writing skills and the initiative and energy to see projects to completion in a fast-moving environment.

Applications and Questions:

To apply, please email a current CV or resume and a cover letter summarizing your interest and experience. Applications and requests for more information should be sent by email to:

Sam Bayard
Assistant Director
Citizen Media Law Project
Berkman Center for Internet & Society Harvard Law School
23 Everett St., 2nd Floor Cambridge, MA 02138