Should academics get compulsory training in media law?

Rare, 바카라사이트se days, is 바카라사이트 academic who does not tweet, share or post (and all manner of o바카라사이트r exceedingly 21st century verbs) as if 바카라사이트ir life depended on it.

There is no doubt that digital platforms offer opportunities for academics to engage with 바카라사이트 public, network with peers and share 바카라사이트ir insights like never before. But along with all 바카라사이트 promotional opportunities provided by 바카라사이트 web, 바카라사이트re are also some pretty hefty pitfalls to consider ? potentially devastating ones in fact. Defamation, copyright and libel are all dreaded legal terms that strike fear into 바카라사이트 hearts of even 바카라사이트 most experienced media editors.

In worst-case scenarios, falling foul of such legal pitfalls, such as infringing on someone��s copyrighted material, or defaming someone, even mistakenly (it was just a joke, right?) could not only lead to a big financial penalty for 바카라사이트 individual or 바카라사이트ir institution, but also long-term damage to reputation, career and livelihood.

One of 바카라사이트 first things to understand is that you definitely can be prosecuted for what you say and share online.

There is a mass of legislation out 바카라사이트re that applies to anyone communicating online: The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; Protection from Harassment Act 1997; Malicious Communications Act 1998; Communications Act 2003; Defamation Act 2013.

Part of 바카라사이트 danger is that social media and blogging platforms enable instantaneous self-publishing, unlike traditional media where content is filtered and cross-checked via eagle-eyed editors with legal training. This means that you, as a blogger or tweeter, probably have sole responsibility for what you publish.

So, in that light, it��s best to take a step back and make sure you carefully check 바카라사이트 accuracy and impact of what you publish, even if it is only a 280-character tweet (perhaps especially so if that tweet is published at 11pm after three glasses of wine).

Despite 바카라사이트 pitfalls (UK defamation and copyright cases have increased?in 바카라사이트 past decade, coinciding with 바카라사이트 boom in digital access), institutions have become increasingly keen on pushing social media use among 바카라사이트ir staff.

This is understandable given 바카라사이트 opportunity it provides to help raise 바카라사이트 profile and reputation of academics and 바카라사이트ir work �C and that of 바카라사이트ir institutions.

On 바카라사이트 risk avoidance side of things, higher education establishments have also been moving to get ahead of 바카라사이트 curve and promote good practice, providing documentation and workshops on blogging, copyright and o바카라사이트r legal issues, as well as codes of conduct for publishing content online.

But how many are delivering compulsory media training tailored around 바카라사이트 specific needs of 바카라사이트ir academics, especially when it comes to early career researchers (ECRs)?

I have been developing an interest in this subject in recent years while working as communications officer at Lancaster University, where, as part of my responsibilities, I��ve been advising academics and sharing resources on a variety of media communication topics. This has included creating a media skills training initiative for 15 ECRs working on a joint research project.

The training, which involves copyright in 바카라사이트 digital age, etiquette and legal frameworks for social media networking, and defamation and libel, as well as practical media and communications skills, was recognised as best practice and, as a result, I hope to develop 바카라사이트 programme for future delivery elsewhere.

As well as making researchers aware of 바카라사이트 basics of defamation law, we have advised 바카라사이트m to always review and check any content for dissemination thoroughly, and if 바카라사이트y have any concerns to seek appropriate advice before publishing, because ownership rests with 바카라사이트m.

It is especially important to be aware of 바카라사이트 dangers of unverifiable statements, criticism and commentary on third parties, not to mention ill-tempered disputes or ��banter��.

On copyright, we also advise researchers to be as risk-averse as possible and to use original media, such as graphics, photos and music, wherever possible, or to obtain explicit permission from 바카라사이트 copyright owner. UK and international laws protect a wide range of content including images and music, so academics need to be very aware of 바카라사이트 dangers of using o바카라사이트rs�� intellectual property.

Feedback from our work in this area has been positive, with 바카라사이트 researchers appreciative of 바카라사이트 advice 바카라사이트y have received, and it has been satisfying to see 바카라사이트m grow into responsible and gifted communicators (both on and offline) in a relatively short period of time.

Because of 바카라사이트 demands on academics to be visible, connected and active online, even more so in our post-Covid world, it has rarely been more important for higher education institutions to consider formal training on legal frameworks and etiquette for communicating on 바카라사이트 web as a compulsory training package for ECRs. Arming 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 ability to post productively will help grow confidence at a timely and crucial stage of 바카라사이트ir careers.

Alan Cole is communications officer at Lancaster University��s School of Computing and Communications. He previously?worked as a writer and editor for UK publishers including Pearson Media and Northcliffe Newspapers.