ABA Communities
Introducing Communications Law Communities. Join this new, exclusive online community site for ABA Forum on Communications Law members to connect and interact.
Committees
What is the Forum on Communications Law without you? Become active in the various committees to develop your career, enhance your leadership skills, build reputation, and for networking opportunities.
Committees
Diversity Committee
The Diversity Committee promotes and increases diversity and inclusion in the Forum. Specifically, the Diversity Committee (1) recruits diverse Forum members and leaders, (2) educates and supports law students and Forum members through webinars and other programming, and (3) assists with the Forum’s overall diversity efforts, such as the Forum’s Diversity Moot Court Competition and Scholarship Program.
Diversity Moot Court Competition Committee
The Diversity Moot Court Committee oversees the planning and execution of the Forum’s First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court Competition. This includes publicizing the competition, recruiting competitors, creating the moot court hypothetical materials for competitors and judges, coordinating mentors, scoring briefs, arranging oral arguments, judges, and hosting the final round of competition at the Forum’s annual conference. Ideally, the committee includes practicing attorneys, academic lawyers and past competitors.
In-House Counsel Committee
The In-House Counsel Committee works to (i) bring together in-house counsel at media companies, news organizations, production companies, and the like to network and drive relationships with each other and outside counsel; (ii) increase in-house counsel participation in the Forum and the Annual Conference; and (iii) encourage the sharing of ideas about what initiatives would be useful to the our in-house colleagues and friends throughout the industry. Among other things, over the past few years, the committee has organized and co-sponsored several webinars (e.g., The In-House Experience, DEI: Insights into the 2024 Landscape and Practical Strategies), as well as hosted a special 2-hour program for In-House Counsel that provides the opportunity for In-House Counsel to connect and discuss hot topics in working sessions led by outside counsel. Another initiative on our agenda is the development of a mentoring program, in conjunction with several other committees.
Insurance Committee
The Insurance Committee provides timely information to constituents in the insurance supply chain, including policyholders, insurers, and counsel, about media and entertainment insurance, emerging risk, and attendant risk mitigation.
Intellectual Property Committee
The Intellectual Property Committee focuses on copyright and trademark issues relevant to the media, from the applicability of copyright and trademark fair use doctrines to using third-party materials in print and broadcast journalism to the intersection of copyright, fair use and licensing rights inherent in the embedding of social media posts to the copyrightability of AI-generated and -enhanced works. Our committee writes articles for the Communications Lawyer, holds webinars and conducts breakout sessions at the annual conference of the ABA Forum.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is responsible for recruiting new members, ensuring the growth and diversity of the Forum, as well as fostering connections with other ABA groups. The Committee focuses on membership retention by encouraging engagement and connections, by sending renewal reminders, and by reaching out to those whose memberships have lapsed. The Committee organizes first-timer outreach efforts during the Annual Conference and the Representing Your Local Broadcasters Conference, with the goal of encouraging first-timers to become members. The Committee aims to strengthen the Forum community and to enhance the overall member experience.
Non-Profit and Public Interest Committee
The Nonprofit and Public Interest Committee has three main objectives: (1) to identify, and encourage pursuit of, pro bono opportunity in our subject matter area for members of the Forum, (2) to encourage active membership in the Forum by members of the public interest media law and First Amendment bar, and (3) to liaise with the ABA coordinators of pro bono programs. In service of these goals, the committee welcomes membership of public interest practitioners, law firms and in-house pro bono coordinators.
Representing Your Local Broadcaster Program Committee
Representing Your Local Broadcaster is an annual one-day conference traditionally held on the Sunday of the NAB Show in Las Vegas and is co-sponsored with the Federal Communications Bar Association – The Tech Bar. The focus of the conference is attorneys that represent broadcasters, but those attorneys are of many stripes – including in house, outside counsel, regulatory, commercial, appellate, and M&A – but also includes engineering, financial, and other non-legal experts in the broadcast space. The topics range from FCC enforcement to appellate and transactional trends in the broadcast arena.
Solo and Small Practice Committee
The Solo and Small Practice Committee is comprised of media law practitioners who are either operating as a solo or in a "small(er)" firm -- one that does not have multiple offices in two or more states. The committee offers a range of opportunities for such attorneys to share resources, practice management & marketing tips, and to engage in conversation and networking with fellow small practice attorneys.
Teach Media Law Committee
The Teach Media Law Committee has two primary responsibilities. First, it administers the two scholarships awarded to law students to attend the Forum Annual Meeting. Second, it convenes a session at the annual meeting to discuss issues of common interest among those who teach media law on a part- or full-time basis.
Technology Committee
The Technology Committee is a conduit for the discussion of hot topics and emerging legal issues, including a wide technological background. While these emerging issues touch many of the other committees and Annual Conference workshop groups, the dedicated Technology Committee works to “peel back the onion” on the underlying technology and provide more insight into the opinions shaping media law today. Topics addressed by the committee include artificial intelligence, algorithms, data mining and scaping, deepfakes, data privacy and cybersecurity, digital and streaming platform technology, section 230 immunity, communications technology for reporters, data rights and ownership, interactive entertainment, augmented reality and the metaverse.
Webinar Committee
The Webinar Committee is a group of legal professionals dedicated to enhancing the educational experience for ABA Forum members. The Committee collaborates with industry leaders, attorneys, and guest speakers to develop engaging content. The webinar topics span a diverse range, covering areas such as the First Amendment, media law, intellectual property, hot topics, mentoring and practical tips. Webinars are available for members and the general public and serve as a great way to network and engage virtually with like-minded professionals.
Women in Communications Law Committee
The Women in Communications Law Committee is made up of a diverse group of women who practice communications law across the industry – and across the country. We are a strong network of professional women who serve as a supportive resource to each other for advice, guidance, and friendship. We organize networking and educational events throughout the year to build upon our members’ interests and strengths. We welcome new members at all of our events.
Young Lawyers Committee
The Young Lawyer’s Committee (“YLC”) provides opportunities for young lawyers to get involved in the Forum and develop relationships with others practicing media and communications law across the country. The YLC coordinates various social events through which young lawyers interested in media and communications law can meet and network with one another, including a social event at the annual Forum conference. The YLC also coordinates various forms of programming, including webinars and virtual lunch-and-learn discussions, generally aimed at issues of interest to young lawyers.