named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
AI and Copyright Developments
Programs addressing emerging legal issues in artificial intelligence, fair use, and copyright in digital media
Committee Meetings
Regular meetings of specialized committees including Litigation, Insurance, Data Privacy, Anti-SLAPP, and International
Media Law 101
Introductory workshops on core media law topics including libel, privacy, copyright, and newsgathering
Media Law 201
Advanced seminars on specialized topics such as media deals, FOIA, video game law, and true crime vetting
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Legal Professional Development & Networking 2 activities
- Conducting webinars and educational programming on media law topicsDelivers webinars and educational programs featuring top legal experts, journalists, and scholars on current issues in media law, including AI-generated content liability, freedom of information, and the lifecycle of libel cases.
- Providing member networking and professional development platformsFacilitates professional networking and knowledge sharing among media law practitioners through members-only conferences, a private listserv, job board, and subject matter committees. Includes events featuring leading journalists and legal scholars to discuss free speech and press freedom issues.
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Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 2 activities
- Monitoring and analyzing media law developmentsTracks and analyzes legal developments in libel, privacy, and related media law areas, including court decisions, legislative initiatives, and policy changes, to inform members and the public. Produces publications such as the MediaLawLetter, MLRC Digital Review, and White Papers on key legal issues.
- Producing legal research and practice resourcesDevelops and updates comprehensive legal resources including practice guides, litigation briefs, and expert analyses on media law topics such as actual malice standards, Section 230, and copyright law. These materials are created by member committees and used by legal professionals in media defense.
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Free Expression Defense & Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocating for press freedom and First Amendment rightsHosts public forums and discussions on landmark free speech issues, including the San Bernardino iPhone unlocking debate, and analyzes rulings that affirm journalists' rights to cover public events. Works to defend foundational precedents like New York Times v. Sullivan.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Hosting legal education conferences and eventsOrganizes and hosts annual and biennial conferences in locations including Virginia, New York, London, and the Bay Area, bringing together over 300 media law professionals to discuss recent developments in media, digital, and entertainment law. Events include sessions on AI liability, copyright, privacy compliance, and content moderation.
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Member-Exclusive Resource Access 1 activity
- Providing public and subscription-based legal resourcesOffers online access to legal brief databases, expert witness lists, litigation resources, practice guides, and event materials for media law professionals and the public. Maintains a job board for legal positions in member organizations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$2.28M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$2.06M90%
Investment income$71K3%
Other revenue$151K
expenses
Total expenses$2.34M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$1.48M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.02M
Cash$410K
Investments$2.51M
Liabilities$511K
Net assets$2.51M
Liquid reserves15.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +6.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE FREEMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $298K |
| DAVID HELLER | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $236K |
| JEFFREY HERMES | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $236K |
board members · 11
- ADAM CANNON — BOARD MEMBER
- BRENDAN HEALEY — DCS PRESIDENT
- CAROLYN FORREST — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID MCCRAW — BOARD MEMBER
- DREW SHENMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- JACOB GOLDSTEIN — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES MCLAUGHLIN — BOARD MEMBER
- LAUREN CHAMBLEE — BOARD MEMBER
- RANDY SHAPIRO — CHAIR EMERITUS
- REGINA THOMAS — CHAIR PERSON
- TED LAZARUS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- ACLU Network — Nadine Strossen, former President of the ACLU, participated in MLRC's Conversations with First Amendment Scholars series.
- Arizona Trial Court Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by the Arizona Trial Court in media law cases.
- Berkeley Center for Law & Technology Partner — Co-hosts the annual Legal Frontiers in Digital Media conference.
- Bloomberg Partner — Engages Bloomberg journalists in panel discussions on investigative reporting and media law topics.
- Davis Wright Tremaine Partner — Robert Corn-Revere, a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, contributed to MLRC's scholarly programming on First Amendment issues.
- Defense Counsel Section Partner — Collaborates with MLRC on programming, publications, committees, and member activities; composed of over 200 law firms specializing in media defense.
- Federal Court Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by federal courts in media law cases.
- Florida Court Government — Covers rulings and legal developments from Florida courts in its publications.
- Florida Court Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by Florida courts in media law cases.
- Free Speech Coalition Partner — Collaborates through coverage and legal alignment on free speech issues, including litigation involving age-gating laws.
- Gotham Hall Partner — Venue host for the MLRC Annual Dinner.
- John Oliver Partner — Reports on legal outcomes involving John Oliver, including dismissal of a defamation case over a Medicaid-related segment.
- Miami Herald Partner — Reports on legal cases involving the Miami Herald, including dismissal of an $885 million claim.
- NPR Partner — Covers legal issues involving NPR, including litigation over press freedom and executive authority.
- New Jersey Court Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by New Jersey courts in media law cases.
- Newsweek Partner — Reports on legal cases involving Newsweek, including dismissal of a defamation claim by the Satanic Temple.
- Ninth Circuit Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in media law cases.
- Pennsylvania Case Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by Pennsylvania courts in media law cases.
- Reuters Partner — Includes Reuters general counsel as a committee co-chair, indicating organizational collaboration on international media law issues.
- Sandra Baron Government — Designated as MLRC’s Copyright Agent to receive notices of claimed copyright infringement.
- Second Circuit Government — Covers rulings and legal developments from the Second Circuit in its publications.
- Second Circuit Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in media law cases.
- Seventh Circuit Government — Covers rulings and legal developments from the Seventh Circuit in its publications.
- Seventh Circuit Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in media law cases.
- Southwestern Law School Partner — Co-hosts the annual Entertainment and Media Law Conference with the Media Law Resource Center.
- Tennessee Supreme Court Government — Covers rulings and legal developments from the Tennessee Supreme Court in its publications.
- Tennessee Supreme Court Government — Reports on rulings and decisions issued by the Tennessee Supreme Court in media law cases.
- The New York Times Partner — Collaborates with The New York Times through event participation, including featuring its reporters and legal counsel in discussions on press freedom and litigation.
- academia Partner — Distinguished speakers from academia participate in the MLRC London Conference.
- judiciary Partner — Distinguished speakers from the judiciary participate in the MLRC London Conference.
+ 1 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Legal Advocacymethodology: community-driven legal advocacyBy fostering a collaborative professional community of media lawyers and journalists, the organization strengthens collective capacity to identify, analyze, and respond to emerging media law threats, thereby advancing free press and First Amendment protections more effectively than isolated actors could.
- Longitudinal Research to Inform Legal Advocacymethodology: longitudinal legal researchBy maintaining a long-term, data-driven study of media defendant trial outcomes, the organization generates empirical evidence that shapes legal strategy, informs policy advocacy, and strengthens arguments in precedent-setting cases.
- Practical Legal Knowledge Disseminationmethodology: legal-information-disseminationBy producing timely legal analysis, commentary, and specialized training on media law developments, the organization enables journalists and legal professionals to navigate complex legal environments, reducing legal risk and improving defense outcomes for media entities.