The State of Research on Communication and First Amendment Law in Traditional Law Journals: An Evaluative and Instructional Take

Abstract

Scholarship related to First Amendment, communications and media law has changed dramatically in the last twenty-five years. This article analyzes how the changes have impacted that scholarship. In the process, it focuses on the rise and leadership of female law professors in these fields over the past several decades. The views of more than a half-dozen of these women about the importance of this development, what led them into their respective areas of scholarly emphasis, and what more needs to be done to diversify these fields are featured. Additionally, the article addresses what might be considered a possible bandwagon effect on First Amendment scholarship in traditional law journals. Furthermore, it explores both the increase in topic-specific journals related to facets of communications law and the growth of online companions to traditional law journals that concentrate on publishing shorter articles, essays and reviews. Finally, the article offers some suggestions regarding submitting articles to traditional law journals.