Joseph Russomanno | Arizona State University (original) (raw)

Papers by Joseph Russomanno

Research paper thumbnail of Correction to: More than a Message: Public Health Advocacy, Political Cartooning and COVID-19 Challenges in Pakistan

Research paper thumbnail of Correction to: More than a Message: Public Health Advocacy, Political Cartooning and COVID-19 Challenges in Pakistan

Research paper thumbnail of Workplace freedom of expression: A case for the broadcast newsroom employee

Communication Law and Policy, 1996

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Burning" News Sources and Media Liability: Cohen V. Cowles Media Co. Ten Years Later

Communications law, Sep 1, 2002

Communications and the Law KYU HO YOUM JOSEPH RUSSOMANNO "Burning" News Sources and Med... more Communications and the Law KYU HO YOUM JOSEPH RUSSOMANNO "Burning" News Sources and Media Liability: Cohen v. Cowles Media Co. Ten Years Later Kyu Ho Youm is Professor of Journalism and Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair, School of Journalism and ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Right and the Duty: Jefferson, Sedition and the Birth of the First Amendment's Central Meaning

Communication Law and Policy, Dec 19, 2017

When the right and duty to criticize government and its officials is under attack in the United S... more When the right and duty to criticize government and its officials is under attack in the United States, the democracy is threatened. The idea of holding those in power accountable, and its origin, assume particular importance. While this "central meaning" of the First Amendment culminated with Justice William Brennan's New York Times Co. v. Sullivan opinion in 1964, the process of discovering that meaning actually began more than a century and a half before. Near the end of the eighteenth century, a political battle ensued over the meaning of the First Amendment. The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 were signed into law by a chief executive who sought to control political criticism of him and the government over which he presided. This article focuses on the role of Thomas Jefferson in the resistance to these laws. This battle, according to Justice Brennan, "[F]irst crystalized a national awareness of the central meaning of the First Amendment." This article posits that this conflict resulted in birth of the modern First Amendment-the discovery of its central meaning-and is premised on the notion that revisiting the events described herein is especially relevant within a period in which officials in high office threaten speech and press rights.

Research paper thumbnail of Creating a New First Amendment Right: Miami Herald Publishing Co. V. Tornillo and the Story of Access to the Media

Research paper thumbnail of Tombstone’s Epitaph

American Journalism, Apr 1, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of The Firebrand of My Youth": Holmes, Emerson and Freedom of Expression

Communication Law and Policy, 2000

Page 1. THE FIREBRAND OF MY YOUTH : HOLMES, EMERSON AND FREEDOM ... JOSEPH A. RUSSOMANNO* There i... more Page 1. THE FIREBRAND OF MY YOUTH : HOLMES, EMERSON AND FREEDOM ... JOSEPH A. RUSSOMANNO* There is probably no figure in American jurisprudence who has been more studied and whose record has been more analyzed than Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review: Hate on the Right: Right-Wing Political Groups and Hate Speech, by Michael Waltman

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2015

Hate on the Right: Right-Wing Political Groups and Hate Speech. Michael Waltman. New York, New Yo... more Hate on the Right: Right-Wing Political Groups and Hate Speech. Michael Waltman. New York, New York: Peter Lang, 2015. 264 pp. $40.95 pbk.For those who believe or suspect that a culture of hate has infiltrated American discourse-or for those who simply want to research that possibility-Hate on the Right is for them. In this book, Michael Waltman, an award-winning author and an associate professor in the University of North Carolina's Department of Communication Studies, provides several examples of just how that has happened. Moreover, he includes an in-depth analysis of each. Collectively, these examples-from books like White Apocalypse and Atlas Shrugged to groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) and various paramilitary organizations-are likely to lead readers to conclude that, indeed, hate-filled rhetoric is extensive.In an introductory first chapter, Waltman explicitly states his book's purpose: "to examine the discourse and language produced by a variety of right-wing groups and to determine the homology that exists among their discourses." By "homology," he means a similarity often attributable to a common origin; that is, he seeks to identify the roots shared by these groups so as to recognize how their methods and goals are alike. The conclusion: exclusion. According to Waltman, the thread running through these right-wing efforts is scapegoating and "otherizing" enemies. The approach is not only to marginalize those who have been stigmatized, but also includes a belief that the absence of "out groups" is a desirable, positive outcome.Who are these excluded "others?" They are those who oppose or stand in the way of the right's desired agendas. Generally, this means government officials, particularly those perceived to be liberal. Not surprisingly, President Obama typically tops these lists. Other "liberal" politicians and government agencies (e.g., Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) are also included. Perhaps less expected are some members of the current U.S. Supreme Court: Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor.Between his introduction and conclusion, Waltman methodically analyzes his chosen examples of right-wing discourse. His method, including coding, is transparent. Various themes are revealed and described within each analysis. With Atlas Shrugged, for example, themes include "Great Men" and the Gordon Gekko-esque "Greed Is Good." The analysis of the NRA includes not only themes, many of which target President Obama, but also a detailed description of the NRA's history. Again, the book would be valuable to anyone seeking not just a primer on right-wing rhetorical practices, but also thorough descriptions of them. To a large extent, Waltman lays out the facts, allowing the reader to judge and conclude. But it becomes clear through his narrative-for example, claiming the author of White Apocalypse "camouflaged" his racist discourse by dovetailing it with the mainstream's discourse-where the author is leading the reader. …

Research paper thumbnail of John Corner, Television Form and Public Address. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1995. 200 pp. Cloth, $59.95

American Journalism, 1996

Arrogance sometimes manifests itself in subtle forms. Tone and style are influences that have a b... more Arrogance sometimes manifests itself in subtle forms. Tone and style are influences that have a bearing on a message. It isn't just what is said, but how it was said that is noticeable. That subtle arrogance in style and tone is found throughout the pages of this book. When one has had access to presidents, prime ministers, members of Congress, and other influential persons for over forty years, it isn't easy to dismiss arrogance. Do journalists represent the average reader and viewer or are they part of the beltway mentality? Presidents come and go, Washington bureau chiefs and network news reporters stay. Which institution is more of the status

Research paper thumbnail of Tortured Logic: A Verbatim Critique of the George W. Bush Presidency

Research paper thumbnail of “A Punch Straight for the Heart”: Disparaging Political Cartoons and Ethical Guidelines

Southwestern Mass Communication Journal

The field of political cartooning is an important element of editorial commentary in mass media w... more The field of political cartooning is an important element of editorial commentary in mass media worldwide. The content of cartoons, however, is sometimes disparaging, offensive and hateful toward members of “out groups,” whether defined according to race, ethnicity or religious beliefs. As this article illustrates, this disparagement can have serious and unfortunate outcomes – from protest that turns violent – even deadly – to the alienation of those disparaged. This is particularly concerning in an age when media content may be viewed across cultural and national boundaries within moments of its publication. It is important to recognize the absence of cross-cultural sensitivity that often contributes to these situations. This article seeks to identify the ethical dilemmas in disparaging political cartoons by analyzing theoretical perspectives in both humor and ethics. Approaching these dilemmas from a global perspective, the article proposes a multi-point set of ethical guidelines,...

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review: Madisons Music: On Reading the First Amendment by Burt Neuborne

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Freedom of the Press, Concept of

The International Encyclopedia of Communication, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Kalven Jr., Harry. The New York Times Case: A Note on “The Central Meaning of the First Amendment,” 1964 Sup. Ct. Rev. 191

Communication Law and Policy, 2020

Imagining an America in which officials in the highest positions of federal government support la... more Imagining an America in which officials in the highest positions of federal government support laws that criminalize the speech of their critics is not difficult. Not only were such laws passed in 1798 and 1917-18, assaults on First Amendment culture have extended into the twenty-first century. To punish his critics, for example, then-candidate Donald Trump pledged to “open up” libel laws. The ruling most responsible for narrowing libel law and limiting the success of public official plaintiffs was New York Times Co. v. Sullivan Co. A landmark analysis of the ruling followed. Taking Justice William Brennan’s opinion, Harry Kalven Jr. extracted a small phrase and breathed life into the large concept that remains as vital and

Research paper thumbnail of The Law of Journalism and Mass Communication

Chapter 1: The Rule Of Law: Law In A Changing Communication Environment The Court System Sources ... more Chapter 1: The Rule Of Law: Law In A Changing Communication Environment The Court System Sources of the Law The Case Process Finding the Law Reading Case Law CASES FOR STUDY Chapter 2: The First Amendment: Speech and Press Freedoms in Theory and Reality Interpreting the First Amendment The Origins of the First Amendment First Amendment Values Media Emergence, Convergence and Consolidation Contemporary Prior Restraints Political Speech Elections and Campaign Finance Anonymous Speech Government Speakers Public and Nonpublic Forums Compelled Speech CASES FOR STUDY Chapter 3: Speech Distinctions: Dangers, Fights, Threats, Other Harms and Educational Needs National Security and Tranquility Court Tests to Protect Disruptive Speech Media Incitement to Harm Media and Physical Harm Speech Assaults Symbolic Speech Speech in the Schools Other Harms CASES FOR STUDY Chapter 4: Libel & Emotional Distress: The Plaintiff's Case A Brief History Contemporary Issues The Elements of Libel: The Plai...

Research paper thumbnail of Lock or Key: Does FOIA Sufficiently Open the Right to Information?

Research paper thumbnail of Protecting ‘Sacred Cows’: A Comparative Study of the Factors Influencing Political Cartoonists

Media Watch, 2021

Political cartooning is an influential medium that can be a significant indicator of the democrat... more Political cartooning is an influential medium that can be a significant indicator of the democratic health of a country. However, understanding the factors influencing and restraining political cartoonists has been neglected within political communication scholarship across the world for decades. Cartoonists globally cherish the level of freedom possessed by their American counterparts. Cartoonists in Pakistan are among those. Based on this assumption, this article investigates the factors that influence political cartoonists, including any filters through which their drawings pass before publication. Therefore, in-depth interviews of political cartoonists from Pakistan and the United States have been conducted under the umbrella of a model suggested by Gamson and Modgiliani (1989). This study compares cartooning in the ostensibly free environment in the United States and the visibly restricted atmosphere in Pakistan to see how the dynamics of free speech in political cartooning are changing. While the study reveals some largely predictable differences between Pakistan and the United States, there are some remarkable similarities.

Research paper thumbnail of Speaking our minds: conversations with the people behind landmark First Amendment cases

Choice Reviews Online, 2002

Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y*... more Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y* ... Speaking Our Minds Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ... LEA's Communication Series Jennings Bryant I Dolf Zillmann, General Editors ...

Research paper thumbnail of Speaking our minds: conversations with the people behind landmark First Amendment cases

Choice Reviews Online, 2002

Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y*... more Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y* ... Speaking Our Minds Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ... LEA's Communication Series Jennings Bryant I Dolf Zillmann, General Editors ...

Research paper thumbnail of Correction to: More than a Message: Public Health Advocacy, Political Cartooning and COVID-19 Challenges in Pakistan

Research paper thumbnail of Correction to: More than a Message: Public Health Advocacy, Political Cartooning and COVID-19 Challenges in Pakistan

Research paper thumbnail of Workplace freedom of expression: A case for the broadcast newsroom employee

Communication Law and Policy, 1996

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Burning" News Sources and Media Liability: Cohen V. Cowles Media Co. Ten Years Later

Communications law, Sep 1, 2002

Communications and the Law KYU HO YOUM JOSEPH RUSSOMANNO "Burning" News Sources and Med... more Communications and the Law KYU HO YOUM JOSEPH RUSSOMANNO "Burning" News Sources and Media Liability: Cohen v. Cowles Media Co. Ten Years Later Kyu Ho Youm is Professor of Journalism and Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair, School of Journalism and ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Right and the Duty: Jefferson, Sedition and the Birth of the First Amendment's Central Meaning

Communication Law and Policy, Dec 19, 2017

When the right and duty to criticize government and its officials is under attack in the United S... more When the right and duty to criticize government and its officials is under attack in the United States, the democracy is threatened. The idea of holding those in power accountable, and its origin, assume particular importance. While this "central meaning" of the First Amendment culminated with Justice William Brennan's New York Times Co. v. Sullivan opinion in 1964, the process of discovering that meaning actually began more than a century and a half before. Near the end of the eighteenth century, a political battle ensued over the meaning of the First Amendment. The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 were signed into law by a chief executive who sought to control political criticism of him and the government over which he presided. This article focuses on the role of Thomas Jefferson in the resistance to these laws. This battle, according to Justice Brennan, "[F]irst crystalized a national awareness of the central meaning of the First Amendment." This article posits that this conflict resulted in birth of the modern First Amendment-the discovery of its central meaning-and is premised on the notion that revisiting the events described herein is especially relevant within a period in which officials in high office threaten speech and press rights.

Research paper thumbnail of Creating a New First Amendment Right: Miami Herald Publishing Co. V. Tornillo and the Story of Access to the Media

Research paper thumbnail of Tombstone’s Epitaph

American Journalism, Apr 1, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of The Firebrand of My Youth": Holmes, Emerson and Freedom of Expression

Communication Law and Policy, 2000

Page 1. THE FIREBRAND OF MY YOUTH : HOLMES, EMERSON AND FREEDOM ... JOSEPH A. RUSSOMANNO* There i... more Page 1. THE FIREBRAND OF MY YOUTH : HOLMES, EMERSON AND FREEDOM ... JOSEPH A. RUSSOMANNO* There is probably no figure in American jurisprudence who has been more studied and whose record has been more analyzed than Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review: Hate on the Right: Right-Wing Political Groups and Hate Speech, by Michael Waltman

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2015

Hate on the Right: Right-Wing Political Groups and Hate Speech. Michael Waltman. New York, New Yo... more Hate on the Right: Right-Wing Political Groups and Hate Speech. Michael Waltman. New York, New York: Peter Lang, 2015. 264 pp. $40.95 pbk.For those who believe or suspect that a culture of hate has infiltrated American discourse-or for those who simply want to research that possibility-Hate on the Right is for them. In this book, Michael Waltman, an award-winning author and an associate professor in the University of North Carolina's Department of Communication Studies, provides several examples of just how that has happened. Moreover, he includes an in-depth analysis of each. Collectively, these examples-from books like White Apocalypse and Atlas Shrugged to groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) and various paramilitary organizations-are likely to lead readers to conclude that, indeed, hate-filled rhetoric is extensive.In an introductory first chapter, Waltman explicitly states his book's purpose: "to examine the discourse and language produced by a variety of right-wing groups and to determine the homology that exists among their discourses." By "homology," he means a similarity often attributable to a common origin; that is, he seeks to identify the roots shared by these groups so as to recognize how their methods and goals are alike. The conclusion: exclusion. According to Waltman, the thread running through these right-wing efforts is scapegoating and "otherizing" enemies. The approach is not only to marginalize those who have been stigmatized, but also includes a belief that the absence of "out groups" is a desirable, positive outcome.Who are these excluded "others?" They are those who oppose or stand in the way of the right's desired agendas. Generally, this means government officials, particularly those perceived to be liberal. Not surprisingly, President Obama typically tops these lists. Other "liberal" politicians and government agencies (e.g., Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) are also included. Perhaps less expected are some members of the current U.S. Supreme Court: Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor.Between his introduction and conclusion, Waltman methodically analyzes his chosen examples of right-wing discourse. His method, including coding, is transparent. Various themes are revealed and described within each analysis. With Atlas Shrugged, for example, themes include "Great Men" and the Gordon Gekko-esque "Greed Is Good." The analysis of the NRA includes not only themes, many of which target President Obama, but also a detailed description of the NRA's history. Again, the book would be valuable to anyone seeking not just a primer on right-wing rhetorical practices, but also thorough descriptions of them. To a large extent, Waltman lays out the facts, allowing the reader to judge and conclude. But it becomes clear through his narrative-for example, claiming the author of White Apocalypse "camouflaged" his racist discourse by dovetailing it with the mainstream's discourse-where the author is leading the reader. …

Research paper thumbnail of John Corner, Television Form and Public Address. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1995. 200 pp. Cloth, $59.95

American Journalism, 1996

Arrogance sometimes manifests itself in subtle forms. Tone and style are influences that have a b... more Arrogance sometimes manifests itself in subtle forms. Tone and style are influences that have a bearing on a message. It isn't just what is said, but how it was said that is noticeable. That subtle arrogance in style and tone is found throughout the pages of this book. When one has had access to presidents, prime ministers, members of Congress, and other influential persons for over forty years, it isn't easy to dismiss arrogance. Do journalists represent the average reader and viewer or are they part of the beltway mentality? Presidents come and go, Washington bureau chiefs and network news reporters stay. Which institution is more of the status

Research paper thumbnail of Tortured Logic: A Verbatim Critique of the George W. Bush Presidency

Research paper thumbnail of “A Punch Straight for the Heart”: Disparaging Political Cartoons and Ethical Guidelines

Southwestern Mass Communication Journal

The field of political cartooning is an important element of editorial commentary in mass media w... more The field of political cartooning is an important element of editorial commentary in mass media worldwide. The content of cartoons, however, is sometimes disparaging, offensive and hateful toward members of “out groups,” whether defined according to race, ethnicity or religious beliefs. As this article illustrates, this disparagement can have serious and unfortunate outcomes – from protest that turns violent – even deadly – to the alienation of those disparaged. This is particularly concerning in an age when media content may be viewed across cultural and national boundaries within moments of its publication. It is important to recognize the absence of cross-cultural sensitivity that often contributes to these situations. This article seeks to identify the ethical dilemmas in disparaging political cartoons by analyzing theoretical perspectives in both humor and ethics. Approaching these dilemmas from a global perspective, the article proposes a multi-point set of ethical guidelines,...

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review: Madisons Music: On Reading the First Amendment by Burt Neuborne

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Freedom of the Press, Concept of

The International Encyclopedia of Communication, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Kalven Jr., Harry. The New York Times Case: A Note on “The Central Meaning of the First Amendment,” 1964 Sup. Ct. Rev. 191

Communication Law and Policy, 2020

Imagining an America in which officials in the highest positions of federal government support la... more Imagining an America in which officials in the highest positions of federal government support laws that criminalize the speech of their critics is not difficult. Not only were such laws passed in 1798 and 1917-18, assaults on First Amendment culture have extended into the twenty-first century. To punish his critics, for example, then-candidate Donald Trump pledged to “open up” libel laws. The ruling most responsible for narrowing libel law and limiting the success of public official plaintiffs was New York Times Co. v. Sullivan Co. A landmark analysis of the ruling followed. Taking Justice William Brennan’s opinion, Harry Kalven Jr. extracted a small phrase and breathed life into the large concept that remains as vital and

Research paper thumbnail of The Law of Journalism and Mass Communication

Chapter 1: The Rule Of Law: Law In A Changing Communication Environment The Court System Sources ... more Chapter 1: The Rule Of Law: Law In A Changing Communication Environment The Court System Sources of the Law The Case Process Finding the Law Reading Case Law CASES FOR STUDY Chapter 2: The First Amendment: Speech and Press Freedoms in Theory and Reality Interpreting the First Amendment The Origins of the First Amendment First Amendment Values Media Emergence, Convergence and Consolidation Contemporary Prior Restraints Political Speech Elections and Campaign Finance Anonymous Speech Government Speakers Public and Nonpublic Forums Compelled Speech CASES FOR STUDY Chapter 3: Speech Distinctions: Dangers, Fights, Threats, Other Harms and Educational Needs National Security and Tranquility Court Tests to Protect Disruptive Speech Media Incitement to Harm Media and Physical Harm Speech Assaults Symbolic Speech Speech in the Schools Other Harms CASES FOR STUDY Chapter 4: Libel & Emotional Distress: The Plaintiff's Case A Brief History Contemporary Issues The Elements of Libel: The Plai...

Research paper thumbnail of Lock or Key: Does FOIA Sufficiently Open the Right to Information?

Research paper thumbnail of Protecting ‘Sacred Cows’: A Comparative Study of the Factors Influencing Political Cartoonists

Media Watch, 2021

Political cartooning is an influential medium that can be a significant indicator of the democrat... more Political cartooning is an influential medium that can be a significant indicator of the democratic health of a country. However, understanding the factors influencing and restraining political cartoonists has been neglected within political communication scholarship across the world for decades. Cartoonists globally cherish the level of freedom possessed by their American counterparts. Cartoonists in Pakistan are among those. Based on this assumption, this article investigates the factors that influence political cartoonists, including any filters through which their drawings pass before publication. Therefore, in-depth interviews of political cartoonists from Pakistan and the United States have been conducted under the umbrella of a model suggested by Gamson and Modgiliani (1989). This study compares cartooning in the ostensibly free environment in the United States and the visibly restricted atmosphere in Pakistan to see how the dynamics of free speech in political cartooning are changing. While the study reveals some largely predictable differences between Pakistan and the United States, there are some remarkable similarities.

Research paper thumbnail of Speaking our minds: conversations with the people behind landmark First Amendment cases

Choice Reviews Online, 2002

Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y*... more Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y* ... Speaking Our Minds Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ... LEA's Communication Series Jennings Bryant I Dolf Zillmann, General Editors ...

Research paper thumbnail of Speaking our minds: conversations with the people behind landmark First Amendment cases

Choice Reviews Online, 2002

Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y*... more Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y* ... Speaking Our Minds Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ... LEA's Communication Series Jennings Bryant I Dolf Zillmann, General Editors ...