FAU law students discuss law through media
This series
Series 3 consists of 5 episodes and was published in September 2023.
Episode 1
Bounty hunting in the USA as shown on TV and in social media
Anna Maier
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Rebecca Rieß
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Categories
- Reality TV / law and social media
- Duration
- 12:51
- Keywords
- bail, bond, bounty hunting
Unthinkable in Europe, bounty hunters are a common sight in many states of the USA. It is not surprising that they are also depicted by both traditional and online media.
Bounty hunters not only exist in movies about the Wild West but take on a significant role in the modern justice system in the USA. This begs the question what tasks the job entails nowadays and compared to its origins, what level of authority bounty hunters have, how they might be regulated and what kind of image is created by the media. Is there a difference in a bounty hunters’ portrayal in traditional versus online entertainment, and what issues might arise from their depiction in modern media content?
By discussing the legal grounds of bounty hunting, relevant Court decisions and regulations, along with comparing two well-known bounty hunters in the entertainment industry (Duane “Dog” Chapman (A&E Network) and Patty Mayo (YouTube)), Anna and Rebecca answer the questions raised in this first episode of series 3.
Episode 2
Data Uncovered: Privacy Matters
Christian Protzen
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Sophie Protzen
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Category
- Law and social media
- Duration
- 22:19
- Keywords
- privacy, personal data, social networks
Discover the world of data protection and privacy in the digital era - how social media platforms collect and use your personal data.
This episode explores the complex world of data protection, particularly in the context of social media. Hosted by Sophie and Christian, this episode delves into the significance of data privacy in our digital age. It discusses how social media platforms collect and use personal data, the impact of data sharing, differences in data protection laws between the EU and the US, recent legal rulings like Schrems 2, and the potential risks associated with sharing personal information online.
The podcast also emphasises the importance of being cautious about what one shares on social media and understanding the implications of data privacy in the modern world.
Episode 3
Law in front of and behind the badge: crime dramas and their influence on public perception of the police
Leon Gottlieb
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Pia Hilbinger
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Lisa Hug
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Category
- Crime and courtroom dramas
- Duration
- 14:06
- Keywords
- open source, evidence, admissibility
In this episode, law students Pia, Leon and Lisa discuss how the work of the police is portrayed in crime dramas and how these portrayals influence the public perception of the police and police work. The main example referred to is the crime drama Fracture, a movie focusing on inadmissible evidence in court.
Episode 4
Potential media influence on the outcomes of (jury) trials
Jasmin Haagen
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Maximilian Hübner
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Category
- High profile cases
- Duration
- 13:17
- Keywords
- juries, OJ Simpson, fair trial
The effect of extensive media coverage and pre-trial publicity on criminal trials and the possibility of juries reaching a fair verdict in such cases.
In this episode, Jasmin and Max embark on an exploration of the substantial influence that media wields over criminal trials, particularly those that capture widespread public interest due to their extensive media exposure. They delve into the nuanced ways in which this media spotlight can intricately mould the very essence of trial fairness and unveil insightful perspectives aimed at addressing the challenges posed by pretrial publicity, effectively mitigating its potential impact.
As an example for all that, the spotlight is shone on the iconic OJ Simpson trial, a watershed moment in legal history, that showcased for the first time how media frenzy can reshape the contours of a trial.
Episode 5
Can juries today ignore the media and try cases completely fairly?
Philip Altmann
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Category
- High profile cases
- Duration
- 16:28
- Keywords
- juries, psychology
The effect and influence of extensive media coverage of cases on the jury decision-making process.
Welcome to the Philcast! In this episode, we will for one last time dive into this week’s overarching topic, legal psychology – this time from the perspective of the jury as opposed to the mind of the criminal. In particular, we will examine the effect of the media on the jury decision making process – the science behind whether such influence exists at all (spoiler: it does!), the psychological mechanisms by which the exposure to pre-trial publicity (PTP) influences the juror, and potential remedies which the courts may or may not have already implemented to combat this. In addition, we will also take a quick look at entertainment media, and whether the widespread claim that these might distort the potential juror’s expectations of how the real legal process works might be warranted. I hope you tune in and enjoy the show!