Journalists will come across many arcane and sometimes obtuse legal concepts in the course of their work. Law is not an intuitive thing. It has developed over a millennium, and its basic rules often don’t seem logical — or even fair. Fundamental Law for Journalists gives journalists a primer on criminal and civil law, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, public law, legal research tools, and basic procedure. This book also examines the newest media source protection laws, defamation defences, and the laws against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Author Mark Bourrie has created this book as a guide to help journalists get the law right.

It’s also useful for editors, students, politically involved Canadians — including legislative assistants and activists — and anyone else who wants to know the legal rules that we live by.