Media Law

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Today, media operates under significant pressure influenced by short deadlines, market trends, and public interest. Publishers, editorial boards, TV and radio broadcasters, online portals, production companies, and advertisers must simultaneously protect freedom of expression, respect privacy and reputation, properly label sponsored content, and meet regulatory requirements.

Our media law practice provides comprehensive support, from editorial and advertising policies, through rights of reply and correction, to disputes involving defamation, photographs, and publications of public interest.

Why Zunic Law for Media Law

End-to-end approach: editorial policies, publisher liability, rights of reply/correction, advertising and sponsorships, personality and data protection, photo and recording rights, program licensing, and dispute representation.
Editorial insight: we work with daily and weekly publications, online portals, TV/radio broadcasters, productions, PR and media agencies, journalists, and photographers.
Fast, operational assistance: when every minute matters, you get clear steps (what to publish, how to label, which risks to explain, and how to respond to a retraction/claim).
Prevention + defense: policy sets, trainings, and pre-publication reviews reduce risks; in disputes we build strategies that protect public interest while respecting individual rights.

Key Practice Areas in Media Law

Editorial liability and public interest
Right of reply and correction
Defamation and damage to reputation
Privacy, image, and voice rights
Photographs, recordings, and the use of third-party works in media
Electronic media: programming rules and protection of minors
Advertising, sponsored content, and product placement
Election campaigns and political advertising
Media contracts and relations with authors/photographers/freelancers
Access to information of public importance and source protection
Retransmission, distribution, and operator contracts
Disputes, interim measures, and reputation protection
Training and pre-publication advisory

1) Editorial liability and public interest

Assessing whether a topic has a legitimate public interest and how to justify it in a publication/program.
Balancing between freedom of expression and personal rights: “proportionality test” and source verification.
Pre-publication review: rapid assessment of headlines, leads, and sensitive material (photo/video).

2) Right of reply and correction

Protocol for media receipt, deadlines, and form of reply/correction.
Criteria for full, partial, or rejected publication with justification.
Record keeping, ensuring evidence in potential disputes.

3) Defamation and damage to reputation

Defense strategy: truthfulness, journalist diligence, fair reporting, citations from reliable sources, and public interest.
Assessing damages and proportional responses (correction, apology, court).
Representation in litigation and mediation; risk assessment before publication.

4) Privacy, image, and voice rights

Limits on publishing private facts and visuals; portrayal of children and vulnerable groups.
Permissions/releases for portraits, interviews, and documentary filming.
Hidden cameras, public spaces, and “reasonable expectation of privacy.”

5) Photographs, recordings, and third-party works in media

Use of photos, illustrations, and clips: copyright, quotes, licensing, and transfer.
Permissible use under domestic law; open-license sources (editorial vs. commercial).
Author credits, attribution, and editing of third-party works.

6) Electronic media: programming rules and protection of minors

Broadcaster obligations: content classification, warnings, time slots, and complaint procedures.
Children and minors on air: additional safeguards, consents, and identity masking.
Internal recordkeeping and cooperation with the regulator.

7) Advertising, sponsored content, and product placement

Clear labeling of ads and native formats; separation of editorial and commercial content.
Sector-specific rules (health, finance, alcohol, gambling, green claims).
Influencer participation in traditional media and “paid partnership” requirements.

8) Election campaigns and political advertising

Rules on equal representation, publishing polls, and bans during election silence.
Recordkeeping of contracts and rates for political ads; transparency of sponsors.
Procedures for urgent retractions and objections during campaigns.

9) Media contracts and relations with authors/photographers/freelancers

Managing copyright and related rights: transfers, licenses, exclusivity, duration, and territory.
Fees, deadlines, editorial changes, and liability for submitted materials.
Management of rights on series, specials, and documentaries.

10) Access to information and source protection

Drafting and filing requests for access to public information.
Protecting source identities and maintaining contact records.
Balancing between transparency and confidentiality (business, official, private).

11) Retransmission, distribution, and operator contracts

Retransmission of TV/radio programs, must-carry obligations, and carriage agreements.
Negotiations with operators (cable, IPTV, OTT): fees, rights, interruptions, and blackout clauses.
Compliance with collective organizations for music and other rights.

12) Disputes, interim measures, and reputation protection

Proceedings over defamation, privacy, photographs, and alleged IP infringements.
Interim measures and urgent actions; public communication strategy with PR.
Mediation and settlements when mutually beneficial.

13) Trainings and pre-publication advisory

Tailor-made training for chief editors, journalists, producers, and marketing teams on key risks and procedures.
Rapid hotline for pre-publication questions: headlines, photos, quotes, advertising, labeling.
Periodic “health checks” of policies and contracts.

Who We Support

Publishers and editorial boards (print and online), TV and radio broadcasters, production houses.
Online portals and magazines, PR and media agencies, advertisers.
Journalists, editors, photographers, columnists, and other authors.

Typical Documents We Prepare

Editorial and advertising policies, internal rules and procedures.
Contracts: author/photographer, scriptwriter, contributor, sponsored content, product placement, advertising, distribution and retransmission, agency agreements.
Legal forms: reply/correction, image/voice consent, access to information requests, internal records.
Playbooks: pre-publication checklists, crisis communication, takedown/correction publication.

What Collaboration with Us Looks Like

Discovery – short consultation with editors/legal/commercial teams; mapping risks and urgent needs.
Plan and documents – proposal of policies and contracts, priority changes, and quick wins.
Implementation – adoption of policies, team training, and setting protocols (reply/correction, labeling, clearance).
Continuous support – pre-publication hotline, template updates, and representation in proceedings/disputes.

Ready for the Next Step?

Whether you need preventive measures (policies, training, pre-publication review) or defense in specific proceedings, our team translates media regulations into practical solutions that safeguard both freedom of expression and individual rights.

Get in touch with us – we will craft a tailored plan and documentation suited to your media and your audience.