Germany

[DE] Documentation and Research in the Field of Media Legislation; The Media Legislation Research Centre at the University of the Saarland in Saarbrücken.

IRIS 1995-2:1/32

Marie Therese Nicolay

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

The University of the Saarland, situated right on the border with France and not far from Luxembourg, not only houses the European Institute, where academicians can gain additional qualifications recognised at a European level, but also boasts another special facility: the Media Legislation Research Centre. This centre was set up by Professor Dr. Wolfgang Knies, the head of the School for State and Administrative Law at the University of the Saarland.

The Media Legislation Research Centre has been in existence since 1979 and is able to offer to all those concerned not only a well-equipped media legislation library but also a wide choice of different journals and other publications in this field as well as a media legislation data bank. This data bank is divided up into different sections allowing the user to carry out specific research in General Documentation, Literature, Materials and Jurisdiction. This service is not only easy to use but also offers the latest up-to-date materials thanks to the continual updating of the most recent facts and topics in media legislation.

In addition to his business experience in the field of Media legislation, gained through work on the Funding Evaluation Committee for radio broadcasting bodies, and to his membership of several radio boards (the board of directors of the former Deutschlandfunk, the radio administration board and the program advisory board of the Saarlandischer Rundfunk and currently the board of directors of this same station), Professor Dr. Knies has uninterrupted practical experience in radio broadcasting legislation.

Not to be forgotten also is the annual seminar dealing with issues in press and radio broadcasting legislation. This is organised and led by Professor Dr. Knies and Professor Dr. Dieter Dörr (legal advisor for the Saarlandischer Rundfunk and director of the Institute for European Media Legislation in Saarbrücken) and has met with overwhelming approval in the last few years.

The lecturers deal with subjects such as the basic legislation concerning freedom of expression, press and art as well as the important issue of radio constitutional law. Many lecturers have also covered media legislation in other European and non-European states. Delegates are also given practical insight through visits to radio broadcasting bodies and press organisations.

Some collaboration between the Media Legislation Research Centre and the Institute for European Media Legislation is planned for the future.

The address of the Media Legislation Centre is: Arbeitstelle Medienrecht - FB Rechtswissenschaft - Universität - Postfach 1150 - D-66041 Saarbrücken Ph: +49 681 3023158