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A visit with Christina Wells, Professor of Law
Published: September 13, 2007 - Topics:
deference
accountability
civil_liberties
fear_and_prejudice
government_decision-making
Additional Interview Clips
Freedom of speech, freedom of information, constitutional law
The benefit of the first amendment
How fear and prejudice negatively impact governmental decision-making
The dangers of excessive government secrecy
Federal law that limits protests at funerals
Primary research for Wells
How Wells found her way from chemistry to law
The law casebook Wells is co-authoring
The internet’s role in shaping public opinion
Topics:
public_opinion
internet
The internet is still an unknown quantity, says Wells, and it needs to be studied. “Some have argued that people have great access to information because of the internet, and to some extent that’s true,” she observes. But many people, in fact, experience information overload. However, Wells cautions, “getting information and knowing whether it is true can be very difficult.” Moreover, people tend to search the internet with preconceived notions and, predictably, wind up reinforcing their existing beliefs rather than nuancing, challenging, or debunking them.