A new book, “Truths about the Truth Seekers: The Media and the Law,” by Michigan veteran journalist and author Berl Falbaum, takes aim at some practices in the law and the media which, he says, undermine the public interest while deteriorating trust and credibility in the two.
“I chose to examine these two disciplines because they have a greater impact on our lives and democracy than any others,” said Falbaum, who spent 65 years in the media and as an author.
In the section on the media, he discusses: The failings of the Society of Professional Journalists’ ethics code; the lack of mechanisms to correct errors; anonymous sources, the problems with the 1964 landmark case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan; and other issues.
In the section of the law, among the issues he covers are: misconduct by prosecutors and defense attorneys; perjury and the fact that it is very rarely punished; the need to abolish capital punishment; and how lawyer-client confidentiality, at times, has cost the innocent their lives.
“The point is that in just about every poll, the media and the law are rated poorly as to their credibility and trustworthiness,” said Falbaum.
“I believe both disciplines need to conduct some self-examination and adopt much-needed changes.”
Falbaum was a general assignment and political reporter for 10 years at The Detroit News before accepting a position as administrative aide to Michigan’s lieutenant governor.
Then, he served as a speechwriter and media spokesperson for three major corporations before launching his own PR company, Falbaum and Associates, Inc.
He is a current columnist for The Detroit Legal News.
Falbaum taught law of the press, media ethics, and news writing, for 45 years as an adjunct in the journalism department of Detroit’s Wayne State University. He also taught journalism as an adjunct professor for nearly 15 years at Oakland University in Rochester.
This is Falbaum’s 13th book.
Softcover and ebooks are available at Amazon Prime. Softcover books can also be ordered at bpfalbaum@yahoo.com.
A $2.22-million gift from Jonathan D. Rose (“Dr. Rose”) will help the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law launch a fully online juris doctor degree in fall 2026.
The Online J.D. Program (OJD) will be the first in Michigan and just the 21st in the nation.
Applications for the four-year program are now being accepted at law.udmercy.edu. It has been accredited by the American Bar Association.
For UDM President Donald B. Taylor, this new program further enhances the University’s academic tradition of innovation and excellence.
“This is an extremely important gift by a very generous alumnus because it allows Detroit Mercy to make a difference in the lives of many students to come,” Taylor said. “Support for programs like this are crucial to preserving and building on the UDM brand of education, which continues to be recognized nationally for the quality of our offerings, commitment of faculty and staff and dedication to student success.”
Detroit Mercy’s OJD can be completed fully online and will replace Detroit Mercy Law’s evening part-time residential program.
Classes will be offered asynchronously for the most part, with some upper-level courses such as the award-winning clinics taught synchronously.
Enrollment in the program is capped at 25 for the first class, which begins in fall 2026. The cap will then increase each year until the fall of 2030, when it will reach a maximum of 45 students. Schroeck says there is a great deal of interest in the program already.
The $2.22-million donation, which is the largest gift given directly to the School of Law, came from Dr. Rose ’81, ’82 and will offset startup costs including instructional design, videography and faculty hiring.
For more information about the Detroit Mercy Online J.D. Program, including how to apply, visit law.udmercy.edu or call 313-596-0264.
“I chose to examine these two disciplines because they have a greater impact on our lives and democracy than any others,” said Falbaum, who spent 65 years in the media and as an author.
In the section on the media, he discusses: The failings of the Society of Professional Journalists’ ethics code; the lack of mechanisms to correct errors; anonymous sources, the problems with the 1964 landmark case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan; and other issues.
In the section of the law, among the issues he covers are: misconduct by prosecutors and defense attorneys; perjury and the fact that it is very rarely punished; the need to abolish capital punishment; and how lawyer-client confidentiality, at times, has cost the innocent their lives.
“The point is that in just about every poll, the media and the law are rated poorly as to their credibility and trustworthiness,” said Falbaum.
“I believe both disciplines need to conduct some self-examination and adopt much-needed changes.”
Falbaum was a general assignment and political reporter for 10 years at The Detroit News before accepting a position as administrative aide to Michigan’s lieutenant governor.
Then, he served as a speechwriter and media spokesperson for three major corporations before launching his own PR company, Falbaum and Associates, Inc.
He is a current columnist for The Detroit Legal News.
Falbaum taught law of the press, media ethics, and news writing, for 45 years as an adjunct in the journalism department of Detroit’s Wayne State University. He also taught journalism as an adjunct professor for nearly 15 years at Oakland University in Rochester.
This is Falbaum’s 13th book.
Softcover and ebooks are available at Amazon Prime. Softcover books can also be ordered at bpfalbaum@yahoo.com.
A $2.22-million gift from Jonathan D. Rose (“Dr. Rose”) will help the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law launch a fully online juris doctor degree in fall 2026.
The Online J.D. Program (OJD) will be the first in Michigan and just the 21st in the nation.
Applications for the four-year program are now being accepted at law.udmercy.edu. It has been accredited by the American Bar Association.
For UDM President Donald B. Taylor, this new program further enhances the University’s academic tradition of innovation and excellence.
“This is an extremely important gift by a very generous alumnus because it allows Detroit Mercy to make a difference in the lives of many students to come,” Taylor said. “Support for programs like this are crucial to preserving and building on the UDM brand of education, which continues to be recognized nationally for the quality of our offerings, commitment of faculty and staff and dedication to student success.”
Detroit Mercy’s OJD can be completed fully online and will replace Detroit Mercy Law’s evening part-time residential program.
Classes will be offered asynchronously for the most part, with some upper-level courses such as the award-winning clinics taught synchronously.
Enrollment in the program is capped at 25 for the first class, which begins in fall 2026. The cap will then increase each year until the fall of 2030, when it will reach a maximum of 45 students. Schroeck says there is a great deal of interest in the program already.
The $2.22-million donation, which is the largest gift given directly to the School of Law, came from Dr. Rose ’81, ’82 and will offset startup costs including instructional design, videography and faculty hiring.
For more information about the Detroit Mercy Online J.D. Program, including how to apply, visit law.udmercy.edu or call 313-596-0264.
