Tuesday night, students in Dr. Willie Tubbs’ Public Affairs Reporting class were treated to a special lecture by Attorney J. Christopher Klotz, whose decades-long service to his field has afforded him a front-row seat to the interplay between law and journalism.

Klotz, a partner at Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, and Overholtz, discussed a wide array of matters, including the role of the media in criminal and civil trials, the reasons why attorneys speak or don’t speak to journalists, the importance of due process, and the ethics of balancing the public’s right to know and a defendant’s right to a fair trial, among other topics.

“We couldn’t be more thankful for the amount of insight Chris brought to our class tonight,” Tubbs said. “Chris is an engaging speaker, and his insight into the practice of law was eye-opening for all of us. I can say with full confidence that everyone in the class learned something new or gained a better understanding of what they see when they see trials or the practice of law.”

Klotz has extensive experience as a trial lawyer, having worked on both criminal and civil matters since earning a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College Law in 1992. He is a member of the bars of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia.

“One of my goals in teaching journalism students is to help them understand the perspective of the different people they will encounter. Attorneys, like public relations professionals, law enforcement officials, and political figures, are not our enemies. They are people who serve different roles in society. Having Chris here helped the students to better appreciate that reality.”

Public Affairs Reporting is a course offered in the Department of Communication’s Digital Storytelling and Journalism Specialization. The course introduces students to the principles and procedures involved in reporting and writing news stories about public affairs topics and governmental agencies.