Members involved in litigation can request amicus participation from PNA and partnering media organizations at no cost.
PNA media law counsel works with a broad network of highly skilled media law attorneys across Pennsylvania and can connect members with experienced pro-bono legal service organizations, attorneys and law firms.
Contact PNA Media Law Counsel Melissa Beven Melewsky at 717-703-3048 or melissam@pa-news.org.
Melissa Bevan Melewsky is PNA media law counsel. She offers advice and training on legal issues, including open meetings and public records laws; newsgathering and the First Amendment; defamation and invasion of privacy; advertising compliance; independent contractor issues; local government codes; and intellectual property. Melissa advises journalists on open records requests and appeals at all stages of the process and conducts pre-publication reviews of news, editorial and advertising content. She reviews proposed legislation and drafts responsive amendatory language, offers expert testimony during legislative proceedings, and provides the media perspective to lawmakers during all phases of the legislative process. Melissa also represents the print and digital media industries during the administrative regulatory process and in response to proposed court rules, and advocates on behalf of the media industry as amicus curiae in the Pennsylvania appellate courts.
Melissa earned a B.A. degree in telecommunications from The Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law. Melissa is admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania state courts and the Middle District Court of Pennsylvania.