Important thread from @CBHessick about legal expertise.
I raise a concern that I think you'd embrace, Carissa:
1. If we law professors define our expertise too narrowly, the media then turns to the same generalists who are even less expert and tend to engage in both-sides-ism...
I raise a concern that I think you'd embrace, Carissa:
1. If we law professors define our expertise too narrowly, the media then turns to the same generalists who are even less expert and tend to engage in both-sides-ism...
2. And my observation is that female professors and professors of color tend to be more cautious about opining publicly in their areas of expertise, while straight white men like me are not. My advice is to be confident in your expertise, be careful but not too cautious.
3. To be honest, I've made some public mistakes in my role as legal commentator, sometimes substantive, sometimes in tone. And I sometimes go beyond my specialty subjects. But I think it's worth the risks, because we need more expertise in the media right now, urgently.
4. I agree with @CBHessick's point. I also note: Yes, someone else out there in the academy knows more about a given topic, but the media doesn't often find that person. Many of us in the academy know more than the law generalist that the media too often winds up relying on.
