Legal Historian & First Amendment Scholar; Aliber Family Chair in Law at University of Iowa; Author of "Actual Malice"

Iowa City, IA, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Samantha Barbas Biography

Samantha Barbas is a legal historian and author known for her work in legal history, tort law, First Amendment law, and mass communications law. Barbas serves as the Aliber Family Chair in Law at the University of Iowa College of Law, following her tenure at the University at Buffalo School of Law, where she directed the Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy. Her scholarship examines the intersection of law, culture, media, and technology, with a focus on the history of free speech, privacy, and defamation in the United States.

Barbas has authored seven books, including "Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v. Sullivan," which was recognized by The New Yorker and reviewed by The New York Times Book Review for its examination of the Supreme Court decision that influenced modern libel law and press freedom. Her other works, such as "The Rise and Fall of Morris Ernst: Free Speech Renegade" and "Confidential Confidential: The Inside Story of Hollywood’s Notorious Scandal Magazine," have been featured in major outlets including The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, and CNN, reflecting her engagement with both academic and public audiences.

Barbas has delivered lectures for the Organization of American Historians and presented the Constitution Day Lecture at the Library of Congress. Her commentary on First Amendment and libel issues appears in national media, including the Washington Post and USA Today. Barbas is recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities as a Public Scholar and is known for translating complex legal history into accessible narratives, contributing to discussions on the relationship between law, media, and democracy.

BOOK Samantha Barbas

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/11/2025.

Samantha Barbas Videos

Samantha Barbas - Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v Sullivan

Samantha Barbas - Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v Sullivan

Samantha Barbas, a professor of law at the University of Iowa, discusses her book Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York...

Discussion on Free Speech Supreme Court Case | Samantha Barbas

Discussion on Free Speech Supreme Court Case | Samantha Barbas

Most Americans take free speech for granted. In her new book, “Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v....

Analysis of Trump Lawsuit Against Newspaper | Samantha Barbas

Analysis of Trump Lawsuit Against Newspaper | Samantha Barbas

Legal historian and defamation law expert Samantha Barbas breaks down Miller-Meeks and Trump's lawsuit against the Iowa Poll. Toss some bags with us.

  • How do I book Samantha Barbas to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Samantha Barbas for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Samantha Barbas, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Samantha Barbas or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Samantha Barbas

    Speaking fees for Samantha Barbas, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Samantha Barbas are under $10,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Samantha Barbas, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Samantha Barbas speak about?

    Samantha Barbas is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Culture, Democracy, Government, History, Journalist, Law, Modern Media, Non-Fiction Authors, Technology
  • Where does Samantha Barbas travel from?

    Samantha Barbas generally travels from Iowa City, IA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Samantha Barbas’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Samantha Barbas for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Samantha Barbas for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Samantha Barbas or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Samantha Barbas is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Samantha Barbas for your event is available upon request. Samantha Barbas generally travels from Iowa City, IA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Greg Lukianoff, Akhil Amar, Maria A. Ressa, Rebecca MacKinnon and Anna Deavere Smith. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Samantha Barbas for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP