Course Title: Communication Law and Regulation

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Communication Law and Regulation

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2146

City Campus

Undergraduate

335H Applied Communication

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Kevin Childs

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2957

Course Coordinator Email:kevin.childs@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 6.2.08


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

The course will examine the key laws and regulations governing the communications industries and their impact of practitioners including journalists, broadcasters
and public relations professionals.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

On completion of this course, students will have an understanding of the key areas of law that relate to Journalism, Public Relations and the communications industries in general. 


On completing this course students will:

  • Understand the legal and self-regulatory restrictions on expression, the reasons for these restrictions, and how to produce quality professional work
    within them.
  • Understand the legal and self-regulatory structures which influence mass communication
  • Have a basic understanding of the laws defamation and contempt of court, privacy law, ethics, broadcasting law and intellectual property.
  • Have the skills to read court judgements, know where to access background information about key cases and key elements of law, have the confidence to visit courts and be knowledgeable about court functions
  • Be able to write authoritatively about elements of the law as they relate to media activities.


Overview of Learning Activities

A weekly lecture, readings, class discussions and tutorial exercises will enable students to develop an understanding of the historical, social and economic context in which media law and regulation evolved. 


Overview of Learning Resources

As well as set readings from the prescribed text, students are expected to read newspapers and be aware of pending court cases.


Overview of Assessment

There are five assessable tasks in this course: a court report, an essay, two in-class tests and tutorial participation..