Course Title: Media Law And Regulation
Part A: Course Overview
Course ID: 006108
Course Title: Media Law And Regulation
Credit Points: 12
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
COMM1060 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
335H Applied Communication |
Face-to-Face |
Course Coordinator: Kevin McQuillan
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925.2619
Course Coordinator Email: kevin.mcquillan@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 6.2.27
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
The course will examine the key laws and regulations which affect the media, and how they
affect people who work in communications, including journalists, broadcasters
and public relations professionals.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
“By the end of this course, students should have the knowledge of key areas of law that relate to Journalism, Public Relations and associated positions within the media. Students will have the skills to read court judgments, 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.
Students should develop a sound basic understanding of both legal and self-regulatory restrictions on expression, the reasons for these restrictions, and how to produce quality professional work
within them.
It aims to give students a good understanding of the legal and self-regulatory structures which influence mass communication. There will be a focus on defamation and contempt of court laws, and their implications for communications professionals. Other areas of importance include privacy law, ethics, broadcasting law and intellectual property.
Overview of Learning Activities
The aims of the course will be achieved in a variety of ways, through formal lectures, providing information on the historical, social and economic context in which media law has evolved, group discussion and class activities, structured weekly reading, guest speakers, the use of selected multi-media material, including on-line material and assessment exercises designed to ensure that understand key concepts relating to media law and regulation are understood.
Overview of Learning Resources
Students are expected to read newspapers and be aware of pending court cases. Each lecture and Powerpoint Presentation will be available on the DLS. http://www.rmit.edu.au/online These will be available on the Monday before the Friday lecture.
Overview of Assessment
See Part B of this course guide.