Units
Journalism Law
Unit code: LWS011
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
It is important that all professionals have a sound working knowledge of the legal considerations that apply to their professional practice. This is especially true for journalists who provide information and commentary for the public good and in the public interest. As such, the study of law is important for you for two reasons. First, the important role journalists play in a democratic society mean that journalists are endowed with a public responsibility to engage in sound legal and ethical in practice. Second, the public role journalists play in society mean that there is a high level of scrutiny on their actions. Legal transgressions by journalists can prove costly and painful for journalists, their families, friends, colleagues and employers.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
It is important that all professionals have a sound working knowledge of the legal considerations that apply to their professional practice. This is especially true for journalists who provide information and commentary for the public good and in the public interest. As such, the study of law is important for you for two reasons. First, the important role journalists play in a democratic society mean that journalists are endowed with a public responsibility to engage in sound legal and ethical in practice. Second, the public role journalists play in society mean that there is a high level of scrutiny on their actions. Legal transgressions by journalists can prove costly and painful for journalists, their families, friends, colleagues and employers. Furthermore, journalists also need to have a good working understanding of the legal framework that to society in general, as the law will be relevant to a wide range of issues that will be reported by journalists in their professional practice. In addition the unit also seeks to foster an appreciation of the developing nature of the law through court decisions and its capacity to adapt to new circumstances, as well as providing you with the scope to appreciate the development of law through changes in policy through the intervention of parliaments.
Aims
This unit aims to provide you with:
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Identify and explain a range of laws relevant to the practice of journalism;
2. Identify and understand when legal advice needs to be sought;
3. Apply legal principles to problem scenarios relevant to the practice of journalism;
4. Critically evaluate the law as developed through both judicial and legislative intervention, and to understand the impact this will have on professional practice.
5. Present legal concepts clearly and in plain English.
Content
In this unit you will be introduced to:
1. The Australian legal system;
2. Contract law;
3. Ethics and the law;
4. Copyright law;
5. The law dealing with information - breach of confidence, freedom of information, privacy;
6. Court documents, contempt of court and reporting of courts and parliament;
7. Content classification, restricted publications, online content law and broadcasting law.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit will be taught in internal mode consisting of a program of weekly two hour lectorials comprising aspects of lectures and tutorials. During the lectorial key concepts will be explained and class discussion will take place during which key concepts will be applied to realistic scenarios using a case study approach.
Assessment
Assessment in this unit is both summative (ie. designed to give you feedback and linked to your assessment) and formative (ie. designed to provide you with feedback and not linked to your assessment).Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation;
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary;
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation; and
- Indirect: to the whole class.
Assessment name:
Assignment
Description:
You will be required to provide a written response of no more than 1500 words to a problem style question. The question will cover a number of areas of law.
Relates to objectives:
1-5
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid-Semester
Assessment name:
Examination
Description:
You will undertake an end of semester open-book examination which will deal with all aspects of the course. The exam scenario is designed to replicate the 'on-the-spot' thinking that you will encounter in your day-to-day practice and decision making. It will comprise a choice of 3 from 4 questions
Relates to objectives:
1-5
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Exam Period
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
REQUIRED TEXT
M Pearson and M Polden, The journalist's guide to media law, 4th edition, Allen & Unwin, Sydney 2011
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
R Breit, Law and Ethics for Professional Communicators, 2nd edition. LexisNexis Butterworths, Sydney 2011
D Butler and S Rodrick, Australian Media Law, 4th edition, Thomson Lawbook, Sydney 2011
R Chisholm and G Nettheim, Understanding Law, 7th ed, Lexis Nexis, Sydney 2007.
C Cook, R Creyke, R Geddes and D Hamer, Laying Down the Law, 7th ed LexisNexis Butterworths, Chatswood, 2009.
Butterworths Concise Australian Legal Dictionary, 3rd ed, 2004.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 18-Jul-2012
