ATS2781 · Journalism, law and ethics

Overview

The unit provides students with an opportunity for a critical engagement with contemporary scholarship on the legal and ethical contexts of news and long format journalistic production. Legal topics covered include the historical and geographical development of doctrines such as freedom of the press, the laws of defamation and contempt, professional confidentiality, freedom of information, copyright, censorship and freedom of expression and racial vilification. Examples of ethical concepts covered are; media accountability, cheque book journalism, codes of ethics and relationship to sources.

Areas of study: Journalism

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge and capacity to make effective usage of the academic literature covering law and ethics relevant to journalism;
2. demonstrate an ability to research, discuss and analyse relevant scholarly issues in a clear, concise and rigorous way;
3. collaborate constructively with fellow students in learning and discussion processes, including online forums;
4. produce their written work to deadline making effective use of the conventions of scholarly presentation (references, bibliography, etc.);
5. work independently and in groups to achieve their learning outcomes;
6. reflect critically on one of the core questions in journalism studies: what is journalism for?

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.