LAW AND ETHICS IN JOURNALISM

JRN5LEJ

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

In this subject students will investigate the ethical and legal questions that confront journalists on an everyday basis, and the new dilemmas forged by rapidly evolving media technologies. To what extent have the ground rules changed with the explosion of new kinds of media content and platforms? Students explore how privacy, freedom of information, professional liability, conflict of interest, copyright and fair dealing, defamation, and confidentiality are dealt with by the law, through journalist codes of practice, and by media institutions. In this subject we will draw on the expertise of a range of experts and media professionals.

School: Humanities and Social Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Nasya Bahfen

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 5 - Masters

Exchange Students: No

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: JRN4LEJ OR JRN3DIJ OR JRN2DIJ

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Communicating and Influencing

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Evaluate and synthesise arguments about competing "dilemmas" involving ethical and legal issues in journalism practice to a high level.

02. Demonstrate understanding of how journalism ethics is practiced in a range of global contexts

03. Demonstrate understanding of relevant codes of practice and codes of ethics and their relationship to legal issues that pertain to journalism practice

04. Understand the legal issues that journalists and content providers are required to know in order to function with confidence as media professionals and self-publishers.

05. Understand how digital journalism is creating new ethical and "best practice" issues

06. Research and write at a sophisticated level about at least one specific issue relating to ethical journalism practice for a designated publication such as www.upstart.net.au

07. Develop a life-long appreciation of the complexity of legal and ethical issues in the context of media and journalism.

City Campus, 2020, Semester 2, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Nasya Bahfen

Class requirements

Block ModeWeek: 31 - 43
Twelve 3.00 hours block mode other recurrence on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Weeks 1-3 of semester Two days - each day 2x3 hour seminars with 1 hour break

Assessments

Assessment element	Comments	Category	Contribution	Hurdle	%	ILO*
Court story plan 500 words	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	10	SILO1, SILO3, SILO4, SILO6
Court story plus breakout box and reflective piece 1500 words equivalent.	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	40	SILO1, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5, SILO6
Essay 2500 words	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	50	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO6, SILO7