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     Subject Outline

Ethical and Legal Strategies for the Media - Subject Outline

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The information published in this document is intended as a guide as the University reserves the right to change its program offerings and subjects without notice.

Details
Faculty/School: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences/School of Communication and Media
Subject Code: JOUR12-230
Subject Title: Ethical and Legal Strategies for the Media
Prerequisites: Nil
Subject Level: Undergraduate Subject
Semester/Year: September 2012
Credit Points: 10 (USA 3 or 4, ECTS 7.5 - indicative only)
Subject Description: In this subject students learn about the legal and ethical restrictions facing journalists and other media and communication professionals in the digital and social media era and are taught techniques to assist them to adjust their research, reporting and other professional behaviours to accommodate sound ethical and legal practices.
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Contact
Contact Name: Dr Mark Pearson
Position: Professor of Journalism
Telephone: 559 52516
Email: mpearson@bond.edu.au
Building / Level / Room: TBA
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Delivery & Attendance
Timetable: http://www.bond.edu.au/timetable
Mode of Delivery and
Teaching Schedule: 		2 hour lecture and 1 hour tutorial
Attendance Requirements: Full attendance required. Regular attendance is crucial to success in the ongoing assessment. See University Handbook Guidelines.
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Resources
Prescribed Resources: Pearson, Mark and Mark Polden. (2011) The Journalist's Guide to Media Law. 4th edition. Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Hirst, Martin and Roger Patching. (2007). Journalism Ethics - Arguments and Cases. Second Edition. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Additional Resources: Pearson, Mark (2012). Blogging and Tweeting Without Getting Sued. A global guide to the law for anyone writing online. Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Finkelstein, Ray (2012). Report of the Independent Inquiry into Media and Media Regulation. Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Canberra. Available:  http://www.dbcde.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/146994/Report-of-the-Independent-Inquiry-into-the-Media-and-Media-Regulation-web.pdf

Use of iLearn in this Subject: iLearn used for publication of slides, announcements and discussion groups.
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Bond Graduate Attributes Emphasised in this Subject
1. Knowledge and Critical Thinking - Graduates have acquired a sound knowledge of their discipline and the ability to critically evaluate, manage, reflect on, integrate and apply it.
2. Leadership, Initiative and Teamwork - Graduates have the skills to contribute to their discipline or profession as an effective leader and as a member of collaborative, cooperative and successful teams.
3. Communication Skills - Graduates have the skills to communicate effectively with their profession, their peers and the wider community.
4. Responsibility - Graduates are aware of the standards, ethics and values of their discipline, in both the local and global context.

Program Outcomes and Graduate Attributes
If you are undertaking this subject as part of a degree program you should refer to the relevant degree program outcomes and graduate attributes as they relate to this subject.

Learning Outcomes of this Subject
1. Demonstrable understanding of the key areas of media law and social media law affecting journalists and other media professionals, particularly defamation and contempt of court.
2. The ability to write a clear, concise and interesting court report within a news deadline and within legal constraints.
3. Demonstrable understanding of the key areas of media ethics affecting journalists and other media professionals, particularly privacy, trauma and tragedy, commercial pressures and deception.
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Assessment
Task Weight Date Learning Outcomes
Court report 10 Email by 8pm on day of court visit 2
Report on law reform submission 20 8am, Thursday, Week 4 3
Weekly attendance and exercises as assigned 30 Ongoing 1 and 3
Media law and ethics end of semester exam 40 Week 14, as timetabled 1 and 3

Assessment Criteria
High Distinction 85-100 Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking.
Distinction 75-84 Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas.
Credit 65-74 Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above.
Pass 50-64 Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment.
Fail 0-49 Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines.
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Other Course Information
Referencing Style: Any recognised referencing style

See Library Website for more information: http://www.bond.edu.au/library
Assignment Coversheet: All assignments are to be accompanied by a copy of the faculty coversheet or, if submission is via Turnitin, then the acceptance of the coversheet is acknowledged as a condition of submission via Turnitin. Download the HSS coversheet.
Submission Procedures: Assignments are to be submitted with fully completed cover sheet before 4pm on the due date to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences office, Level 2, Humanities Building unless alternative assessment arrangements are detailed on the iLearn site.
Policy on Late
Submission and
Extensions: 		Late submissions are not acceptable in a subject that aims to prepare you for working in a professional context. Late assignments without a certified extension will receive a penalty of 10% of total marks per day and may not be marked until the end of the course. Assignments will not be accepted more than one week after the due date. However, if you have a genuine reason for handing your assignment in late (illness, car accident, unforeseen and serious family issues) your case will be treated with understanding. Your tutor will grant you an extension in these exceptional circumstances, but excuses such as broken printers and lost disks are not acceptable. You must request an extension, in writing or via email, before the due date. These requests must be accompanied or followed-up by supporting original documents (not copies), such as a medical certificate, counsellor's letter, or funeral notice. Such documents must specify exact dates and explain circumstances without disclosing private or personal details.
Policy on Plagiarism: University policy on plagiarism defines plagiarism as taking and using another person's thoughts, ideas or writings and passing them off as one's own. [More >>]
Examinations: General information and procedures: http://www.bond.edu.au/examinations
 
Return of Assessment Material: Graded assignments will be handed back in class and thereafter will be available for collection from the relevant professor. Any unclaimed work will be held for a period of one month after the end of the semester, and then destroyed.
Disability Support: Any student with a disabling condition who may require alternative academic arrangements in the subject is strongly encouraged to seek advice at the commencement of the semester from a Disability Officer. [More >>]
Other:  
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Weekly or Topic Outline
Week/Module Topic Description
1 Media law and ethics in context: course outline (Read Pearson & Polden, Ch 1-3) Media rights, risks and responsibilities: Problem-based learning (PBL) task 1
2 Crime and open justice: contempt, sub judice and legislative restrictions on court publicity. (Read Pearson & Polden, Ch 4-5) PBL 2: How to minimise the chance of prosecution for contempt of court and still report important matters.
3 Court reporting: How to cover court stories in an interesting way within the bounds of the law. (Read Pearson & Polden Ch 6) PBL 3: Fine-tuning our law reform submission.
4 Defamation defined (Pearson & Polden, Ch 7). Basic principles of defamation.
5 Defamation defences and cases (Pearson & Polden, Ch 8). How to write stories to minimise the risk of defamation by working to the defences.
6 Court reporting exercise and excursion (Pearson & Polden Ch 6). Court reporting excursion to Southport Magistrates Court (in lieu of class time - see iLearn for details)..
7 Foundations of media ethics (Hirst & Patching, Ch 1 & 4) Ethical principles, codes, self-regulation and the fault lines of professional ethical decision-making
8 Privacy and Australian Press Council workshop (Hirst & Patching, Ch 7 OR Pearson & Polden, Ch 12). Weighing up the public's right to know against the individual's right to privacy while still reporting important issues.
9 Trauma (www.responseability.org) How to deal with mental illness, suicide and other traumatic events
10 Law and ethics of social media (journlaw.com) Special issues of confidentiality, anonymity and deception
11 Copyright and intellectual property (Pearson & Polden, Ch 11) What you can use and what others can use of your material in the digital era.
12 Security and anti-terrorism laws / exam briefing (Pearson & Polden, Ch 10) Exam drill: workshopping a past exam paper
14 End of semester exam See iLearn site for assessment and examination details