JN5000 - Media, Law and Ethics

Credit points:	03
Year:	2007
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	Discipline of Journalism

Students will examine in detail the legislative, ethical and common law constraints that operate on journalists and the media; and learn the principles of reporting required to cover rounds associated with the justice system (crime, police and the courts). They learn about laws of defamation, contempt and copyright; examine case studies and explore some of the strategies employed by journalists to accommodate ethical and legal requirements while reporting the news effectively and responsibly.

Learning Outcomes

• to acquire a working knowledge of the law as it relates to the practice of journalism;
• to understand a range of ethical issues that confront working journalists.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• The ability to use and interpret different media;
• A coherent and disciplined body of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to use a variety of media and methods to retrieve, analyse, evaluate, organise and present information;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning processes and products;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner.

Prerequisites:	Acceptance into graduate or postgraduate program
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	IA2000 and JN2000

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 30-Mar-2007
Coord/Lect:	Dr Lindsay Simpson.
Contact hours:	13 hours lectures 20 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (10%); assignments (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.