Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Journalism Majors and Communications Co-Major

Aims & Objectives:

After successfully completing this unit, students should be able to:

§         Understand the laws relating to Defamation, Contempt of Court, Vilification, Censorship, Copyright and Privacy, and how they limit the publication of information in Australia.

§         Make judgements about when to get legal advice before publishing material.

§         Understand the ways in which the laws affecting freedom of speech in Australia have developed, and likely future developments.

§         Understand the principles and history of Freedom of Information legislation in Australia.

Teaching Methods:

1 hours lecture and 2 hour tutorial per week.

Assessment:

Classroom exercises (20-30%)
Open Book Examination (70-80%)

Generic Skills Outcomes:

Students will be provided with feedback during the assessment for this unit of study on their progress in attaining the following generic skills:

§         analysis skills,

§         problem solving skills,

§         communications skills,

§         ability to tackle unfamiliar problems

Content:

This course is aimed at providing an understanding of the main areas of the law that limit freedom of speech, and that have to be taken in to account in making decisions to publish or broadcast material. Citizens’ rights to access documents held by governments under Freedom of Information Acts are also covered. Students are taught to apply the principles of the law to real life examples, and will develop the ability to make judgements on when and how to publish contentious material. This will include the ability to make a judgement on when it is necessary to seek professional legal advice. Students will learn about how the law has developed, and likely future developments.

Specific areas of the law covered include:

§         Defamation             

§         Contempt of Court                           

§         Vilification legislation

§         Censorship                         

§         Copyright                            .

§         Privacy

§         Freedom of Information legislation

Reading Materials:

Pearson, Mark The Journalists’ Guide to Media Law (Third Edition) Allen and Unwin 2007
NB: It is essential that the latest edition of this text is used – not earlier editions.
Further material, including case studies and example exercises, will be distributed in class.