JOU4942 - Media Matters: Law, Regulation and Context

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a basic understanding of the marketplace in which the media operates
Demonstrate an understanding of the basic regulatory frameworks within which the media operate
Demonstrate an understanding of the legal framework within which journalists must operate, specifically in relation to court reporting
Apply media law to relevant practical journalism scenarios, particularly in relation to court reporting

Content:

This module provides background understanding of the media marketplace, regulation and law, specifically in relation to reporting the courts. Background context will be set with a brief look at the business context in which the press and broadcasters work, broadening out to look at how media regulation works in terms of the Press Complaints Commission and Ofcom. Students will have their first introduction to law in this module when they look at the legislation relevant to covering the courts. Following an introduction which sets the legal context within which journalists work, students will look specifically at the laws used when reporting the courts. Students will look at the practicalities of reporting court stories and be required to apply legal knowledge to practical reporting scenarios. Throughout the module students will consider the demands of online delivery alongside traditional news delivery and how stories should be treated and developed for different platforms.

Learning and Teaching Information:

A series of interactive lectures, seminars and workshops, along with court visits

Lectures
Contact hours: 8
Intended Group size: Full Cohort

Seminars
Contact hours: 8
Intended Group size: 25 Max

Workshops/Court Visits
Contact hours: 24
Intended group size: 25 Max

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
Directed activities: These consist of weekly tasks that must be completed and submitted for inspection at timetabled sessions each week. The assessment will be on a pass/ fail basis with a pass requiring at least 75% of all weekly tasks successfully completed. A pass mark will lead to the full award of 10% towards the final mark. A fail in directed activities will contribute 0% to the final mark.

Case studies: Students will have ONE WEEK to complete this assessment. Six legal scenarios will be posted on Moodle and given out at the start of the lecture in week five. They will be expected to discuss the reporting restrictions, the laws and the ethical aspects. They may use online material and the module key texts to complete your answer. The overall word count is 2500 words.

Portfolio: This is a 1500 word report reflecting on the student’s experiences at court. It must discuss the laws and reporting restrictions they observed in action, citing case names and dates, and include ONE story sourced during the visits. The report will also discuss and reflect on how the laws and regulations have impacted on the reporting of this story.

Assessment:

001 Directed activities Throughout the module 10%
002 Case studies 2500 words during semester 1 65%
003 Reflective report 1500 words end of semester 1 25%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Lisa Bradley
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4S14YL

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