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

Additional Assessment information
Portfolio will normally include a court story sourced during a court visit plus a reflective report on the story and experience of being at court.

Assessment:

001 Case studies 1 x 2500 words equiv during semester 1 70%
002 Portfolio 1 x 1500 word equiv end of semester 1 30%


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