A two hour class test in Law

This module provides journalism students with an overview of legal and ethical issues. Current issues in the press will be discussed as they arise. The module looks at the law from the perspective of the journalist and provide students with the knowledge to help protect them from legal action over published or broadcast items. They will learn about the laws of defamation and contempt of court as well as wider ethical issues such as freedom of speech, the right to privacy. The module also provides information about the regulatory bodies responsible for providing print and broadcast journalists with a professional code of conduct.

A weekly two hour lecture

Internet
Newspapers/magazines
NCTJ materials
Regulatory guidelines e.g. PCC, Ofcom

Greenwood, W., Welsh, T., McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, Butterworths, 17th edition, 2003. Note: Do not use an earlier edition. Essential purchase.
Crone, T., Law and the Media, 4th edition, Focal Press, 2002.
Arlidge, Eady and Smith on Contempt, Sweet and Maxwell, 2nd edn,1999.
Carter Ruck, P. and Starte, H. N. A., Carter-Ruck on Libel and Slander, Butterworths, 5th edn, 1997.
Rudin, R., and Ibbotson, T., An introduction to Journalism - essential techniques and background knowledge, Focal Press 2002.
Frost C., Media Ethics & Self-Regulation, Logan, 2000
Sanders, K., Ethics & Journalism, Sage 2003