It is essential that you watch, listen to and watch radio and TV news on a regular basis and be aware of developments taking place in the broadcasting industry.
The Media Guardian (Monday) contains articles about broadcasting industry issues.
UK Press Gazette - weekly industry journal which covers broadcasting as well as print journalism.
The Daily Telegraph - has the fullest versions of national court stories
The Times Law Reports - important legal cases, including libels
Internet - www.news.bbc.co.uk/news
www.ofcom.org.uk
www.guardian.co.uk/media

A series of weekly lectures and seminars,
Developing research skills and independent learning in preparation for essay and presentation assignments

This module is designed for broadcast journalist to enable them to develop an understanding of how the law, broadcasting regulations, codes of conduct and ethical issues all have an impact on the decisions journalists make on a day to day basis. Students will look in depth at the role of Ofcom, the pressures facing the BBC, the future of public service broadcasting in general and the advance of digital, satellite and pay per view broadcasting. They will consider the impact this is likely to have on news and current affairs programmes, and consider what practical and ethical issues this is likely to have on broadcast journalists. They will also look at current legal issues, particularly contempt of court, defamation and privacy, and analyse the way changing trends in the law affect broadcast output.

1,500 word essay that demonstrates theoretical understanding of a current ethical or legal issue and how it affects broadcasters in practice.(50%) [Learning Outcomes 1,2,3]

A two-hour class test based on practical journalistic scenarios to test application of legal principles. (50%) [Learning Outcomes 1,2,3]

Greenwood, W., Welsh, T., McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, Butterworths, 19th edition, 2007. 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.
White, Ted, Broadcast News: Writing, Reporting and Producing, Focal Pres, 3rd edition, 2002.
Harcup, Tony, Journalism, Principles and Practice, Sage 2004
Tumber, Howard and Palmer, Jerry, Media at War, The Iraq Crisis, Sage 2004
Sanders, K., Ethics and Journalism, Sage 2003
Frost, C., Journalism Ethics and Regulation, Longman 2007
Quinn, F., Law for Journalists, Longman 2007
Harcup, T., The Ethical Journalist, Sage 2006
Hudson, G. & Rowlands, S., The Broadcast Journalism Handbook, Longman 2007