ACC213 - Media Law and Ethics

Unit details

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this unit information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year:

2021 unit information

Important Update:

Unit delivery will continue to be provided in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. This may include a mix of on-campus and online activities. To find out how you are impacted, please check your unit sites for announcements and updates. Unit sites open one week prior to the start of each Trimester/Semester.

Thank you for your flexibility and commitment to studying with Deakin in 2021.

Last updated: 4 June 2021

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Janine Little
Trimester 2: Janine Little
Prerequisite:

Two units at level 1

Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with:

ALR205 and ALJ313

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

1 x 2-hour seminar per week

Scheduled learning activities - cloud:

Online independent and collaborative learning activities x 2-hours per week. This will involve a range of activities including seminar recordings, and synchronous and asynchronous participation in online classroom activities

Content

Develop the practical knowledge to navigate the legal and ethical dilemmas that may arise for a communications professional or as a user of media. You will engage in problem-based learning using real-life case studies to develop an understanding of laws and regulations that influence journalism in Australia. You will specifically focus on potential problem areas for journalists, including privacy, defamation, contempt of court, copyright and misleading/deceptive conduct, as detailed in Australia’s consumer law. You will leave this unit with a sound capacity to adhere to the ethical obligations demanded of media professionals.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1 Describe the ethical and legal factors affecting journalism and media practice GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

ULO2

Identify and apply research and evaluation skills to current and potential ethical and legal questions in journalism and media practice

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

ULO3

Develop knowledge of real-world case studies in news and current affairs that reflect ethical and legal issues

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO3: Digital literacy

GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO4

Analyse problem-based scenarios in journalism and media practice

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1 - Essay 2000 words or equivalent 50% Week 6
Assessment 2 - Essay 2000 words or equivalent 50% Week 11

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link ACC213
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list.

Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

Click on the fee link below which describes you: