Module LAW2051: MEDIA LAW

Department: LAW

LAW2051: MEDIA LAW

Prerequisites

• Public Law (LAW1013) (at discretion of Chairman/Chairwoman of Board of Studies this could exceptionally be a co-requisite).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To introduce students to the study of the legal protection of freedom of expression in the UK in terms of both theory and practice.
• To introduce students to free speech theories as they are recognised in UK law.
• To enable students to assess the extent to which freedom of media expression is recognised in UK law.
• To enable students to improve their analytical skills.
• To enhance the ability of students to comprehend and apply the European Convention on Human Rights in the domestic context, under the Human Rights Act, and to analyse and reason from the Convention jurisprudence in relation to both statutory and common law provisions.
• To introduce the student to some of the legal, moral, social and political debates which inform the substantive content of aspects of media law.

Content

• Free speech theories
• The protection of media freedom under the Human Rights Act.
• Media freedom: restraining the media to protect the administration of justice.
• Restraining the media on moral and political grounds.
• Restraining the media on racial and religious grounds.
• Restraining the media to protect privacy and copyright.

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to:
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of the existing law on media freedom in England and Wales.

• Students should be able to:
• Apply the existing law to given factual scenarios and advise accordingly.
• Analyse and evaluate the existing law in the light of the legal, political and moral questions raised.
• Engage in informed debate concerning the effect of recent reforms and of developments under the Human Rights Act.

• Students should be able to:
• Demonstrate developed research and writing skills, including the ability to work independently; the student should be able to take responsibility for his/her own learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures are used primarily to impart knowledge - and also to suggest approaches to evaluation and critical analysis;
• Tutorials will be used to develop and enhance students capacity for legal-problem solving in a particular factual situation, evaluative critical analysis and their appreciation of laws' linkage with broader fields of enquiry;
• Students will be supported in the development of their research and writing skills by the provision of guidance on identifying and retrieving relevant sources and generally on research methodology in the field of media law.
• Students are expected to work on the two formative assessments independently but the tutorials preceding them will provide framework guidance; they will be guided as the sources to be used but will be expected to conduct some independent research.
• Module staff will provide ongoing support and guidance as appropriate.
• Summative assessment comprises one unseen examination of two hours fifteen minutes including fifteen minutes reading time. Students are given a choice of questions to answer, but the paper is structured in such a way as to assess students on all the specific outcomes. In particular, students are required to answer both problem and essay type questions: the former primarily assessing knowledge and analysis of specific factual situations raising key legal issues; the latter primarily assess knowledge, evaluative capacity and an awareness of placing the analysis of law in wider contexts of enquiry.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

2 written essays 2000 words maximum

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University