Handbook home
Legal Issues in Media and Publishing (PUBL90014)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Email: driscoll@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject addresses ethical issues and legal constraints involved in publishing for print and digital media. It will review existing ethical codes and the mechanisms established to police them, as well as offering an overview of how publishing practices are shaped by legislative provisions relating to such matters as intellectual property, privacy, defamation and respect for cultural differences. On successfully completing this subject, students will have gained an understanding of a wide range of ethical and legal considerations.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- be familiar with standard media and publishing industry practices and codes of conduct as they pertain to print and digital publishing;
- develop a strong understanding of the respective roles of editors, publishers and legal professionals in dealing with ethical and legal issues;
- understand the impact on media and publishing practice of laws pertaining to such matters as intellectual property, privacy, defamation and respecting cultural differences;
- be familiar with the issues involved in recent high-profile cases where standards have been breached; and
- demonstrate an ability to apply ethical and legal knowledge to their own media and publishing practice.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- high-level written and oral communication skills through contribution to class discussions and the completion of assignments;
- a capacity for effective teamwork through group discussions;
- skills in cultural and ethical understanding of the cultural role of books and readings and the responsibilities of publishers;
- skills in research through the preparation of class papers and assignments, including the use of online as well as print-based materials;
- skills in time management and planning through managing workloads for recommended reading, tutorial presentations and assessment requirements;
- a capacity for critical thinking through the use of readings and discussion to develop an understanding of the considerations that underpin law and ethics; and
- a capacity for theoretical analysis through engagement with a range of texts that offer different perspectives on publishing as a component of the wider field of cultural practices.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- A 2,000-word defamation and contempt (40%), due mid-semester.
- A 3,000-word essay (60%), due during the examination period.
- Hurdle: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Beth Driscoll Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 30 hours: 1x1-hour lecture and 1x2-hour tutorial, taught weekly Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2017 to 28 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2017 Census date 31 March 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2017 Assessment period ends 23 June 2017 Semester 1 contact information
Email: driscoll@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available.
- The Journalist's Guide to Media Law: 5th edition (Mark Pearson and Mark Polden)
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing Course Graduate Diploma in Publishing and Communications (Advanced) Course Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Editing and Communications) Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Global Media Communication Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Arts (Professional and Applied Ethics) Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Global Media Communication Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Journalism Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Global Media Communication Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Publishing and Communications Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Journalism Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Journalism Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Publishing and Communications Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Publishing and Communications Informal specialisation 200 points Master of Arts (Professional and Applied Ethics) - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022