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Dilemmas in Journalism: Law and Ethics (JOUR90006)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
February
June
Overview
Availability | February - Online June - Online |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will provide students with a grounding in key aspects of media law that all journalists need to be aware of, and offer students an opportunity to engage with particular ethical dilemmas that arise in the field of journalism.It will provide students with an opportunity to gain a deep understanding and capacity to reflect on legal and ethical principles, as well as an understanding of how such knowledge is relevant to the ongoing dilemmas and decisions that journalists are faced with in the course of their work.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, student should:
- have a sound grasp of the legal and ethical issues associated with the history, theory and current practice of journalism;
- have a sound grasp of key aspects of media law;
- be able to outline the legal and ethical responsibilities associated with journalism;
- be equipped to critically reflect on legal and ethical principles related to the practice of journalism;
- be able to apply knowledge of legal and ethical principles to dilemmas that arise in the course of journalism practice; and
- be able to make sound decisions in journalism practice based on knowledge of the law, ethics and case-based examples.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- the ability to provide leadership in journalism at a national and global level;
- the ability to understand the fundamental principles for making critical legal and ethical judgments regarding professional journalism practice;
- the ability to evaluate the dynamic processes of change operating in contemporary media and communication industries;
- advanced skills in research, analysis and interpretation;
- advanced skills in writing, reporting and communicating facts and ideas;
- advanced critical thinking through presentation of research papers, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence, and by critical analysis;
- time management and planning skills through managing and organising workloads;
- cultural and ethical understanding through reflection, reading and practical experience of journalists’ responsibilities; and
- an understanding of how to market their own ideas and successfully pursue careers in an increasingly diversified and transforming industry environment.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following: MC-JOURN Master of Journalism, MC-INTJOUR Master of International Journalism
This subject is a capstone in the Master of Journalism and Master of International Journalism and is not available to Community Access Program (CAP), Inbound Exchange/Study Abroad or Incoming Cross-institutional students.
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
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
An essay of 1,500 words and an analysis of an ethical problem 1,500 words
| Early in the teaching period | 60% |
An analysis of a legal problem
| 6 Weeks after the end of teaching | 40% |
Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and rgeular clss participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- February - Online
Coordinator Denis Muller Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Total 24 hours: 6 hours x 4 days Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 1 February 2021 to 5 February 2021 Last self-enrol date 2 February 2021 Census date 12 February 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 March 2021 Assessment period ends 18 March 2021 February contact information
- June - Online
Principal coordinator Denis Muller Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Total 24 hours: 6 hours x 4 days Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 18 June 2021 to 26 June 2021 Last self-enrol date 18 June 2021 Census date 2 July 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 July 2021 Assessment period ends 31 July 2021 June contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.
- Subject notes
Must be enrolled in the Master of Journalism program in order to take this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Certificate in Journalism (Advanced) Course Graduate Diploma in Journalism (Advanced) - Links to additional information
Last updated: 3 November 2022