Media Law (LAWS50096)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Teaching staff:
Jason Bosland (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject examines the core legal constraints imposed on the media in their publishing activities. The first part of the subject requires students to analyse and evaluate broad principles relating to freedom of speech and public interest and their application to the media. It also examines the greater role that the legal protection of human rights, especially in the international context, has played in the development of media law. The second part of the subject explores the constraints that are imposed on the media in their reporting of court proceedings, including contempt of court and the issuing of suppression orders by the courts. The third part of the subject comprises a comparative, in-depth examination of the law of defamation across Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. It also draws on case studies from other jurisdictions, such as Canada and South Africa. The final part of the subject looks at privacy and the media. It considers the current state of privacy protection in Australia, and requires students to undertake a critical, comparative analysis of the position in Australia and recent developments in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have a detailed and sophisticated understanding of the general principles governing freedom of speech, the public interest and the media;
- have a detailed, technical and specialised understanding of the constraints imposed on the media in the reporting of court proceedings;
- have developed expert knowledge of the practical operation of the law of contempt of court in Australia;
- have a detailed, technical and specialised understanding of defamation law in Australia and comparatively;
- have developed expert knowledge of the practical operation of defamation law in Australia and comparatively;
- have a detailed, technical and specialised understanding of privacy law in Australia and comparatively;
- have developed expert knowledge of the practical operation of privacy law in Australia and comparatively;
- have developed the ability to independently understand, research and critically analyse legal and scholarly developments that contribute to professional practice in the area of media law; and
- have developed the ability to communicate their analysis of the law and its application to specialist and non-specialist audiences in appropriate scholarly and professional formats.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject students should have developed the following skills:
- Mastery of the principal areas of media law (such as defamation, contempt, privacy and freedom of speech) as well as associated theoretical material.
- Expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills for critical and independent thought and reflection in the area of media law and practice.
- Mastery of technical research skills relevant to media law.
- Expert, specialised cognitive, creative and technical skills to solve problems, including through the critical evaluation of research relevant to the area of media law and practice.
- The ability to expertly communicate specialised and complex information, ideas, concepts and theories relevant to media law and practice.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50025 | Torts | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS70082 | Privacy Law | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70181 | Defamation Law | November (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70184 | Criminalising Speech in the Internet Age | December (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Option 1: Take home examination
| During the examination period | 100% |
Option 2: Research Essay
| During the examination period | 100% |
Additional details
Note: Students must choose assessment from the options listed above. If an option contains parts, all parts must be completed if that option is chosen.
The due dates of assessment will be made available to students on the Assessment Schedule on the Juris Doctor Canvas LMS Community. Note, these are updated regularly.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Jason Bosland Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Subject will be taught by means of 1 x 2hr lecture and 1 x 1hr tutorial (each week) Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Teaching staff:
Jason Bosland (Subject Coordinator)For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota of 60 students.
All timely JD elective enrolments are subject to a selection process, which the Academic Support Office will perform after the timely re-enrolment period ends. Late self-enrolment is on a first-in basis up to quota.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law School website for further information about the management of subject quotas.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- David Rolph, Matt Vitins, Judith Bannister, Daniel Joyce, Jason Bosland, Michael Douglas, Jonathan Gill, Media Law: Cases, Materials and Commentary (Oxford University Press, 3rd ed, 2022);
Close to the teaching period, students will be advised about other specialist reading materials. Make sure to check Canvas LMS in the lead-up to teaching.
- Related Handbook entries
- Links to additional information
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025