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Dilemmas in Journalism: Law and Ethics (JOUR90006)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
February
June
Overview
Availability | February - Dual-Delivery June - Dual-Delivery |
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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
- 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: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following: MC-JOURN Master of Journalism, MC-INTJOUR Master of International Journalism, GCA-JOURN Graduate Certificate in Journalism (Advanced), GDA-JOURN Graduate Diploma in Journalism (Advanced)
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
An essay
| Early in the teaching period | 30% |
An anaylsis of an ethical problem
| Early in the teaching period | 30% |
An analysis of a legal problem
| 6 Weeks after the end of teaching | 40% |
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures where offered. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- February
Coordinator Denis Muller Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 hours: 6 hours x 4 days Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 5 February 2024 to 9 February 2024 Last self-enrol date 6 February 2024 Census date 16 February 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 1 March 2024 Assessment period ends 21 March 2024 February contact information
- June
Coordinator Denis Muller Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 hours: 6 hours x 4 days Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 14 June 2024 to 22 June 2024 Last self-enrol date 14 June 2024 Census date 28 June 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 12 July 2024 Assessment period ends 27 July 2024 June contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
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.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Journalism (Advanced) Course Graduate Certificate in Journalism (Advanced) Course Master of Journalism Course Master of International Journalism - Links to additional information
Last updated: 31 January 2024