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LS4561: MEDIA LAW (HONOURS) (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 16:46


Course Overview

Through a series of seminars, this course engages students with a body of ‘media law’ which covers topics such as the freedom of the press, freedom of expression, access to information, open justice principle on the one hand, and on the other hand, the right to fair trial, right to privacy, right of publicity, right against defamation, and the regulation of obscene publications. The focus is on the regulation of media contents. While the course follows the relevant current developments in the law, it also lays the foundation and the broader social and historical contexts within which these developments take place.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 25 credits (12.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Catherine W. Ng

Qualification Prerequisites

  • One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

Yes

One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.


Course Description

Course Aims: The course aims to develop an in-depth knowledge and critical appreciation of relevant current issues in media law, including those dealing with aspects of human right, privacy, publicity, intellectual property and related rights; and to develop certain intellectual and transferable skills.

Content: This course builds the foundation and considers certain current issues in media law. Topics discussed will include the tensions among the conflicting interests within media law.  The course will draw from paradigms in human right laws such as those governing the freedom of the press, personal privacy, and paradigms in intellectual property and related rights.  The application of these paradigms will be tested against cases which have gained notoriety in the current affairs.  This course will offer analytical tools for a critical understanding of the law which underpins those and similar cases.

Course learning outcomes

Students are expected to gain a working knowledge of the relevant laws and legal concepts which govern the mass media.  These laws include aspects of human right laws, intellectual property and related laws, laws governing the right of privacy and the right of publicity, as well as those implementing broader social policies.  When encountering a factual scenario, students are expected to be able to apply their knowledge of the relevant law to recognise the legal issues involved, to analyse the underlying legal principles, and to formulate and articulate their arguments in respect of the various positions taken within the factual scenario.  Students are also expected to be able to critically analyse the laws in view of the competing interests that underpin them.

Students are expected to hone their analytical, critical, and communications skills through guided class discussions, their class essay, and, where available, other assessed and non-assessed exercises.  In particular, the course will develop transferable skills such as:  - analysing complex legal issues, researching, constructing, presenting, critiquing, and defending relevant legal arguments; problem solving, writing, and time and project management. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Online Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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On-campus Exam

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resit failed element in same format

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

If due to extenuating circumstances

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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