Assignments - Four Assignments for this subject in total.
1) Freedom of Informaiton Request. (25 %)
2) Tutorial Assignment - Court Reporting. (25 %)
3) Critical Essay (law and/or ethics) - Case students, how you would react etc.
4) Exam - Heavily based on the readings for JN2310.
The point of this subject is to know about the law so you won't get into trouble. For example laws regarding interviewing under 18s without parental consent.
A common law that restricts what journalists can say is deformation.
The law provides a framework for journalism.
Other ways of seeing the law; Laws grant power, Laws protect, Laws reconcile.
"Laws are also affected by the age of globalized information flows."
Nowadays you can be subject to several jurisdictional regimes. For this reason, you need to know the legal environment of your jurisdiction AND any jurisdiction that might impinge on what you do.
By publishing through the internet it means you are publishing simultaneously into jurisdictions world-wide.
Ethics is a multi-dimensional concept hard to define:
Edward Spence (2005:3) stated that ethics are ‘a set of prescriptive rules, principles, values and virtues of character that inform and guide interpersonal and intrapersonal conduct: that is the conduct of people toward each other and the conduct of people toward themselves.'
Ethics govern behavior, are theoretical and practical. (As in how should I behave, linked to morality and linked to values)
Examples of Ethical codes in the world's major religions: The Ten Commandments, Buddhism Precepts.
Journalism ethics are not different from other ethical codes.
In Australia the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) provides a set of ethical rules for journalists within Australia to follow.
A summary of the ethical code provided by MEAA includes; Honesty, Fairness, Independence and Respect for the rights of others.
Workplaces also have in-house codes of practice rules within News Limited would be different to the codes of practice enforced by Fairfax or APN.
Ethics govern behavior, are theoretical and practical. (As in how should I behave, linked to morality and linked to values)
Examples of Ethical codes in the world's major religions: The Ten Commandments, Buddhism Precepts.
Journalism ethics are not different from other ethical codes.
In Australia the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) provides a set of ethical rules for journalists within Australia to follow.
A summary of the ethical code provided by MEAA includes; Honesty, Fairness, Independence and Respect for the rights of others.
Workplaces also have in-house codes of practice rules within News Limited would be different to the codes of practice enforced by Fairfax or APN.
Ethical responsibilities go beyond legal obligations.
There's lots of grey areas, legal advice is easy to get when working within a media outlet, normally there is an in-house Lawyer who can check out the legal ramifications of a story.
Readings for next week include the court system and Chapters 1 & 2.
