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2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW3197 Media Freedom

20 creditsClass Size: 90

Module manager: Dr Paul Wragg
Email: P.M.Wragg@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is mutually exclusive with

COMM3631Media Law
LAW3280Media Law

Module replaces

LAW3196 Human Rights and Media Wrongs

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

Enable participants to engage with the ethical issues relating to media freedom, particularly those arising from the Leveson Inquiry into the ethics, culture and practices of the press.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- understand, analyse and apply the relevant legal and extra-legal rules governing issues relating to media freedom (including the traditional press and new media) in the UK in the context of i) Privacy and ii) Contempt of Court;
- critically evaluate those rules within the context of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998;
- demonstrate enhanced research skills in the location and analysis of relevant case and statutory materials and extra-legal rules.


Syllabus

This module takes as its central theme the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the UK and the interaction of these rights with other righjts guaranteed under the European Convention on Human rights including the right to a fair trial, the right to freedom of religion and the right to privacy. These issues are often highlighted through the actions of the media. With reference to case law and legal theory, the course enquires into the extent of media freedom (including new media) in the context of privacy law and the administration of justice and to consider government proposals to regulate these interactions, including the recommendations of the Leveson Report.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture221.0022.00
Seminar81.008.00
Private study hours170.00
Total Contact hours30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Seminar preparation
Required reading before lectures
Reading and preparation for both seen examinations

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Written WorkBlog - 2 or 3 x 1,500 words100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

In this module you will have the opportunity to do three pieces of assessed coursework (which we call blogs). For each blog, you will be given 48 hours to independently research and prepare an answer to the question. The first is set in January. The remaining two are set in April/May. You must do at least two blogs, compromising of the January assessment and one of the April/May blogs. Thus, the January assessment must be completed within 48 hours and the April/May blog within 96 hours (regardless of whether you write one or two blogs in that time). Your marks for the module will be comprised of either a) the average of your two marks if you only complete two blogs or b) the average of your best two marks if you complete all three blogs. Therefore each submission may count for either 50% or 0% of your final mark.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/07/2019

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