2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW3197 Media Freedom

20 creditsClass Size: 192

Module manager: Dr Paul Wragg & Professor Nick Taylor
Email: P.M.Wragg@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

This module is mutually exclusive with

COMM3631	Media Law
LAW3198	Media Freedom 1
LAW3199	Media Freedom 2
LAW3280	Media 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 rights 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 type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	22	1.00	22.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			170.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
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 type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Written Work	Two compulsory time-limited (48-hour) written assessments of 1,500 words each, which count as either 0% or 100% of the final mark	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Course assessed by two compulsory, time limited (48-hour) written assessments of 1,500 words each. These TLWAs are referred to as blogs for ease. Each blog requires candidates to provide critical comment upon a fictitious judgment. The task, therefore, resembles the sort of professional blog that academics and practitioners contribute to in their professional life. Candidates MUST attempt both blogs. The highest score is your final mark for the course. Fuller details about the assessment are provided on the course.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 12/01/2021 12:49:46

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