LLB242 Media Law
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | LLB242 |
|---|---|
| Antirequisite(s): | LWB480 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,124 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,663 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,204 |
| International unit fee | $4,368 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | LLB242 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Anti-requisite: | LWB480 |
| Coordinator: | Muhammad Zaheer Abbas | m.abbas@qut.edu.au |
Overview
One of the main tenets of a democratic society is freedom of speech, including freedom of the press. As a consequence of the persuasive nature of the media, including digital media, the law has imposed a number of checks and balances for the protection of individuals and society. Inevitably these checks and balances come into conflict with freedom of the press. This unit examines the regulation and non-regulation of freedom of speech exercised by the media, including the various limitations imposed by the common law, statute and self-regulation.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Examine the history, nature and scope of media law in Australia's constitutional context (CLO 1.1)
- Apply media law to real world scenarios (CLO 2.1)
- Critically evaluate the historical, social, technological and global perspectives that influence the development of media law (CLO 2.3)
- Research, evaluate and present on primary and secondary sources relevant to media law (CLO 3.1, 3.2)
- Write clearly and concisely to communicate legal concepts, critical analysis, arguments and supporting evidence (CLO 4.1)
Content
The material covered in this unit includes:
- overview of the Australian media industry;
- freedom of speech
- defamation
- hate speech, obscenity and classification
- confidentiality and privacy
- open justice, limits on reporting and contempt of court
- regulation of print, broadcast and online media
Learning Approaches
This unit employs an active, collaborative and blended approach to learning. It involves an online, self-led learning practice and live workshops where you will learn from experts and your peers. Prior to workshops, you will be supported and engaged in this unit through the delivery of weekly snapshots of unit material, podcasts delivered by experts, formative learning activities, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.
Your participation in the unit will include:
- Engagement with online materials
- Discussions on Canvas and in live workshops
- Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understandings
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students are provided with feedback to assist their learning throughout the semester. The feedback is provided as follows:
- Live workshops and online materials;
- Support materials and guidance documents prepared by the teaching team;
- Individual feedback on items of assessment including through the Criteria References Assessment (CRA) form;
- Generic feedback posted and discussed on the unit's Canvas site for each item of assessment; and
- The option of consultation with a member of the unit's teaching team during the semester.
Assessment
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Policy Submission
You will write a submission to a law reform inquiry on a proposed area of media law reform. This submission will review and critique the relevant law and make recommendations for reform from the point of a view of a relevant stakeholder (regulator, consumer, traditional media company, social media company, content creator).
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Take-Home Exam
The depth of your knowledge and understanding of the individual topics considered in the unit as well as your ability to analyse and apply media law to solve defined problems will be assessed in a take-home exam. You will have 3 days to complete the take-home exam.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Canvas site
Online resources for this unit are available on the unit Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Rodrick, Sharon, Australian Media Law (Thomson Reuters, 6th ed, 2021)
Reference book(s)
Hitchens, Lesley, Media Law in Australia (Kluwer Law International, 2nd ed, 2020)
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Online
| Unit code: | LLB242 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Anti-requisite: | LWB480 |
Overview
One of the main tenets of a democratic society is freedom of speech, including freedom of the press. As a consequence of the persuasive nature of the media, including digital media, the law has imposed a number of checks and balances for the protection of individuals and society. Inevitably these checks and balances come into conflict with freedom of the press. This unit examines the regulation and non-regulation of freedom of speech exercised by the media, including the various limitations imposed by the common law, statute and self-regulation.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Examine the history, nature and scope of media law in Australia's constitutional context (CLO 1.1)
- Apply media law to real world scenarios (CLO 2.1)
- Critically evaluate the historical, social, technological and global perspectives that influence the development of media law (CLO 2.3)
- Research, evaluate and present on primary and secondary sources relevant to media law (CLO 3.1, 3.2)
- Write clearly and concisely to communicate legal concepts, critical analysis, arguments and supporting evidence (CLO 4.1)
Content
The material covered in this unit includes:
- overview of the Australian media industry;
- freedom of speech
- defamation
- hate speech, obscenity and classification
- confidentiality and privacy
- open justice, limits on reporting and contempt of court
- regulation of print, broadcast and online media
Learning Approaches
This unit employs an active, collaborative and blended approach to learning. It involves an online, self-led learning practice and live workshops where you will learn from experts and your peers. Prior to workshops, you will be supported and engaged in this unit through the delivery of weekly snapshots of unit material, podcasts delivered by experts, formative learning activities, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.
Your participation in the unit will include:
- Engagement with online materials
- Discussions on Canvas and in live workshops
- Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understandings
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students are provided with feedback to assist their learning throughout the semester. The feedback is provided as follows:
- Live workshops and online materials;
- Support materials and guidance documents prepared by the teaching team;
- Individual feedback on items of assessment including through the Criteria References Assessment (CRA) form;
- Generic feedback posted and discussed on the unit's Canvas site for each item of assessment; and
- The option of consultation with a member of the unit's teaching team during the semester.
Assessment
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Policy Submission
You will write a submission to a law reform inquiry on a proposed area of media law reform. This submission will review and critique the relevant law and make recommendations for reform from the point of a view of a relevant stakeholder (regulator, consumer, traditional media company, social media company, content creator).
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Take-Home Exam
The depth of your knowledge and understanding of the individual topics considered in the unit as well as your ability to analyse and apply media law to solve defined problems will be assessed in a take-home exam. You will have 3 days to complete the take-home exam.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Canvas site
Online resources for this unit are available on the unit Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Rodrick, Sharon, Australian Media Law (Thomson Reuters, 6th ed, 2021)
Reference book(s)
Hitchens, Lesley, Media Law in Australia (Kluwer Law International, 2nd ed, 2020)
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.