COVENANT UNIVERSITY COURSE COMPACT 2013/2014...
Transcript of COVENANT UNIVERSITY COURSE COMPACT 2013/2014...
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COVENANT UNIVERSITY COURSE COMPACT
2013/2014 ACADEMIC SESSION College: Development Studies
Department: Mass Communication
Programme: Mass Communication
Course Code: MAC410
Course Title: Mass Media Laws and Ethics
Units: Two (2)
Course Lecturers: Barrister (Mrs.) Oni-Ojo and Dr. Nnamdi T. Ekeanyanwu (For the Media Ethics part)
Semester: Alpha
Time: 12am-2pm (Wednesdays)
Location: B301
(A). BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COURSE
This course investigates the various laws regulating the practice of the media industry in Nigeria. These laws
include newspaper registration, libel, sedition, contempt as well as broadcasting and advertising regulations.
The course also include case studies of instances of the breach of such laws and the citing of the courts
decisions on such cases. Also, ethical and moral standards for the media practice will be discussed. Under this
section, ethical responsibilities of individuals, groups and media organizations will be examined.
(B). COURSE OBJECTIVES/GOALS
At the end of this course, the students are expected to know the following:
1. Identify and describe the various laws related to the media industry.
2. Cite cases and judicial precedence with regard to these laws
3. Describe ethics, morality and law.
4. Discuss the differences and the similarities between ethics and law.
5. Describe typical ethical issues confronting the Nigerian media industry.
6. Identify the various items in NUJ, NIPR, APCON Codes of Professional practice
(C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY/TEACHING AIDS
1. Use of multi-media facilities
2. Lectures
3. Tutorials
4. Assignments (Enjoyments)
5. Examination
(D). COURSE OUTLINE
MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION
1. Registration
2. Introduction
Ownership and Regulation of the Media
MODULE TWO: DEFAMATION
3. Law of Defamation
� The Meaning of Defamation
� Libel
� Slander
� Essentials of Defamation
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� Defenses
4. Law of Privacy
� Trespass
� Public Disclosure
� False Light
� Appropriation
MODULE THREE: OTHER MEDIA LAWS
5. Law of Contempt
� Contempt of Court (Types and Defenses)
� Legislative Contempt
Law of Sedition
� The Offence
� The Law of Sedition and Constitutional Provisions
� Defenses
� Consent of the Attorney-General
6. Law of Obscene and Harmful Publications
� Obscenity
� Harmful Publications
� Film, TV and Radio
MODULE FOUR: OTHER MEDIA LAWS 11
7. Law of Blasphemy
The Shield Laws
Law of Copyright
� Nature of Copyright
� Work eligible for Copyright
� Requirements for the Subsistence of Copyright
� Copyright and News Events
� Ownership of Copyright
� Duration of Copyright
� Transmission of Copyright
� Infringement of Copyright
� Statutory Defenses
8. Access to Government Held Information
� Criminal Code
� Official Secrets Acts
� State Privilege
Advertising Law
MODULE FIVE: MEDIA ETHICS
9. Ethics and Morality
• Definitions, Differences and Similarities between Ethics and Law
Ethical Principles
Characteristics of Good Ethical Code and Principles
Rationale for studying Journalistic and Other Professional Communication Ethics
10. Ethical Theories (Part 1)
A Model for Individual Ethical Decisions
Ethical Philosophies and Systems
11. Ethical Theories (Part 2)
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12. Mass Media Ethics, Issues, Values and Case Studies
13. Samples of Professional Mass Communication Ethical Codes, Revisions and Examinations
14. EXAMINATIONS
(E). TUTORIALS
Two hours will be devoted to tutorial sessions per week. Such periods will be used to debate emerging issues
from the case study analyses of judicial precedence.
(F). METHOD OF GRADING
1. Mid-semester test and other class tests ===================30%
2. Alpha Semester Final Exams ==========================70%
TOTAL===========100%
(G). GROUND RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. The University guidelines on attendance requirements will be strictly observed in this course.
2. No latecomer will be allowed into the lecture hall 10minutes LATE –that is 10mins into the lecture without
an acceptable reason(s).
3. Assignments (enjoyments), term papers etc submitted after the due and terminal dates will not be accepted.
4. All assignments (enjoyments), term papers etc undertaken in this course are graded.
5. Two hours will be devoted to tutorials every week.
6. Improper and Indecent dressing will not be allowed into the lecture hall
(H). TOPICS FOR TERM PAPERS/ ASSIGNMENTS/STUDENT ACTIVITIES
No Term Paper for this course. Assignments (enjoyments) will be on the practical test of judicial precedents.
The student’s overall judgment on legal issues concerning the communication industry will also be tested.
(I). ALIGNMENT WITH COVENANT UNIVERSITY VISION/GOALS
This course aims at exposing the would-be journalist as leaders who understand and appreciate the legal
environment upon which they operate. The course further exposes these leaders in the communication industry
to the ethical standards guiding the media practice in Nigeria especially. The course will help the students to
appreciate these various laws guiding the media profession as well as make them become familiar with the
various codes of media practice. It is often said that ignorance is not an excuse in law. The case studies will also
help them appreciate the consequences of breaching such laws when they get into practice after graduation.
(J). CONTEMPORARY ISSUES/INDUSTRY RELEVANCE
1. Media ethics in a pluralistic society like Nigeria.
2. Non passage of the FOI Bill by the Nigerian National Assembly (Matters Arising)
3. Human rights violation and the Nigerian journalist.
4. Exposure to the Nigerian legal environment and the subsequent reduction in avoidable court cases between
the Nigerian media industry and the larger society.
(K). RECOMMENDED READING/TEXT
1. Okoye, Innocent (2008) Nigerian Press Law. Lagos:Unilag
2. Elias, T. O. (1969). The Nigerian Press Laws. Ibadan: University Press.
3. Ezeukwu and Nwanze, (1998). Mass Media Law and Ethics. Enugu:Feloks Communications.
4. Walter G. and Tom W., (1985). McNae’s Essential Law for Journalists. London: Butterworth & Co. Ltd
5. Robertson, G.and Nicol, A. (n.d.). Media Law. London: Longman
6. Osibajo (1998). Nigerian Media Law. Lagos: Unilag
7. Ewelukwa, B.N. (2004). Introduction to Nigerian Press Law, Onitsha: Maranatha Press Ltd. Pp 1-2.
8. Malemi, E. (1999). Mass Media Law: Cases and Materials, Lagos: Grace Publishers Inc.