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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.