Postgraduate Course: International and European Media Law (LAWS11348)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | In substantive terms, the course will examine the impact of International and European law on, firstly, the structure of media markets and, secondly, the content of media services.
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| Course description |
The course will start with a discussion of the nature of the media, the media value chain, and the relationship between media freedom, freedom of expression and other human rights.
It will examine the various international organisations competent in the media field and the regulatory strategies that are being adopted to deal with media convergence and globalisation. In relation to structural matters, consideration will be given to consolidation of media ownership and state funding of the media, in particular public service broadcasting. In relation to content controls, the course will examine attempts to create a more equitable flow of media content and concerns over media imperialism, the regulatory problems posed by pornography and hate speech and the balance to be struck
between freedom of the media and privacy.
Students should attain a good understanding of the interplay between domestic and international law in this field, as well as the role of soft law and self or private regulation. They will be encouraged to think about the future role of law and regulation in a rapidly changing media environment.
The titles of the weekly sessions are as follows:
Session 1: Freedom of Speech & Freedom of the Media from a comparative perspective
Session 2: Media Regulation: Sector Specific Regulation & the Challenge of Convergence
Session 3: Regulatory Strategies for a Global Media Market: Country of Origin or Destination State Control?
Session 4: Public Service Broadcasting ¿ Still Relevant in a Digital World?
Session 5: Media Power and Concentration
Session 6: Citizen¿s Journalism ¿ Protecting Individual Freedom, Ensuring Accountability?
Session 7: Free Flow of Information and Media Imperialism: the EU, WTO and UNESCO
Session 8: Hate Speech and the Limits of Media Freedom
Session 9: Privacy in a Networked World
Session 10: Defamation and the Limits of Media Freedom
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 40,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
156 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment for the course will be by means of ONE written essay of no more than 4,000 words in length, to be chosen from a number of specified titles (60%), ONE research based assignment which will take the form of a 'blog' on a recent case decision or legal development in the field of no more than 1,500 words in length (20%) and continuous assessment of contributions to the discussion forum (20%).
Details of both assessments will be given to students at the start of the course in week 1. The students will be free to select their own topic for the blog provided that this
does not overlap with the written essay. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Students should attain a good understanding of the interplay between domestic and international law in the media field, as well as the role of soft law and self or private regulation.
- Students should be familiar with the role of key international organisations such as the WTO, UN/UNESCO, EU and Council of Europe in the media field.
- Students will understand the major challenges facing regulators as a result of globalisation and convergence and will have developed a legal framework, including a human rights framework, for analysing a number of key topical issues in relating to both the content and structure of media market notably media ownership, media imperialism, the protection of privacy and child protection.
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Reading List
| Online texts to be confirmed |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course aims to further develop students¿ abilities and skills in respect of:
1. Use of legal materials and legal reasoning;
2. Appreciation of law in its context;
3. Evaluation and criticism of law;
4. Legal research and intellectual skills of collecting, organising, evaluating and synthesising material an
arguments.
Students will be required to develop their skills in managing time, working independently and together with others in developing an understanding of the field online, and taking responsibility for their own work.
Students will be expected to develop their written communication skills ¿ both in preparing course assignments, developing different styles of communication (essay/blog/comment etc) and in engaging actively in online discussions.
Students will be encouraged to develop their skills through working with others to solve problems and develop a meaningful online dialogue on the issues raised in the course.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Paolo Cavaliere
Tel: (0131 6)51 5137
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Clare Polson
Tel: (0131 6)51 9704
Email: |
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