MCH2059 : Essential Law for Media and Journalism
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Mrs Claire Logue
- Owning School: Arts & Cultures
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
1. To give students an insight into the legal and ethical frameworks within which journalists work in the UK and in a global context.
2. To prepare students to recognise when legal and ethical issues arise which relate to their practice and / or the reports they are producing and to be able to identify those issues and research and analyse how they should respond to them in an appropriate manner.
3. To prepare students to be able to develop their knowledge and understanding of legal and ethical issues throughout their careers and to apply that knowledge and understanding as reflexive practitioners guided by a strong set of professional and ethical values.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module may include, but is not limited to, sessions on:
Reporting crime and judicial institutions and procedure:
Defamation dangers and defences;
Press and broadcasting regulation;
Censorship, access to information and freedom of expression;
Ethical issues in journalism and professional values;
Legal and ethical issues relating to children and the law, children in the media;
Copyright and intellectual property.
The module is structured to build understanding week-by-week to help embed the knowledge and skills needed to work in a field which is in constant flux and where students need to understand the legal and ethical frameworks which constrain and support journalists - and other media practitioners - in their work.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Lecture |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Assessment preparation and completion for formative online quiz. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 25:00 | 25:00 | Assessment preparation and completion for summative online quiz |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 6 | 3:00 | 18:00 | Structured online non-synchronous learning activities |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Assessment preparation and completion for summative report |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Small group seminar. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 3:00 | 9:00 | Group workshops where students learn to put law into practice. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 64:00 | 64:00 | Independent research and reading around the subject. Following news reports and media law in practise. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Key legal and ethical issues as they relate to journalism and the media in diverse judicial, social, political and cultural contexts are introduced by tutors in lectures and group sessions.
These are explored further by students in group sessions to help them consider different issues involved in the legal and ethical context in which journalists work and how these are understood and applied.
Bi-weekly lectures throughout the module allow students to learn in-depth with time for more independent study the following week, while three separate workshops create space for more hands-on scenarios-based learning to practise what they have learned.
This course is driven by exercises and case studies as well as real-world scenarios to help the students engage with what they learn. This student-centred approach encourages a rich and deep understanding of the areas of law and ethical and professional values which they may encounter in a career in the media.
The course takes a varied and interactive approach to learning, aimed at encouraging engagement and interest. Students are strongly advised and encouraged to participate as best they can. Accessibility of the content and learning opportunities is considered throughout the teaching with the aim of creating the most positive environment to enable students to engage.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | A | 100 | Critical analysis of legal and ethical considerations required in a chosen news story. Equivalent to 3000 words. |
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
| Description | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | M | Online quiz covering topics from the module to ensure students have understood the areas of law needed to approach the final assessment. Students must complete the quiz in order to pass the module, but grades do not contribute to module grade. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Pass/fail Online Quiz - Students must complete the quiz in order to pass the module, but grades are not counted.
This mid-module quiz will test the students' understanding of the course content in order to help them prepare for the final assessment and identify any areas for revision.
Summative Critical analysis, equivalent to 3000 words - 1000%:
Using their learning and understanding from the module, students will choose from a designated list of real-world stories. They should identify and discuss the relevant legal and ethical considerations for media outlets and journalists reporting the story and critically analyse the contemporary media reporting of it using case studies from the press.
The assessment strategy provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of legal issues through structured, cumulative learning, analysis and practice.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MCH2059's Timetable