Module: Media Law & Ethics

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Media Law & Ethics
Module Code	JRR1038 (ITS: CM5998)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module provides students with robust engagement with the legal and ethical issues that arise in the production of any documentary artefact. It introduces students to the major legal and ethical debates that inform contemporary documentary practice – debates that will inform their own decision-making as documentary producers.

Learning Outcomes

1. Appraise and critique the impact of relevant law on documentary practice and public debate
2. Appraise and critique ethical decision making in documentary practice and public debate
3. Recognise and assess risk associated with defamation, copyright, contempt of court and privacy in the context of documentary practice
4. Recognise and assess risk associated with ethical issues relating to documentary practice
5. Exercise legal and ethical vigilance as a core competence of documentary practice
6. Analyse and compare ethical theory and practice within the Anglo-American model with other, competing ethical theories and standards of professional practice

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	44	Lecture Time
Directed learning	81	Individual Learning
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20589	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Saumava Mitra	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Report comparing and analysing professional codes of conduct	50%	n/a
Assignment	Essay on key legal issues	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Lecture

The Irish Legal System
Lecture

The Law of Defamation
Lecture

Contempt of Court
Lecture

Privacy & Copyright
Lecture

Media Regulation
Lecture

Introduction to Moral Debates for Professional Ethical Decision-Making
Lecture

Foundational Ethical Tenets Derived from Western Philosophy
Lecture

Critical Counterpoints inc. Feminist, Post-Colonial and Globalisation perspectiv
Lecture

Sustainability & Ethical Responsibility in Media Production
Lecture

DCU Ethics Approval Process
Lecture

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Eoin Carolan and Ailbhe O’Neill: 2019, Media Law in Ireland,
Maura Adshead & Tom Felle: 2015, Ireland and the Freedom of Information Act,
Eoin McCullough and Neville Cox: 2014, Defamation: Law and Practice,
John Maher: 2011, The Law of Defamation,
Tanya Ni Mhuirthuile, Catherine O’Sullivan, Liam Thornton: 2016, Fundamentals of the Irish Legal System: law, policy and politics,
Yvonne Murphy & Donal McGuinness: 2011, Journalists and the Law,
Andrea Martin: 2011, Media Law Ireland: Answers to Your Top 100 Media Law Questions,
Stephen J. A. Ward and Herman Wasserman: 2010, Media Ethics Beyond Borders,
Tony Harcup: 2007, The Ethical Journalist,
L. Zion & D. Craig: 2014, Ethics for Digital Journalists: Emerging Best Practices,
Ward, S. J. A.: 2015, Radical Media Ethics: A Global Approach,
R. Keeble: 2009, Ethics for Journalists,

Articles:

K. McIntyre: 2019, Solutions Journalism: The Effects of Including Solution Information in News Stories About Social Problems, Journalism PracticE, 13(1), 16-34, 58522
2019: Empowerment Journalism, Journalism Studies, 20(12), 58523, 1
Global Media Ethics Revisited: A Postcolonial Critique: Global Media and Communication, 3(1), 29-50,

Other Resources

None