Students
MECO801 – Social Media, Law and Ethics
2015 – S1 Day
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Catharine Lumby
Contact via catharine.lumby@mq.edu.au
Justine Martin
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MFJ or MA in Media Law and Culture or MIntComm or MIntCommMIntRel or MIntBusMIntComm
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit will give students an advanced understanding of key legal and ethical issues that are relevant to media practice and journalism in the contemporary media landscape. It will offer students without a law background a practical understanding of the legal principles that underpin key emergent areas of online and social media regulation with a focus on how the law is evolving to deal with new technologies and platforms. Students will also gain a sophisticated appreciation of the ethical framework that underpin regulation, co-regulation and self-regulation and their rationale. The unit will engage students in complex critical reflection about the contemporary media, law and ethics.
|
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Analyse the key laws that regulate social and online media practice in Australia
- Apply an ethical and critical reflection to social media practices
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
- Discriminate between the different and evolving regulations and laws around new social media technologies
- Summarise and evaluate how these laws affect contemporary media content production
General Assessment Information
Assessment Matrix for Presentations, Essays and Seminar Papers
| Clarity of Expression | 25% | |
| Quality of Research | 25% | |
| Quality of Argument | 25% | |
| Originality | 25% |
Assignments to be submitted using Turnitin.
No assignment will be marked without a signed cover sheet.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 20% | Ongoing |
| Seminar paper | 30% | Ongoing |
| Final essay | 50% | 19/6/2015 |
Presentation
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
You will be asked to present a 15 minute paper on one of the readings at a seminar. Detailed instructions will be posted to iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse the key laws that regulate social and online media practice in Australia
- Apply an ethical and critical reflection to social media practices
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
- Discriminate between the different and evolving regulations and laws around new social media technologies
- Summarise and evaluate how these laws affect contemporary media content production
Seminar paper
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 30%
Following your seminar presentation you will prepare a 1,500 word paper drawing on your presentation and using other scholarly and journalistic resources. Detailed instructions will be posted on iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse the key laws that regulate social and online media practice in Australia
- Apply an ethical and critical reflection to social media practices
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
- Discriminate between the different and evolving regulations and laws around new social media technologies
- Summarise and evaluate how these laws affect contemporary media content production
Final essay
Due: 19/6/2015
Weighting: 50%
This essay will allow you draw on and unpack key critical ideas you have encountered in this unit. Detailed instructions will be posted on iLearn and discussed at length in our seminars.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse the key laws that regulate social and online media practice in Australia
- Apply an ethical and critical reflection to social media practices
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
- Discriminate between the different and evolving regulations and laws around new social media technologies
- Summarise and evaluate how these laws affect contemporary media content production
Delivery and Resources
There is a course reader for sale at the university Coop bookstore. You need to check iLearn for additional resources on a weekly basis.
Unit Schedule
Week One (27th February)
Introduction to unit, assessment and approach to learning
Week Two (6th March)
Introduction to Legal and Ethical Frameworks
Week Three (13th March)
Contempt of court laws and social media
Week Four (March 20th)
Copyright laws and social media
Week Five (March 27th)
Privacy laws, principles and social media
Week Six (24th April)
Defamation, freedom of speech and social media
Week Seven (May 1st)
Media content regulation and social media
Week Eight (May 8th)
Online vitriol, hate speech and cyberbullying in social media
Week Nine (May 15th)
Celebrities, self and product promotion and social media
Week Ten (May 22nd)
Pornography, offensive content and social media
Week Eleven (May 29th)
Wikileaks, national security and social media
Week Twelve (June 5th)
Review of course and discussion
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Additional information MMCCS website https://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/department_of_media_music_communication_and_cultural_studies/
MMCCS Session Re-mark Application http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914
Information is correct at the time of publication
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the key laws that regulate social and online media practice in Australia
- Apply an ethical and critical reflection to social media practices
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
- Discriminate between the different and evolving regulations and laws around new social media technologies
- Summarise and evaluate how these laws affect contemporary media content production
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Seminar paper
- Final essay
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the key laws that regulate social and online media practice in Australia
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
- Discriminate between the different and evolving regulations and laws around new social media technologies
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Seminar paper
- Final essay
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Apply an ethical and critical reflection to social media practices
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
- Summarise and evaluate how these laws affect contemporary media content production
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Seminar paper
- Final essay
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Apply an ethical and critical reflection to social media practices
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
- Summarise and evaluate how these laws affect contemporary media content production
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Seminar paper
- Final essay
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Seminar paper
- Final essay
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the key laws that regulate social and online media practice in Australia
- Apply an ethical and critical reflection to social media practices
- Apply advanced knowledge of legal and ethical principles to social media practice
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Seminar paper
- Final essay