Course overview
This course explores the legal, ethical and policy regulations and issues affecting media practice. Students will examine how legal and ethical considerations align, intersect and conflict, and consider their impact upon media practitioners, industries and society. Students will analyse approaches to media governance and ethical decision making and analyse the effectiveness of current policies and approaches in adapting to technological and societal change.
- Introduction: Why law, policy and ethics matter
- Media governance, policy and platform regulation
- Copyright and intellectual property
- Defamation
- Contempt, courts and crime
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Ethical reasoning in practice
- Representation, diversity and responsibility
- Communicating about sensitive issues, understanding trauma and professional self-care
- Integration and reflection
Course learning outcomes
- Understand and analyse the media laws, policies, and regulatory frameworks in Australia, explaining how they enable or constrain effective media environments.
- Understand the legal obligations, rights, and ethical considerations affecting media practitioners in the execution of their professional duties.
- Critically evaluate the challenges and limitations of applying existing media laws and regulations and ethical codes and guidelines to emerging digital and new media environments.
- Develop critical thinking skills to identify and navigate the complex issues associated with media regulatory frameworks and ethical practice.
Availability
Class details
Magill
Group 1
Class number 28342
Section TU06
Size 20
Available 14
Class number 28343
Section TU05
Size 20
Available 11
Class number 28344
Section TU04
Size 20
Available 20
Class number 28345
Section TU01
Size 20
Available 17
Class number 32999
Section TU03
Size 20
Available 18
Class number 33000
Section TU02
Size 20
Available 18
Adelaide City Campus East
Group 1
Class number 28341
Section TU08
Size 30
Available 0
Class number 29594
Section TU04
Size 20
Available 17
Class number 29595
Section TU03
Size 20
Available 15
Class number 29596
Section TU02
Size 20
Available 12
Class number 29597
Section TU01
Size 20
Available 9
Class number 32892
Section TU07
Size 30
Available 25
Class number 32893
Section TU06
Size 30
Available 21
Class number 32894
Section TU05
Size 30
Available 12
Adelaide City Campus West
Group 1
Class number 33454
Section TU02
Size 30
Available 24
Class number 33455
Section TU01
Size 30
Available 17
Fee calculator
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If you are studying in a Professional Pathway Psychology, Clinical Psychology or Social Work program, please refer to the Student Contributions amounts published here.
The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.