SYLLABUS
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Com 400: Communication Law |
3 credit hours
Dr. Janet L. McMullen
Last Updated: March 31, 2004 01:50 PM
Required Texts:
Middleton, Kent R., Robert Trager and Bill F.
Chamberlin. The Law of Public Communication, 6th Edition. A.B.
Longman / Pearson, 2004 ISBN: 0-205-34950-3
Required Reading: Broadcasting and Cable magazine. See Dr. Mc for student subscription rates.
Optional Texts:
A list of suggested titles is provided at the end of this document. You are NOT required to purchase these books, although any of them would be a positive addition to your professional library. Many of them have been ordered into the bookstore but in limited numbers. If the book you want is not there, please SPECIAL ORDER it because it will not be ordered if you do not. Some, if not most of the books are in (or have been ordered) the library. This reading list is designed to add depth and reinforcement to your understanding of the issues addressed in this class. See selected titles listed at the end of this syllabus.
For additional titles, see Dr. Mc's web page at http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jmcmulle/index.html and find the link to Dr. Mc's reading list. There you will find a lengthy list of books regarding our industry or subject matter and course for which they may be used for book reports.
Objectives: This course will provide the student with an understanding of the basic aspects of communications law. Special attention will be given constitutional issues of free speech, privacy and other areas of interest to journalism and broadcast students.
Structure, function and operation of the FCC and areas of broadcast/cable regulation will also be addressed, as well as social implications of mass media and communications law.
Course Operation: The format for Com. 400 will be a combination of lecture and classroom discussion. Prompt attendance and participation in class discussion. Quizzes will be conducted at the beginning of the class period and cannot be made up at a later date. All reading should be completed prior to class discussion on the topic.
It is absolutely imperative that students KEEP UP with reading assignments. From several years of experience, it has become obvious, that without careful pacing and discipline, students can find themselves in real trouble. There is an enormous amount of information which must be processed and much of it builds on what has gone before. Please allow at least 30 minutes a day for some study on this course. If you do so, you should not have a problem with the course or the material.
BE SURE to use your pipeline account. I will send e-mails to the class and post new class notes, web links and other information on our course page. My highwaay site will remain active and be our "back-up", but you should consider your primary site to be on PIPELINE. All e-mail concerning the class will be sent ONLY to your pipeline e-mail address. (Sorry, I just can't manage a gazillion other e-mail addresses with the number of students I have.)
Exams: Three exams are anticipated. Each will have a value of 100 points. Exams may include item types such as Identify, Fill-in-the-blank, Multiple Choice, Short Answer and Essay. The last exam may or may not be given during the final exam period. Value: 100 points each.
Book Reviews: Each student will read at least one additional book related to the subject matter of this course and write a review on it. Reviews should discuss the significance of the book and subject matter to the student, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the book and the student's opinions of the book's impact on the reader. Reviews must be typed, double-spaced and make proper use of the language. Points will be deducted for spelling, grammar and other mechanical errors. Title must be approved by the instructor. Optional books have been listed on the syllabus and ordered into the book store. These were chosen based in part upon student recommendations from previous semesters. Additional excellent books are available in the library. Suggestion: Get your book early and READ it early to avoid time crunch. Length: 5 pages; Value: 50 points.
Research Paper: Each student will compete one research paper on some aspect of communication law. Appropriate documentation will be used ( APA. style), and all papers will be typed, double-spaced, and will make proper use of the language. Points will be deducted if these guidelines are not followed. Topics must be approved by the professor, and should be selected PRIOR to midterm. Value: 200 points.
APA STYLE guidelines can be found at several places on the web: One good site which offers several links is: http://www.psychwww.com/resource/apacrib.htm . A cite which deals with APA style for online citations is : http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite6.html
Tutorial: The professor reserves the right to assign a tutorial to the class if there is concern that students are not grasping key concepts. A tutorial in this class will consist of a two-page essay on the assigned topic. Writing must be thorough and concise. The tutorial will be graded and assigned a grade ranging from 0 to 50 pts. At that time the student has the option of rewriting the tutorial. The rewrite will then be graded and given a grade from 0 to 50 points. The two point values will totaled to comprise the final tutorial grade. Each tutorial is valued at 100 total points. Students making 40 or more points on the initial grading have the option of not rewriting the paper and doubling the score on the initial writing.
Additional Notes:
Attendance: Regular attendance is EXPECTED and students will find they will not be able to pass quizzes, exams or write the paper if they are not in class regularly.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you are not aware of its definition, educate yourself. Students will be expected to turn in both printed and electronic copies of written work. Student may be required to submit such work to a plagiarism-screening site on the web. Specific instructions will be provided at the appropriate time.
For more information, see: Plagiarism, Up Close and Personal---A UNA Student Guide, Collier Library handout available at http://www2.una.edu/library/plagiarismstudentguide.htm
Reading: Do NOT get behind in your reading, or you will never be able to catch up.
Frustration: Sometimes learning the principles of law can be intimidating. That is totally understandable, however, you can NOT allow yourself to become overly frustrated. This course is conceptual in nature and requires some serious thought, and additionally there are many details which simply must be memorized. If you find you are having trouble, please see me EARLY in the semester, and we will discuss various study methods which might help. Nothing, however, will substitute for time devoted to the topic. Efficient use of your time is therefore the key. It is recommended that students band together to form study groups; peer teaching is very effective. Feel free to use a tape recorder during lectures if that will help, and by all means TALK to me if you are having problems.
Extra Credit: Extra credit may be earned by reading an additional book for review and or writing a short research paper (4 to 6 pages) on a topic approved by the instructor and of interest to you. Extra credit projects are valued at 25 points each. A maximum of 50 extra credit points are possible in this course.
Dr. Mc Reserves the right to offer additional extra credit opportunities as they present themselves. Students may watch selected films which deal with issues addressed in this class. A maximum of 15 points may earned by watching films, and you may not get credit in this class for a film for which you received credit in another class. Films which are appropriate for this course:
Library Notes: At times, due to the complexity and ever changing nature of the field, Dr. Mc may make available some lecture notes or other materials at the reserve desk in the library.
Internet Notes: When appropriate and possible, lecture notes will be placed on the Internet for your benefit. I frequently do NOT enable the links to those notes until AFTER we have discussed the topic in class. I want you to learn good note-taking skills, and the notes which are provided to you should serve as a back-up to your own notes. The availability of such notes is a privilege and a courtesy, not a right, and should be considered as such.
Cases: You may at times be required to read specific cases related to the course. These can be found on the Internet. These can be found by going to the UNA library site: http://www2.una.edu/library/search.htm and then scrolling to the bottom of that page for the FindLaw site : http://www.findlaw.com/ . Book mark that site for future reference.
Reality Check: This is probably the most difficult course I teach. There is a great deal of information as well as conceptual learning involved. The forest AND the trees are important in this class, so a good structured method of study is recommended.
Let's look forward to an exciting and challenging semester.
Approximate Course Points:
Links for Com 400: While I am leaving these links active at this time, many of these will be updated during the semester. Before you print these notes in preparation for an exam, be sure they have a 2004 update at the top of the page. HW = Hiwaay links
Lecture 1: Legal Structures and Terms HW
Lecture 2: First Amendment, Part 1 HW
Lecture 2: First Amendment, Part 2 HW
Lecture 2: First Amendment, Part 3 HW
Lecture 3: Prior Restraint, Part 1 HW
Lecture 3: Prior Restraint, Part 2 HW
Lecture 3: Prior Restraint -- Hate Speech HW
Essays for Exam 1 and study session info! HW
The following lectures will be covered on our last exam.
Lecture 8: Electronic Media Regulation Part 1 & 2
Lecture 8: Electronic Media Regulation Parts 3 and 4
Lecture 9: Broadcast Licensing
Lecture 10: Ownership
Lecture 11: Political Broadcasting
Lecture 13: Cameras in the Courtroom
Lecture 14: Kids and Television
Possible Essays for Final Exam and Study Session Info
Suggested Titles for Book Review Reading:
Good luck! Study hard, and please keep up with your reading. You will do best if you try to learn this material day by day and review and reorganize your notes each day. You may use a tape recording in class if that will help. Over the course of the semester, I will also place some of my notes in the library on reserve or on the Internet at the web site.
Copyright, 2004 Janet McMullen