COM 302 — Media Law

Professor: Dr. Scott Sochay

Department of Communication

Office: HC 327F

Spring Semester, 2005

Office Hours: T, R noon - 2 pm and by appt.

Location: CC325

 

Time: M,W,F 1:50 - 2:40pm (E3)

Office Phone: 638-6199

PO Box 16

Home Phone: (651) 646-1521 (before 7:30 pm)

www.bethel.edu/~socsco/MediaLaw.html

email: scott-sochay@bethel.edu Prerequisites: COM 110B, COM 213

 

 

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Required Text:

Pember, Don (2005). Mass Media Law (2005/2006 Edition), NY: McGraw-Hill.

Course Objectives:

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the major legal, ethical and policy issues related to the mass media. This will be done by exposing students to primary documents and cases as well as to methods of analysis. Upon completion, students should be able to explain in broad context, existing media law and policy and be able to critique and analyze future laws and policies. Students should also be able to articulate the ethical issues that are relevant to media conduct.

Grading and Expectations:

Participation is important and is part of your grade. Students are expected to have read the required chapters for each class session and be prepared to discuss its contents. A lack of preparation not only hurts your grade it also takes away from the quality of the in-class discussion and makes the learning experience less enjoyable for your classmates. Attendance is also part of your participation grade. Excessive absences and/or tardiness will be reflected in that generally, three or more unexcused absences will result in a minimum one grade lower participation grade.

Projects are due at the beginning of the class period noted in the course outline. Late projects or missed exams will not be accepted without a legitimate excuse such as medical illness or emergency. If you have a situation that may present difficulties in turning a project in on time or making an exam date the proper procedure is to discuss this with me before the due date. I'm flexible and understanding when students talk with me before an assignment or exam is due. I'm much less flexible if a student tries to explain their situation after the due date has passed. In short, if you think you're going to have a problem turning in an assignment on time, talk with me before the due date. The same also applies to attendance. Excused absences are at my discretion. I am far more likely to grant them when students let me know ahead of time (when possible) or contact me as soon as possible after the missed class.

 

Student work will be evaluated according to the guidelines laid out in the 2004-2005 Bethel College catalog (see p. 24). To receive an "A," work should be "exceptional". "B" work is considered "good," and "C" "work "satisfactory" and so on. Handouts/explanations will be provided with the criteria for the take home exam, case presentation, team case and term paper. If you have any questions about these assignments, ask!

Students seeking disability-related accommodations, or students seeking to appeal a grade, should review policy information at http://bethelnet.bethel.edu/collegefaculty/Policies/index.htm.

The Bethel policy on academic honesty applies in this course. (see pp. 27-28 in the 2004-2005 Bethel College catalog)

 

Points will be awarded for the course as follows:

Take Home Exam 75 points
Case Presentation 40 points
Team Case 50 points
Term Paper 60 points
Attendance/Participation 25 points
Total 250 points

 

Links to handouts:

Assignments

Briefing

Case

Final grades will be based on the cumulative number of points earned on the assignments noted above. Accumulated points will be divided by the total points available (250) to arrive at a percentage for the course. Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:

A

= 93-100%

C+

= 77-79

A-

= 90-92

C

= 73-76

B+

= 87-89

C-

= 70-72

B

= 83-86

D+

= 67-69

B-

= 80-82

D

= 60-66

   

F

= below 60

       

 

 

Tentative Course Outline and Assignments:

Date

Topic

Assignments

1/31

Introduction

Links to media resources
2/2

Ch. 1

Link to Law.com dictionary
2/4

Ch. 1

Case Brief
2/7

Ch. 1

 
2/9

Ch. 2

 

2/11

Ch. 2

Links to Intercity Radio, Zenith
2/14

Ch. 2

 

2/16

Ch. 3

Case Presentations begin
2/18

Ch. 3

 
2/21

Ch. 3

Link to Case Presentations
2/23 Ch. 4-6  
2/25 Ch. 4-6  
2/28 Ch. 4-6  
3/2 Ch. 4-6  
3/4 Ch. 4-6  
3/7

Ch. 4-6

 
3/9

Ch. 7

 
3/11

Ch. 7

Take Home Exam assigned

3/14

Ch. 8

(due date to be determined)
3/16

Ch. 8

 
3/18

Ch. 9

 
3/21-28

SPRING BREAK

 
3/30

Ch. 9

 
4/1

Ch. 10

 
4/4

Ch. 10

 
4/6

Ch. 11-12

 
4/8

Ch. 13

 
4/11

  Ch. 13

 
4/13

Ch. 14

 
4/15 Ch. 14  
4/18 Ch. 14  
4/20

Ch. 14

 
4/22

GROUP DAY

 
4/25

Ch. 15

Term Paper due
4/27

  ASSESSMENT DAY

 
4/29

  Ch. 15

 
5/2

Ch. 16

 

5/4

Ch. 16

 
5/6

Ch. 16

 
5/9

Ch. 16

 
5/11

Team Cases

 
5/13

Team Cases

 
    Decisions

5/17

Team Cases

2:45 - 4:45 pm

 

Lecture Notes

Justices of the Supreme Court

Case Briefs

Chapter 1 notes

Chapter 2 notes

Chapter 3 notes

Chapter 4-6 notes

Chapter 7-8 notes

Chapter 9 notes

Chapter 10 notes

Chapter 11-12 notes

Chapter 13 notes

Chapter 14 notes

Chapter 15 notes

Chapter 16 notes

 

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