You can still enrol for classes starting in November
This subject is accepting enrolments until 31 Oct
Media Law
UndergraduateGRF-CMM2612024
Previously GRF-CMM26
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $2,040
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Media Law
About this subject
This subject introduces you to the legal issues faced by journalists, public relations practitioners and other public communicators. At the completion of this subject, students should have an awareness of:
- sources of law in Australia
- their rights to access information and to maintain confidentiality of sources and materials
- the legal implications of social media, blogging and other Web 2.0 publishing
- the legal restrictions on the coverage of crimes and court cases
- what constitutes defamation, and how to adjust your reporting, writing and editing to help defend a defamation action
- aspects of copyright that affect the rights of creators and users of original work
- competing public interests affecting free expression in a democracy in other areas including privacy, national security and discrimination
- mindful work practices that will both enhance the quality of professional communication and minimise the risk of legal action.
- Media Law in the Web 2.0 era
- Free expression and mindful practice
- Legal and regulatory systems and principles
- Open justice and freedom of information
- Contempt of court
- Identifying defamation
- Defending defamation
- Keeping secrets: confidentiality and sources
- Anti-terrorism and hate laws
- Intellectual property: protecting your work and using the work of others
- Privacy
- The law of public relations, freelancing and new media entrepreneurship
Learn about legal issues relevant to professional communicators in the online era.
This subject provides an overview of legal constraints on public communication, along with an outline of law as it impacts on the Australian media and social media environment. Topics include free expression, open justice, defamation, contempt of court, publication restrictions, privacy, confidentiality, defamation, hate speech, national security laws and copyright within the context of an information society. It also addresses some key communication business laws affecting freelancers, public relations practitioners and new media entrepreneurs.
PLEASE NOTE: Media Law is taught in a full 12 week teaching mode in Study Session 1 each year. It is taught in an intensive six week teaching mode in Study Session 3, with students having the remaining six weeks to prepare for their final assessment.
- Essay/Law Reform Submission (40%)
- Final Quiz (10%)
- Final Take Home Assignment (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
Learn more about Griffith University.
Explore Griffith courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 18
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 20
Entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
GRF-CMM26 (Not currently available)
Others
Level 2 subjects normally assume an introductory level of prior knowledge in this area, e.g. from studying related Level 1 subjects or other relevant experience.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateGRF-ART-DEG
UndergraduateGRF-COM-DEG
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.