4200-B53

MASS COMMUNICATION LAW AND ETHICS

FALL 2010

Mon.-Wed. 5:00 -- 6:15 p.m. Dr. Juliet Pinto

Room: A2 115 ACII, Room 318
Office Hours: Mon. 3-5 p.m. 305-919-4404
Juliet.Pinto@fiu.edu

PREREQUISITES: There is no prerequisite for this course.

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to offer an introduction to the legal and ethical issues
confronted by media professionals. It focuses on the responsibilities and rights of communicators
st
and the implications for a 21 century society. We will discuss how courts have delineated these
rights and responsibilities, as well as talk about the ethical and philosophical concerns that
communicators may face in the exercise of their professions. We will pay particular attention to
the First Amendment by examining the major court decisions that have defined the parameters of
free expression in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the semester:

1) You should understand the basis for freedom of expression in the United States.
2) You should be able to recognize and critically analyze ethical dilemmas and concerns
in various communication-related professional areas
3) You should have a firm understanding of the parameters of expression in the United
States and be able to demonstrate your knowledge of the liberties and restraints that
have been articulated by the U.S. legal system.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Be cognizant of the important principles and challenges in the areas of mass media law
and ethics.
• Have an understanding of the First Amendment, the three branches of the U.S.
government, the U.S. legal system and the Fourth Estate.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the key principles and vocabulary of
communications law.

REQUIRED MATERIAL:
• Communications Law: Liberties, Restraints, and the Modern Media, Fifth Edition (latest
edition) John D. Zelezny.
• Course handouts and media viewed in class

DETERMINATION OF GRADES:
Quizzes (3 out of 4) 30%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 30%
Classroom Participation & Attendance (includes Discussion) 10%

Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

A 92-100 C+ 77-79
A- 90-91 C 70-76
B+ 87-89 D 66-69
B 83-86 F 0- 65
B- 80-82

COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:

• Preparation: Mass communication law and ethics are complex areas of study, and so
you will be reading and analyzing much complicated material. Please come to class
prepared, so that we may engage in meaningful discussions. You will find the reading
assignments detailed in the “Course Schedule” section of this syllabus. Those who do not
come to class prepared will see their grades negatively affected.

• Attendance & Participation: Participation and attendance will impact your grade.
Regular class attendance is essential, and absences will impact your grade. Attendance
records will be used as part of the final grade. Classes start at 5 p.m., and students are
expected to arrive on time. I advise you not to take this course if you think that you will
not be able to attend regularly and on time. I will be posting articles dealing with current
issues in media law and ethics, and you are expected to be reading them. You should
come prepared to class to discuss relevant topics.

• Make-up work and extra credit assignments: I do not give extra credit assignments.
You may be able to make-up a missed quiz or exam only if you can provide
documentation of an emergency (i.e. illness or death in the family, or if FIU policy
requires an academic accommodation). In the case of illness, you need a doctor’s
note that says you COULD NOT ATTEND class, not a note saying you went to a doctor.
In the case of a death, you need to provide a funeral program or obituary documenting
the death and your relationship to the deceased. The university does not recognize as
excused absences such things as a family event (wedding, family trip, etc.), car trouble, a
work conflict, conflicts with other classes, or an internship obligation. It is your
responsibility to get in touch with me within one business day in the event you qualify for
a makeup exam or quiz, in order to be considered for makeup. Otherwise, all missed
work will receive a zero.

• Conduct: Cell phones must be turned off and stowed. Anyone using a cell phone or
other non-approved electronic device during class time will be dropped from the class. If
you are caught using your cell phone or any other banned device during a quiz or exam,
you will be in violation of the university’s policy on academic dishonesty. Laptops are
permitted for note-taking purposes only, and students using laptops must use the rear
row to avoid disrupting their classmates. If you need to converse with a classmate,
please step outside the classroom. I reserve the right to drop you from the course if I find
your behavior to be disruptive to the class.

• Office Hours: My office hours are on the front page of this syllabus. If you need to meet
with me outside this time frame, please make an appointment. Please understand that if
you show up on my doorstep unexpectedly, I may or may not be able to meet with you
because even if I’m in my office, I may have a prior commitment.

• Academic Misconduct: Plagiarism is not tolerated. Plagiarism results in an automatic

“F” for the course. As FIU students, you are expected to strictly follow the honor code
regarding academic honesty. Florida International University outlines your responsibilities
as follows:

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge

through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas and
community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable
opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all
students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect
for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students
are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic
misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as
outlined in the Student Handbook.

Misconduct includes: Cheating – The unauthorized use of books, notes, aids, electronic sources;
or assistance from another person with respect to examinations, course assignments, field
service reports, class recitations; or the unauthorized possession of examination papers or
course materials, whether originally authorized or not.

Plagiarism – The use and appropriation of another’s work without any indication of the source and
the representation of such work as the student’s own. Any student who fails to give credit for
ideas, expressions or materials taken from another source, including internet sources, is
responsible for plagiarism.

Any student who fails to meet these expectations will receive an “F” for the course grade and will
be reported to the chair of his or her department, as well as the dean of the school.

Students with Disabilities

If you have any special circumstances, please make me aware of them so that you may be
better accommodated. For questions and information about support services, please call the
FIU Office of Disability Services at 305-348-3532 (University Park Campus: GC 190) or 305-
919-5345 (Biscayne Bay Campus: WUC 139).

COURSE SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

Week One:
Aug. 23 INTRODUCTION
Review syllabus. Discuss course objectives and requirements.

Aug. 25 Law and ethics: Values, principles and moral sources.

Read chapters 1, 2 & 3.

Week Two: THE U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM

Aug. 30 Sources of law & court systems
Sept. 1 Introduction to freedom of expression
Read chapters 4 & 5

Week Three: THE FIRST AMENDMENT

Sept. 6 Labor Day Holiday (University Closed)
Sept. 8 First Amendment

Week Four: RISKS TO PUBLIC SAFETY

Sept. 13 Quiz #1: Law and ethics; the U.S. legal system; the First
Amendment
Clear and present danger & incitement to illegal conduct
Sept.15 National Security

Week Five: DAMAGE TO REPUTATION

Sept. 20 Defamation
Sept. 22 Defamation
Read chapter 6

Week Six: INVASION OF PRIVACY

Sept. 27 Privacy
Sept. 29 Privacy
Week Seven: ACCESS TO PLACES AND INFORMATION
Oct. 4 Quiz #2: Risks to public safety; defamation; invasion of privacy
Access to places and information
Oct. 6 Access to places and information

Week Eight:
Oct. 11 Review for Exam One
Oct. 13 Exam One: Law and ethics; the U.S. legal system; the First
Amendment; risks to public safety; damage to reputation; invasion
of privacy; access to places and information
Read chapters 7 & 8

Week Nine: MEDIA AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

Oct. 18 Media and the courts
Oct. 20 Media and the courts

Week Ten: MEDIA AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

Oct. 25 Media, the courts and the First Amendment
Oct. 27 Media, the courts and the First Amendment
Read chapters 9, 10, & 11.

Week Eleven: CREATIVE PROPERTY

Nov. 1 Creative property
Nov. 3 Creative property & Freedom of Expression

Week Twelve: THE FCC, BROADCAST LICENSING & ELECTRONIC MEDIA

CONTENT
Nov. 8 Quiz #3: Media and the justice system; creative property
Broadcast regulation
Nov. 10 Electronic media content

Week Thirteen: OBSCENITY AND INDECENCY

Nov. 15 Obscenity & indecency
Nov. 17 Obscenity & indecency
Read chapter 12

Week Fourteen: COMMERCIAL SPEECH

Nov. 22 Commercial speech
Nov. 24 Commercial speech

Week Fifteen:
Nov. 29 Quiz #4: The FCC & Broadcast Licensing; Electronic Media
Content; Obscenity & Indecency; Commercial Speech
Dec. 1 Second Exam Review

Week Sixteen:
Dec. 6, 5-7 p.m. Second Exam: Media and the justice system; creative property; the
FCC, broadcast licensing and electronic media; obscenity and
indecency; commercial speech
CONTRACT:

I understand this syllabus represents a contract. I agree to abide by the grading

and policy terms outlined in class and in the syllabus for the Fall 2010 semester.
Turn this form in no later than the beginning of class, Wednesday, Aug. 25.

No grades will be posted for you until you have returned this form.

Signature:

Print name:

Date: