SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies

Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Program: B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 8101 Semester: III

Module: Journalism & Mass Communication I Module Code:

Teaching Scheme Evaluation Scheme

Lecture Practical Tutorial Credit Internal Continuous Term End Examinations

(Hours (TEE) (Marks- 50
(Hours ( Hours Assessment ICA)
per week) (Marks - 50) in Question Paper)
per week) per week)

2 0 0 2 Marks Scaled to 50 Marks Scaled to 50

Pre-requisite: Skills in English and public speaking, and an idea about fundamental legal principles.

Objectives:
● Understanding and appreciating the Constitutional Provisions for Freedom of Media in India.
● Understand &recognize and understand the Major Laws related to Media in India. ● Identify
the Reasonable Restrictions as Imposed by the Constitution. ● Advertising Laws- An
Introduction.
● The Code of Ethics by Advertising Council of India.
● Understand the Drug and Magic Remedies Act.
● The essentials of the Code of Commercial Advertising on TV and the Internet. ● To
recognize and understand the Major Laws related to Media in India.

Course Learning Outcomes:

● Apply Legal provisions to conduct research in order to find solutions to the challenge of Media and
Democracy, and understanding media in contemporary society and its implications on Law and
vice versa (PLO 2a)
● To reflect an understanding ethics of Journalism, freedom and responsibility of the press, Press
Council of India, Media Council of India. (PLO 3a)
● Develop strategies, interconnect issues and provide suggestions for effective implementation of Law
& Journalism with society centric studies. (PLO 3b)

Detailed Syllabus: (per session plan)

Unit Description: Duration

1. Introduction to Mass Communication 3 Hrs

Topic Details:
Understanding the concept of Communication: Nature of communication, - (1 hr)
Forms of communication: Intra-personal, inter-personal, group and mass
communication. - (1 hr)
Mass Communication: nature and process, functions, barriers, Different channels of
Mass Communication; introduction to different fields of communication; various
media, their pros and cons - (1 hr)
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition –
December 2020
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS
 SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Publishers and Distributers 3rd edition 2021.
2. McQuail’s Media and Mass Communication Theory – September 2021
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids

2. Theories of Communication 3 Hrs

Normative theories - Authoritarian, Totalitarian, Libertarian, Social
Responsibility, Soviet Communism – (1 hr)
Hypodermic Needle Theory, Two-step and multi-step Theory, Spiral of
Silence, gratification theory, cultivation theory, Maslow’s hierarchy needs
theory etc. – (1 hr)
Models of Communication
SMR model, SMRC model, Shannon and Weaver model, Laswell model,
Osgood model, Dance model, Schramm model. – (1 hr)
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication Principles and Concepts by Seema Hasan, CBS
Publishers New Delhi 2021.
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS
Publishers and Distributers, 3rd edition 2021.
2. McQuail’s Media and Mass Communication – September 2021
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids

3. History of Media in India 3 Hrs

Topic Details:
Newspapers in India
Origin of printing press and newspapers in India, The Indian Press and freedom
movement, Vernacular Press Act and its impact on press - (1 hr) Press Commission
and Professional Organizations
Press Council of India, DAVP, INS, ABC, PIB and other Central and State public
information agencies - (1 hr)
Broadcast and New Media Journalism
A brief account of origin, growth and prospects of radio, television and new media
in India - (1 hr)
Basic Reading:
1. VirBala Agarwal &V. S. Gupta: Handbook of Journalism & Mass
Communication, Concept Publisher Delhi.- April 2012.
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS
Publishers and Distributers. 3rd edition 2021.
2. Natarajan J.; History of Indian Journalism; Jain Book Depot Publications, 2017.
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids

4. Media Laws and Ethics - I 3 Hrs

Topic Details:
Evolution of Press Laws in India
Indian Constitution and freedom of press, Reasonable restrictions, Privileges, Fair
comment, Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. - (1 hr)
Legislature Reporting
Provision for legislature reporting, Parliamentary privileges and media – (1 hr)
Media Ethics
Media’s ethical problems including privacy, right to reply, Role of the Ombudsman
 SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
in the world press– (1 hr)
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition – December 2020
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS Publishers
and Distributers. 3rd edition 2021.
2. Media Ethics Truth, fairness And Objectivity Paranjoy Guha Thakurta –
January 2015.
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids

5. Media Laws and Ethics - II 3 Hrs

Topic Details:
∙ Difference between criminal law and law of torts – (1 hr) ∙
Official secrets, Sedition, Defamation, Obscenity, Copyright, Right to
Information and confidentiality of sources of information- (1 hr)
∙ Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Broadcasting Bill; Contempt of Court; Media
& Journalists – Working Journalists (Conditions of Service) Act, Cable T. V.
Networks (regulation) Act of 1995 - (1 hr)
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition –
December 2020
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS Publishers
and Distributers. 3rd edition 2021.
2. Media Ethics Truth, fairness And Objectivity Paranjoy Guha Thakurta –
January 2015.
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids

6. Introduction to Electronic Media 3 Hrs

Topics Details:
Radio - Radio as a medium of mass communication, Characteristics of radio,
Commercial radio, Emerging trends, AM and FM, Franchising, Community radio,
online (Net and Applications) radio, Study of BBC and VOA. - (1 hr)
Television -
Television as a medium of mass communication, Characteristics of TV, Ownership
pattern, Brief on DD, Satellite television channels, Cable television, Current trends in
television broadcasting, Study of BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera. - (1 hr)
Growth and Development of Digital Media
Social media, citizen journalism, OTT platforms – (1 hr)
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition –
December 2020.
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS Publishers
and Distributers. 3rd edition 2021.
2. Medoff, Norman J.; Kaye, Barbara K.; Electronic Media: Then, Now and Later; Focal
Press, 2017.
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids
 SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

7. Introduction to films 3 Hrs

History of films - 1 hr
Different genre of films, basic stages of filmmaking - 1 hr
Laws related to films, Censorship & Cinematograph Act 1952 - 1 hr
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition – December
2020.
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS Publishers
and Distributers. 3rd edition 2021.
2. Avasthi, A.P.; Indian Government and Politics; Lakshmi Narain Agarwal
Publications, 2020.
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids

8. Journalistic Writing & tools 3 Hrs

News report writing - (1 hr)
writing scripts for audio (radio and podcast) -( 1 hr)
basics of photography and cinematography (tools of new age journalism) - (1h)
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition – December 2020
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS Publishers
and Distributers. 3rd edition 2021.
2. Kohli, Vanita; The Indian Media Business; Sage Publications, 4th Edition, 2013.
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids

9. Advertisement & Law 3 Hrs

Topic Details:
Concept of Advertisement & its ethics; Advertising Council of India - (1 hr)
Advertisement Act of 1954, Indecent Representation (prohibition) Act, 1986 & The
Drugs and Magic Remedies (objectionable) Advertisements Act of 1954 and various
other regulations (1 hr)
Issues of Consumer Protection, &Competition Bill and impact on Advertisements
(1 hr)
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition – December
2020.
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS Publishers
and Distributers. 3rd edition 2021.
2. Mary Cross, Advertising and Culture-Prentice Hall 2001.
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids
 SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

10. The New Media of Internet and cyber laws 3 Hrs

Topic Details:
Evolution of Internet as New Media& Regulating it – (1 hr) IT Act
of 2000 - (1 hr)
Digital media rules, 2021, OTT platforms (1 hr)
Basic Reading:
1. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition – December
2020.
Reference Books:
1. Seema Hasan: Mass Communication; Principles and Concepts; CBS Publishers
and Distributers. 3rd edition 2021.
2. Media Ethics Truth, fairness And Objectivity Paranjoy Guha Thakurta – 2015.
Pedagogy: Discussion Method with Visual Stimulation Aids

Total 30 Hrs

Text Books:
1. The Law Of Journalism & Mass Communication (Pb 2009) by Trager R, Miscellaneous Publishers. 2021.

Reference Books:
1. Mass Media and Related Laws in India by Bansi Manna – October 2014.
2. McQuail’s Media and Mass Communication Theory – September 2021.
3. Mass Communication in India by Keval J. Kumar, Fifth Edition– December 2020.
4. Media Ethics Truth, fairness And Objectivity Paranjoy Guha Thakurta – 2015.
5. Mass Communication Principles and Concepts by Seema Hasan, CBS Publishers New Delhi 2021.

Any other information: Latest and updated case laws to be incorporated while teaching.
Details of Internal Continuous Assessment (ICA): 50 Marks

Components Marks
Test 1 20 marks
Quiz 10 marks
Group Discussion 10 marks
Class Participation 10 marks

Signature Signature

(Prepared by Ms. Khushboo Dua) (Approved by Dean Dr. Durgambini Patel)