Legal Aspects of Media

Master 2024/2025

Type: Compulsory course (Contemporary Journalism)

Area of studies: Journalism

Delivered by: Institute of Media

Where: Faculty of Creative Industries

When: 1 year, 1 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Valentina Pavlenko

Master’s programme: Contemporary Journalism

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Full Syllabus

Abstract

This is not a typical Law or Media Law course. It will not cover Roman and Napoleonic law or delve into the intricacies of a legal process in a court of law. Instead, it has been specifically developed for the students of Modern Journalism programme to be practical rather than academic. Its purpose is basically to give the students general idea of the legal aspects of media as seen from a journalist’s perspective and provide them with a sort of a practical manual to approach different situations that a journalist or media manager may come across. It also covers in more detail aspects and practical applications of Russian media law.Due to the unique nature of this course, it was divided into two parts. Part 1 involves the entire class and will be taught in English. Part 2 covering aspects of Russian media law will be taught in Russian, and it’s mandatory only for the students for whom this language is native (fluent command of Russian is required).

Learning Objectives

To develop an understanding of the key areas where law governs media.
To form a realistic approach to law in general and its application to media in particular.
To observe the role of compliance in media regulation.
To examine some of the key international precedents.
To study in more depth aspects of Russian media law.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Can define the areas that are potentially legally problematic and require special attention.
Identifies the situations and professional decisions that need to be cleared with lawyers.
Explains the general requirements applied to a broadcaster by the trade regulators in media.
Specifies the laws and regulations that protect journalistic activities.
Specifies a journalist’s legal duties and obligations.
Understanding of Russian media law.
Analyzes the content for compliance with Russian legislation.
Solves media law cases.

Course Contents

General concept of media law and compliance
Media law and regulation in Russia
Freedom of information
Countering extremism and terrorism in the media
Defamation law. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation
Privacy and personal data protection
Advertising regulation
Protection of children from harmful media content
Copyright protection

Assessment Elements

Analysis of the media case from the legal point of view
Collective discussion
Test
The test includes true/false questions, multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and essay question.
Essay
Essay based on a case involving a non-Russian media outlet where NYT vs Sullivan precedent was relevant
Attendance and involvement

Interim Assessment

2024/2025 1st module
• For the non-Russian speakers Формула оценивания: Attendance and involvement * 0.2 + Essay * 0.8 • For the Russian-speakers Формула оценивания: Attendance and involvement * 0.1 + Essay * 0.35 + Analysis of the media case from the legal point of view * 0.15 + Collective discussion * 0.15 + Test * 0.25

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Bloy, D. (2007). Media Law. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=251184
Право интеллектуальной собственности. Международно-правовое регулирование : учебное пособие для бакалавриата и магистратуры / И. А. Близнец [и др.] ; под редакцией И. А. Близнеца, В. А. Зимина ; ответственный редактор Г. И. Тыцкая. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2019. — 252 с. — (Бакалавр и магистр. Академический курс). — ISBN 978-5-534-05063-9. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/438995 (дата обращения: 28.08.2023).
Правовые основы интернет-журналистики : учебник для вузов, Рихтер, А. Г., 2014

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Privacy and the media, McStay, A., 2017
Гусев А.Ю. - Судебная практика о применении законодательства, регулирующего вопросы защиты персональных данных. Учебно-практическое пособие - 978-5-392-29690-3 - Проспект - 2019 - http://ebs.prospekt.org/book/42159 - 42159 - PROSPECT
Информационное право : учебник для вузов / М. А. Федотов [и др.] ; под редакцией М. А. Федотова. — 2-е изд., перераб. и доп. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2023. — 868 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-16021-5. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/530260 (дата обращения: 27.08.2024).
Право интеллектуальной собственности. Международно-правовое регулирование : учебное пособие для вузов / И. А. Близнец [и др.] ; под редакцией И. А. Близнеца, В. А. Зимина, И. П. Оленичева. — 2-е изд., перераб. и доп. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2023. — 284 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-17108-2. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/532398 (дата обращения: 27.08.2024).

Authors

PANASENKO Iuliia VLADIMIROVNA
FEDOROVA KSENIIA ALEKSANDROVNA
PAVLENKO VALENTINA YUREVNA
Николов Алексей Львович

Course Syllabus