Professional Documents
Culture Documents
press freedoms are balanced with other societal interests when multiple rights and
responsibilities come into conflict; and how recent developments in communication
technology are challenging the judiciary to reconsider how, when, and where freedoms of
expression apply.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will learn to: (1) demonstrate
their knowledge of the intellectual roots of constitutional freedoms of speech and press, the
role of journalists and institutions in shaping that history, the key issues in the development
of free speech protections, and the contemporary status of the First Amendments
boundaries of protection; (2) apply First Amendment and ethical principles to a variety of
situations to produce socially responsible resolutions; and (3) synthesize lessons from legal
and ethical case histories in the service of their own professional moral development and
preparation for careers in journalism or other mass communication areas.
Course materials
Required textbooks (2):
1. Digital Media Law. 2nd edition. By Ashley Packard. 2012.
Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN-10: 1118290720 | ISBN-13: 9781118290729 | Retail price: $32-36 paperback with digital &
rental ($16-18) options
2. Media Ethics at Work: True Stories from Young Professionals. Lee
Anne Peck & Guy Reel. 2012. CQ Press. ISBN10: 1452227845 | ISBN-13: 978-1452227849 | Retail price:
$12-37 with digital & rental ($40) options
Copies of both textbooks are available on reserve at the
Loop Library in the DePaul Center on the 10th floor.
Assignments
Total Points
Attendance & participation
100
200
200
150
Final exam
350
1,000
Please contact the professor as soon as possible by email if you encounter unusual or
emergency circumstances that prevent you from completing work for the course and be
aware of resources available to you through the Dean of Students Office. The best, most
professional approach is to be proactive if you encounter circumstances that could cause
you to miss assignments or significant portions of the course.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity entails absolute honesty in one's intellectual efforts, including
actively avoiding issues of cheating and plagiarism. Failing to act with academic integrity is
detrimental to the values of DePaul and the College of Communication, including the
pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas. Academic integrity violations include,
but are not limited to, the following: cheating; plagiarism; fabrication; falsification; misuse
of the university's academic resources; alteration or falsification of academic records; and
academic misconduct. Conduct that is punishable under the Academic Integrity Policy
could result in additional disciplinary actions by university officials.
As a class rule, all work must be your own original thinking and writing
supplemented by proper citation and credit where due. Furthermore, all work done for this
course should comply with the University Academic Integrity Policy available in the
student handbook or at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu. Please see the professor in
advance of submitting work if you have any questions about what constitutes academic
integrity or specific issues such as plagiarism. As a practical matter, do not be the student who
fails an assignment (or worse) in an ethics class for an ethical violation such as plagiarism.
Contact the professor as soon as possible if you have concerns about attribution, citation, or
other issues of academic honesty.
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Week 1
Jan. 5 Introduction to Journalism Law & Ethics
Topics: Introduction to the Course and Overview of the Quarter; Constitutional
Justification for Journalism; Significance of the Press Clause; Ethics 101: Fact Checking
To read: Course syllabus; Brandeis PDF; Lessons from Rolling Stone UVA Rape Story &
Avoiding Having an Agenda; If Your Mother Says She Loves You
Week 2
Jan. 12 Legal Rights Basics for Journalism Students
Topics: Fourth Amendment; Prior Restraint; Censorship; Trespassing;
Photographing/Video Recording in Public; Student Press vs. Professionals; Where to Get
Legal Help
To read: Packard Ch. 2; SPLC Top 10 FAQ PDF; Illinois Eavesdropping Bill; Mason PDF
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Week 3
Jan. 19 Codes of Ethics
Topic: Breaking down the new SPJ Code of Ethics
To read: Peck & Reel. Ch. 1 (pp. 6-7); SPJ Code of Ethics; SPJ press release on changes
Cases to brief & discuss: Class assigned parts of the SPJ code for brief practice.
Week 4
Jan. 26 Newsgathering Law
Topics: Access to Government Meetings, Courts & Public Officials; Protection of
Information; Bartnicki v. Vopper; Sony hacking case.
To read: Packard Ch. 6 pp. 127-128, 134-146; Madigan- Guide to Illinois Open Meetings
Act PDF; Access to Government Meetings; Access to Courts
Assignment due: Ethics Code/Policy Assignment
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Week 5
Feb. 2 Ethics of Journalistic Verification
Topics: Verifying people; verifying data; verifying social media content
To read: The Verification Handbook; Debunking Online Photos; The Fake Girlfriend
Experience; Getting It First or Getting It Right?; YouTube Data Viewer
Cases to brief & discuss (2): Teo Case PDF; Verifying Photos Case PDF
Week 6
Feb. 9 Law & Ethics of Protecting Sources & Information
Topics: Reporters Privilege; Shield Laws; On/Off Record Ethics
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To read: Illinois Shield Law PDF; Packard Ch. 6 pp. 146-160 & Ch. 22; Leak Case PDF;
Editorial Guidelines for Off the Record; Hill- Simple ways not to get your source arrested.
Cases to brief & discuss: Gubernatorial Election Leak Case PDF; Peck & Reel Ch. 22
Week 7
Feb. 16 Defamation Law, Part I
Topics: Introduction to Libel Law; Times v. Sullivan; Self-Governance Theory
To read: Packard Ch. 9 pp. 227-236, 241-244, 245-250; Lewis PDF
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Week 8
Feb. 23 Privacy Law & Cybersecurity
Topics: Invasion of Privacy; Anonymity Online; Government Surveillance
To read: Packard Ch. 10 pp. 257-274, 283-287, 296-301; Obama's Crackdown on Leaks;
Hill- Sending Encrypted Email
Week 9
March 2 Copyright Law
Topics: Copyright Law for Journalists; Public Domain; Creative Commons
To read: Packard Ch. 7 pp. 161-184 & 196-197; Copyright Practice Code Update; Psy
Makes Millions by Ignoring Copyright;
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Week 10
March 9 Social Newsgathering Ethics
Topics: Aspects of social media newsgathering ethics
To read: Peck & Reel Ch. 13; Using Objectionable Language from Social Media Case PDF;
Social Newsgathering Ethics from ONA; Twitters Ethical Pressure Points; Jezebel violates
standards; Reported.ly Social Newsgathering Manifesto
Cases to brief & discuss (2): Peck & Reel Ch. 13; Jezebel Case
Finals Week
March 16 Exam Review Session, time TBA
March 18 Comprehensive Final Exam, 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1140 Daley
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