COM 361 Mass Media Law, Plicy & Ethics SPRING Sessin, 2017 Schl f Cmmunicatin, Illinis State University Sectin One: T/R 12:35 1:50pm, FELL 148 Sectin Tw: T/R 2 3:15, FELL 148 Prfessr: Dr. Maria A. Mre Teaching Assistant: Ellen Celske Office: Fell 430 Email: mmre2@ilstu.edu TA email: emcelsk@ilstu.edu Phne: 438-3298 Office Hurs: Tuesday 3:30-4:30, r by appintment Email cntact with yur Prfessr: My email address is listed abve. I review email daily, and shuld be able t respnd t quick questins, cncerns r cmments within 36 hurs. Please use email fr QUICK issues nly. Fr all ther matters, stp by during ffice hurs r thrugh appintment. Curse Descriptin: The curse will prvide a rich fundatin f understanding fr cmmunicatin students n media law and plicy enhanced by mass media prfessinal cdes f ethics. Yu shuld gain a basic understanding f the American legal system, its institutins, and imprtant legal terminlgy; a brad understanding f First Amendment principles as they relate t the cmmunicatin industry; a practical knwledge f the laws that directly restrict r enhance infrmatin gathering, civic-engagement and message disseminatin in the mass media; and philsphical appraches t guide ethical media decisin-making. Learning Objectives Upn cmpletin f this curse, yu shuld be able t: Recite the First Amendment Describe hw laws and regulatins are made thrugh curts, legislative bdies, and administrative agencies Explain the theries, principles, and rules behind relevant cmmunicatin law decisins Understand hw laws, regulatins and legal precedent impact the practice f prfessinal cmmunicatin Understand hw laws, regulatins and legal precedent impact civic engagement Identify the free expressin rights f prfessinal cmmunicatrs and the limits n thse rights Understand the prfessinal cdes f ethics fr jurnalism, public relatins and advertising and be able t make and justify ethical decisins. Independently apply critical thinking skills t examine significant media law issues Text: Cmmunicatins Law: Liberties, Restraints, and the Mdern Media (Wadswrth Series in Mass Cmmunicatin and Jurnalism) [Paperback], 6 th editin, 2010 ISBN-10: 0495794171 r ISBN-13: 978-0495794172
Page 2 f 5 Curse Activities with Evaluatin Opprtunities Quizzes: Sme classes will begin with a shrt 5-questin quiz, cvering the assigned reading. Each quiz is wrth 5 pints. Exams: There will be bth a mid-term and a final exam. Bth will be cnducted pen-bk and n-line. Each exam is wrth 100 pints. Participatin Self-Evaluatin: During sme class sessins, yu will have an pprtunity t selfevaluate yur participatin in class. Each self-evaluatin is wrth 5 pints. The instructr reserves the right t reduce yur self-evaluatin pints if bservance f class behavir and attendance des nt synchrnize with yur submissin. Case Briefs & Prepared Discussin: Tw times during the semester, yu will have the pprtunity t bring t class a relevant and current case study example fr the legal tpic being discussed. The prepared example will be frm yur wn research and will reflect the tpic t be discussed during that class perid. This assignment will include bth a written case brief and participatin in a grup discussin. Each case is wrth 50 pints. Freedm Speech Activity: Fllwing the guidelines fund n ur website and discussed in class, yu will have the pprtunity t cmmit and reflect upn an intentinal, planned act f Free Speech. Yu may cnduct this assignment individually r yu may wrk cllabratively with ONE ther COM 361 student. This activity is wrth 50 pints fr yur tpic paper and 50 pints fr the speech act and reflectin. ReggieNet lessns n FOIA r Dcumentary: Thrugh lessns via ReggieNet yu will cmplete a prject explring the Freedm f Infrmatin Act OR a prject reviewing a dcumentary fcusing n a tpic discussed in the curse. Yur chice f lessn is wrth 20 pints.
Page 3 f 5 Curse Plicies Attendance: This curse will use a variety f teaching and learning methds, and mst rely n active and prepared discussin frm all f us. Yur attendance is essential fr yur wn success, as well as fr the cntributins yu will make with yur fellw students. Sme activities will nly be cnducted in class, s nn-attendance will result in NO pints earned fr that activity. Quizzes and Participatin Self Evaluatins are examples f this issue. When in class, be ENGAGED with the discussin. Turn ff yur cell phnes. Laptps are t be used fr ntetaking nly. Please -- n game-playing, email, texting, brwsing r chatting. Students using laptps may be asked t sit at the frnt f the class. Time: We will respect ne anther s time in this curse. We will start and end n time. We will use ur time fully and prductively. Tardiness cmmunicates disrespect t all participants. Student E-mail: Students will be expected t have a wrking ilstu e-mail accunt and t regularly lg int ReggieNet. Weekly curse infrmatin will be available t all students via ReggieNet, s it is essential that yur accunt is current and that yu access it regularly. Inability t use r have access t ReggieNet may cmprmise yur success in this class. Assignment Due Dates: Deadlines are firm and nn-negtiable, as they wuld be in the prfessinal wrld. Clear deadlines are essential t the fair treatment f students wh d cmplete assignments n time. Assignments are happily accepted early. Written assignments are t be turned in via ReggieNet. Late assignments may be accepted within ne week f the riginal deadline fr partial credit (50%). Make-up / Extra Credit Activities: Quizzes and Participatin Self Evaluatins cannt be made up, as they ccur as part f class. There are n make-up pprtunities fr yur case study r free speech discussins as these t ccur in class. There are n early mid-term r final exams. There are n make-up mid-term r final exams with the exceptin f an excused absence due t dire illness, death in yur immediate family r a university-dcumented activity. Yur instructr reserves the right t ffer extra credit in randm and surprising ways. Academic Integrity: Students are expected t be hnest in all academic wrk. A student s placement f his r her name n any academic exercise shall be regarded as assurance that the wrk is the result f the student s wn thught, effrt and study. Students wh have questins regarding issues f academic dishnesty shuld refer t the University regulatin that utlines unacceptable behavirs in academic matters. It is the student and faculty's respnsibility t uphld the principles f Academic Integrity. Academic Integrity is an imprtant part f this University and this curse. Academic Integrity is required f yu as the student and myself as the instructr. Academic Integrity shuld be used in preparatin f this curse, in class time, regarding exams, and with regard t written assignments. In certain circumstances (such as cheating r plagiarism) faculty may be required t refer a student(s) t Cmmunity Rights & Respnsibilities fr a vilatin f Illinis State University's Cde f Student Cnduct. (Quted frm Cmmunity Rights and Respnsibilities at Illinis State University.) Special Needs r Accmmdatin: If yu need t arrange a reasnable accmmdatin fr a dcumented disability, cntact Student Access and Accmmdatin Services at 350 Fell Hall, 438-5853 (vice), 438-8620 (TDD), r StudentAccess.IllinisState.edu t register and establish a recrd f yur situatin. Please speak with yur instructr privately regarding any curse adaptatin r accmmdatins yu may require, r if yu need special arrangements during a building evacuatin.
Page 4 f 5 Study Tips Thugh Law can be a frmidable subject, yu may find this curse t be cmpelling, interesting and valuable twards achieving yur future gals. Purpseful study and critical thinking are mre imprtant than mere memrizatin f facts in this curse. Here are sme suggestins yu might cnsider: As yu study the assigned readings prir t the class, make margin ntes as yu read. Think abut hw yu might use the infrmatin yu ve read t participate in class discussin. Cnsider frming an infrmal study grup with tw r three ther members f the class. Supprt and challenge ne anther as yu read, study and discuss. Bring yur textbk t each class sessin as we will actively use and refer t it. Cre Values Deep learning is nt passive, it is nt easy and it is nt accidental. We will purpsefully welcme and encurage the cnsideratin and discussin f cnflicting ideas withut rudeness. We will celebrate ur different ways f being, learning and living withut judgment r ridicule. We will regularly cnsider the impact f becming a civically engaged citizen. We will interact with ne anther with grace and civility, recgnizing each persn s unique value and accmplishments. We will recgnize enterprise and creativity, but will als value silence and critical reflectin. We will remember that humr cnnects us, persn t persn, and brings ut ur authentic self. Nte: This syllabus may be amended at any time. Any changes will be discussed in class and will be cnfirmed in writing. Maria A. Mre 2017
Page 5 f 5 Graduate Student Syllabus Addendum In additin t the cursewrk required fr all students, yu will have these requirements: Acquire and read ne f the fllwing bks: Becming a Critically Reflective Teacher by Stephen D. Brkfield The Curage t Teach: Explring the Inner Landscape f a Teacher s Life by Parker J. Palmer What the Best Cllege Teachers D by Ken Bain Prepare and teach a class sectin n a tpic selected in crdinatin with Dr. Mre Write a persnal reflectin essay regarding yur experience in teaching this class sectin (n mre than 5 pages, please). Include yur reflectins abut the bk yu selected t read and tie it theretically int yur reflectin abut the teaching experience. This essay is due n later than Thursday April 27.