Law & Ethics

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Researching essential student media law cases

Students will research and report in groups on law cases pertaining to scholastic press rights.

The TUFF process for making ethical decisions

Students will explore ethical situations using the TUFF formula as described in the lesson.

SPLC media law presentation: Libel law

An overview of libel law and how it pertains to the student press.

Applying ethics to scholastic journalism scenarios

Students will work through one sample scenario of how to apply ethics to typical scholastic journalism dilemmas, and then they will role play several others.

SPLC media law presentation: Copyright

An overview of copyright law and how it pertains to the student press.

Exploring the issues with anonymous sources

Students will examine the positive and negative potential in the use of anonymous sources, participate in activities examining the roles of anonymous sources and develop policies to guide their future use in local student media.

SPLC media law presentation: Invasion of privacy

An overview of laws addressing invasion of privacy and their relation to journalism.

Learning to be fair, balanced and accurate

Students will use role playing to work through difficult ethical situations.

Introduction to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Students will understand the often erroneous application of FERPA, also known as the Buckley Amendment, to scholastic journalism.

When journalists err ethically

Students will research and find examples of journalistically unethical behavior.

SPLC media law presentation: Freedom of information

Students will learn about the importance of access to information as well as obtaining access to public records and meetings.

Law and ethics review and exam

Students will create questions covering the topics discussed during the law and ethics unit.

SPLC media law presentation: Reporter’s privilege

Students will be exposed to Reporter’s Privilege, its history and its application to scholastic journalists.

Practice scenarios: Press freedom, libel, copyright, privacy, FOIA, privilege

These scenarios serve as review for some of the information in the slideshows: Press Freedoms, Libel, Copyright, Invasion of Privacy, Freedom of Information Act and Reporter’s Privilege.

Overview of the First Amendment

Students will learn the Five Freedoms as guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Crafting the argument against prior review and censorship

This lesson should allow students to review the problems with prior review and the lack of educational and ethical value of both prior review and prior restraint.

SPLC Media Law Presentation: Press Freedom

Students will be exposed briefly to many of the topics we will be discussing in this unit including: role of the free press, censorship, First Amendment, difference in public and private school law, several law cases and unprotected speech.

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