Course Syllabus
COJO 4500 – Mass Communication Law
Fall 2019
Instructor: Kristen Barton Schwartz
307-399-1336
Office Hours: Monday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Thursday, noon – 5:00 PM, or by appointment
Office Location: Civic Center Building, 710 E Garfield, Suite 204
Credits: 3
Classes: Thursdays, 5:10 PM – 7:40 PM
Room: Classroom Building 141
The syllabus is subject to change depending upon the needs that arise during the semester.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will take the form of both a classroom and a courtroom. In the first half of each class, we will have a classroom in which we attend to common readings, discuss the most important points of law, and consider whether we agree with the foundations of the legal interpretations. The second half of each class will resemble a courtroom. I will introduce hypothetical cases that relate to the legal topic that week. Class members will argue the points of the case based on legal precedent and arrive at a summary judgment. The grade will be based on the classroom and courtroom discussions. In order to succeed, a student will have to know the content of the readings for that week and be able to apply the concepts to the various media. It is the intention that you will not simply be exposed to new concepts, but that you will apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate the ideas.
COURSE MATERIALS
Required: Messenger, Ashley. A Practical Guide to Media Law. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014.
Additional readings and/or exercises will be assigned prior to relevant classes. Any additional readings will be available on WyoWeb Course Page.
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION POLICY
Attendance at class is mandatory and necessary for success in the course.
ASSESSMENT & GRADING
Class involvement. . . . . . . . . . . 50%
Student Cases………………….50%
This course will use +, - grading. If any major in the Communication & Journalism Department receives a grade lower than C, the course will not count as successfully completed.
The following things, at a minimum, will seriously impact your grade and may result in failure to pass the course or receive credit:
- Missing class;
- Failure to read assignments;
- Failure to participate in class.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 Introduction
Sept. 12 Court Systems Chapt. 1 * CLASS WILL START AT 6:00 PM
The First Amendment Chapt. 2
Sept. 19 Libel Chapt. 3
Sept. 26 Privacy Chapt. 4
Publicity Chapt. 5
Negligence Chapt. 10
Oct. 3 Copyright Chapt. 6
Trademarks Chapt. 7
Photos Chapt. 8
Ethics Chapt. 21
Oct. 10 NO CLASS
Oct. 17 Music Chapt. 9
Television & Radio Chapt. 18
Oct. 24 Protests/Public Speech Chapt. 14
Sensitive Topics Chapt. 15
Political Speech Chapt. 16
Classes of Speakers Chapt. 19
Oct. 31 Access Chapt. 11
Gathering News Chapt. 12
Subpoena & Search Chapt. 13
Nov. 7 Advertising Chapt. 17
The Internet Chapt. 20
Nov. 14 Student Cases
Nov. 21 Student Cases
Nov. 28 NO CLASS THANKSGIVING
Dec. 5 Student Cases
Dec. 12 Student Cases
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. Cases of academic dishonesty will be treated in accordance with UW Regulation 2-114. dishonesty means anything that represents someone else’s ideas as your own without attribution. It is intellectual theft – stealing - and includes (but is not limited to) unapproved assistance on examinations, plagiarism (use of any amount of another person’s writings, blog posts, publications, and other materials without attributing that material to that person with citations), or fabrication of referenced information. Facilitation of another person’s academic dishonesty is also considered academic dishonesty and will be treated identically. Penalties include a zero for the assignment, a visit to the department head, or an F in the class, depending on the severity of the offense. The procedure will follow University Regulation 2-114: http://www.uwyo.edu/regs-policies/_files/docs/section-2-regulations-july-2018/uw_reg_2-114_format_effective_7-1-18.pdf
Classroom Behavior Policy: Students and the professor must follow the Code of Conduct for the class. Here is the link to the full Student Code of Conduct: http://www.uwyo.edu/dos/conduct/index.html. Two quotes from the code are: “Students have responsibilities as well as rights in the classroom and other academic endeavors. Students have the responsibility to respect the instructor’s freedom to teach and the right of other students to learn. Students have the responsibility to maintain reasonable standards of conduct established by the instructor for each class.” “Students who engage in acts that result in the disruption of a class may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class for the remainder of the class period. Repetition of such behavior or egregious classroom offenses may result in termination of a student’s enrollment in the class.” If necessary, campus police may be called to assist a situation.
DISABILITY SUPPORT
The University of Wyoming is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. If you have a disability, including but not limited to physical, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities, and would like to request accommodations in this course due to your disability, you need to register with and provide documentation of your disability as soon as possible to Disability Support Services (DSS), Room 128 Knight Hall. You may also contact DSS at (307) 766-3073 or udss@uwyo.edu. It is in the student’s best interest to request accommodations within the first week of classes, understanding that accommodations are not retroactive. Visit the DSS website for more information at: www.uwyo.edu/udss. The course offers reasonable accommodations, which means that not all accommodations may be approved if they have a substantial impact that fundamentally alters the course or learning objectives.
ASSISTANCE
Everyone handles the stresses of school differently, so you may find yourself in need for assistance.
COUNSELING CENTER: uccstaff@uwyo.edu, 766-2187, 766-8989 (After hours)
341 Knight Hall, www.uwyo.edu/ucc
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS: 766-4286, 312 Old Main, www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs
DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE: dos@uwyo.edu, 766-3296, 128 Knight Hall, www.uwyo.edu/dos
UW POLICE DEPARTMENT: uwpd@uwyo.edu, 766-5179, 1426 E Flint St, www.uwyo.edu/uwpd
DUTY TO REPORT
UW faculty are committed to supporting students and upholding the University’s non-discrimination policy. Under Title IX, discrimination based upon sex and gender is prohibited. If you experience an incident of sex- or gender-based discrimination, we encourage you to report it. While you may talk to a faculty member, understand that as a “Responsible Employee” of the University, the faculty member MUST report information you share about the incident to the university’s Title IX Coordinator. If you would like to speak with someone who may be able to afford you privacy or confidentiality, there are people who can meet with you. Faculty can help direct you or you may find info about UW policy and resources at http://www.uwyo.edu/reportit. You do not have to go through the experience alone. Assistance and resources are available, and you are not required to make a formal complaint or participate in an investigation to access them.
CLASSROOM STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY
The University of Wyoming values an educational environment that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The diversity that students and faculty bring to class, including age, country of origin, culture, disability, economic class, ethnicity, gender identity, immigration status, linguistic, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, worldview, and other social and cultural diversity is valued, respected, and considered a resource for learning.
Course Summary:
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