Syllabus
Law 343C.002
Topics in Public Law:
Freedom of Expression
--Mass Media and Freedom of Expression
2011-2012
Winter Term
Tuesday 9:00 to 10:30 &
Thursday 9:00-10:30
Shigenori Matsui
Professor of Law, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law
Phone 604-822-5592
1822 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
e-mail matsui@law.ubc.ca
3 credits course
The purpose of the course
This course is intended to provide the students with an opportunity to
learn various questions regarding freedom of expression. This course is ideal for
students who have learned the basic doctrines of constitutional law to apply its
knowledge in specific situations involving freedom of expression. But you can
learn the basics of freedom of expression by taking this course without any
advance knowledge.
The course will start with the examination of values of freedom of
expression and general theoretical framework, especially focusing whether the
mass media should be granted privileged status. The course will then examine
various content-based restrictions on speech, such as ban on disclosure of
national secret, ban on advocacy of illegal action, regulation of election speech,
restriction of other political expression, civil and criminal liability for defamation,
civil liability for invasion of privacy, regulation of offensive speech, ban on hate
speech, ban on pornography, ban on child-pornography, regulation of sexually
explicit expression, regulation of commercial expression and protection of
copyright. Then, the course will also examine the content-neutral restrictions on
freedom of expression, restriction on newsgathering, including protection of
confidential sources. It will also examine the right of access to the government
information, including right of access to the courtroom and the right of access to
government-held information under the Access to Information Act. The course
will also examine the regulation of broadcasting and new media, including the
cable television, satellite television and the Internet. Then, the students will face
the question of social responsibility of the mass media, the issue of right of access
to the mass media and the limits of government speech.
Throughout the course, the students are encouraged to analyze these
constitutional issues under the protection of freedom of expression of the Charter.
But the course will also examine various issues presented in other countries,
especially in the United Kingdom, the United States, or other European countries.
Students are encouraged to read assignment before the class and actively
engage in the class discussion. Analyzing questions suggested in NOTES &
QUESTIONS is especially important to obtain the detailed knowledge of law of
freedom of expression. Critical analysis is also strongly encouraged.
Textbook
There is no mandatory textbook for this course. I will send you an
electronic file of assignment and you are supposed to read the materials before
the class.
If you need some reference materials, the following books might be
helpful:
Robert Martin, Media Law (2nd ed. Irwin Law 2003)(Canada)
Geoffrey Robertson, Media Law (5th ed. Penguin 2008)(U.K.)
T. Barton Carter, Marc. A. Franklin & Jay B. Wright, The First Amendment
and the Fourth Estate: The Law of Mass Media (10th ed. Foundation Press
2008)(U.S.)
Franklin, Anderson and Lidsky, Mass Media Law: Cases and Materials (7th.
Ed. Foundation Press 2005)(U.S.)
Evaluation method
20% class participation
80% final examination or assignment
Regular class attendance is mandatory. I will welcome active class
participation during the discussions.
The examination will ask you to analyze a specific question in light of the
protection of freedom of expression. Evaluation is based on the ability to
understand the underlying issues, ability to analyze these issues in light of the
precedents and established framework, ability to critically analyze the existing
doctrines, and ability to express your thoughts in concise and persuasive
languages. You should be able to answer the question easily if you read all the
assignments and participate in the class discussions.
You can choose to submit a paper instead of taking the examination. You
can choose any topic related to freedom of expression in Canada, the United
States or any other countries. The standard for the paper is 15 pages (double
spaced). I will be happy to assist you to select an appropriate topic and to find
necessary materials to finish your paper.
Question?
If you have any question, please come to see me any time. I will be in my
office most of the day. If you would like to have an appointment, please send an
e-mail to me (matsui@law.ubc.ca) or talk to my secretary, Megan Coyle.
Outline
Underlined cases are included in the course material. Other cases are mentioned
in the notes & questions.
January 5
00Introduction
PART I: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN GENERAL
01 Value of Free Speech-----1
Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Quebec, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 927
R. v. Keegstra, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 697
Abrams v. U.S., 250 U.S. 616 (1919)
Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927)
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)
January 10
02 Theoretical Framework 1-----13
A. The Power to Restrict Freedom of Expression
Switzman v. Elbling, [1957] S.C.R. 285
McNeil v. Nova Scotia, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 662
Reference re Alberta Legislation, [1938] S.C.R. 100
B. What is expression and what is an infringement of freedom of expression?
Irwin Toys Ltd. v. Quebec, supra
R. v. Keegstra, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 697
R. v. Sharpe, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 45
Ford v. Quebec, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 712
Retail, Wholesale and Department Stores Union, Local 580 v. Dolphin Delivery
Ltd.,[1986] 2 S.C.R. 573
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 558 v. Pepsi-Cola Canada
Beverages (West) Ltd., [2002] 1 S.C.R. 156
Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada, [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1120
January 12
03 Theoretical Framework 2-----25
C. Justification
Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Quebec, supra
Thomson Newspapers Co. v. Canada, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 877
D. Application of the Charter
RWDSU v. Dolphin Delivery, [1986] 2 S.C.R. 573
Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 1130
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)
January 17
04 Prior Restraint-----36
Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada, [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1120
Dagenais v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 835
Near v. Minnesota, 283 U.S. 697 (1931)
Pentagon Papers Case (New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971))
January 19
PART II: RESTRICTION BASED ON CONTENTS
05 National Security: The Ban on Publication of State Secret-----49
Security of Information Act
R. v. Toronto Sun Publishing Ltd. (1979) 24 O.R. (2d) 621 (Prov. Ct.)
The Spycatcher Case: The Sunday Times v. The United Kingdom (No. 2), ECHR
(26 November 1991)
January 24
06 Public Safety: Advocacy of Illegal Action-----68
Criminal Code
Boucher v. R., [1951] S.C.R. 265 (seditious libel)
R. v. Zundel, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 731
Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969)
Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971)
Collin v. Smith, 578 F.2d 1197 (7th Cir. 1978)
United States v. Stevens, 559 U.S. -- (2010)
January 26
07 Political Expression-----89
Thomson Newspapers Co. v. Canada, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 877
R. v. Bryan [2007]
BCTF v. BC, [2009] B.C.J. No. 619
Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214 (1966)
Harper v. Canada (Attorney General), [2004] 1 S.C.R. 827
January 31
08 Defamation-----111
Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 1130
R. v. Lucas, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 439
Grant v. Torstar Corp., 2009 SCC 61
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)
February 2
09 Invasion of Privacy and Infliction of Emotional Distress-----136
Aubry v. Editions Vice-Versa Inc., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 591
Florida Star v. BJF, 491 U.S. 524 (1989)
Smith v. Daily Mail Publishing Co., 443 U.S. 97 (1979)
Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988)
February 7
10 Pornography and Child Pornography-----158
R. v. Butler, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 452
Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973)
Paris Adult Theatre v. Slaton, 413 U.S. 49 (1973)
R. v. Sharpe, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 45
February 9
11 Hate Speech-----180
R. v. Keegstra, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 697
Canada v. Taylor, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 892
R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, 505 U.S. 377 (1992)
Mid-term break
February 21
12 Fair Trial-----199
R. v. Mentuck, [2001] 3 S.C.R. 442
Toronto Star Newspapers v. Ontario, [2005] 2 S.C.R. 188
Canadian Newspapers Co. v. Canada, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 122
Globe & Mail v. Canada (Attorney general), 2010 SCC 41
Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. v. Canada [2010] 1 S.C.R. 721
February 23
13 Advertisement and Commercial Expression-----224
Ford v. Quebec, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 712
Rocket v. Royal College of Dental Surgeons, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 232
RJR-McDonald v. Canada, [1995] 3 S.C.R. 199
Canada v. JTI-Macdonald Corp., [2007] 2 S.C.R. 610
Devine v. Quebec, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 790
February 28
14 Copyright-----248
Robertson v. Thomson Corp., [2006] 2 S.C.R. 363
Harper & Row v. Nation Enterprises, 471 U.S. 539 (1985)
March 2
PART III: CONTENT NEUTRAL RESTRICTION ON SPEECH
15 Content-Neutral Restriction on Speech: Time, Place, & Manner
Restriction-----267
Saumur v. City of Quebec, [1953] 2 S.C.R. 299
Ramsden v. Peterborough, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 1084
R. v. Guignard, [2002] 1 S.C.R. 472
Pepsi-Cola Canada Beverages v. R.W.D.S.U., [2002] 1 S.C.R. 156
March 7
PART IV: NEWSGATHERING
16 The Right of Receive Information and the Right to Gather
Information-----285
Luscher v. Deputy Minister of National Revenue, [1985] 1 F.C. 85 (C.A.)
Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada, [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1120
R. v. Sharpe, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 45
International Fund for Animal Welfare Inc v. Canada, [1987] 1 F.C. 244 (T.D.)
Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665 (1972)
Wilson v. Layne, 526 U.S. 603 (1999)
March 9
17 Restrictions on Newsgathering: Ban on Newsgathering, Subpoena,
and Search-----299
R. v. National Post, 2010 SCC 16
Globe and Mail v. Canada (Attorney General), 2010 SCC 41
Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. New Brunswick (Attorney General), [1991] 3
S.C.R. 459
Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. Lessard, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 421
March 14
PART V: PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
18 Public Access to Government Information and Mass Media-----323
New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. v. Nova Scotia, [1993] 1 S.C.R. 319
Houchins v. KQED, Inc., 438 U.S. 1 (1978)
Sherrill v. Knight, 569 F2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977)
March 16
19 Public Access to Court-----335
Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. New Brunswick, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 480
Re Vancouver Sun, [2004] 2 S.C.R. 332
Nova Scotia v. MacIntyre, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 175
Edmonton Journal v. Alberta, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1326
March 21
20 Freedom of Information-----359
Access to Information Act
Macdonell v. Quebec (Commission d'accès à l'information), [2002] 3 S.C.R. 661
Dagg v. Canada (Minister of Finance), [1997] 2 S.C.R. 403
Canada (Information Commissioner) v. Canada (Commissioner of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police), [2003] 1 S.C.R. 66
H.J. Heinz Co. of Canada Ltd. v. Canada (Attorney General), [2006] 1 S.C.R. 441
Ontario (Public Safety and Security) v. Criminal Lawyers’ Association, 2010 SCC
23, [2010] 1 S.C.R. 815
March 23
PART VI: BROADCASTING, NEW MEDIA, INTERNET
21 Broadcasting-----382
CKOY Ltd. v. R., [1979] 1 S.C.R. 2
Canada (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) v.
CTV Television Network Ltd., [1982] 1 S.C.R. 530
Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 395 U.S. 467 (1969)
R. v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp., [1983] 1 S.C.R. 339
March 28
22 New Media and Internet-----406
Capital Cities Communication Inc. v. Canada, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 141
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. v. FCC, 512 U.S. 622 (1994)(Turner I)
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. v. FCC, 520 U.S. 180 (1997)(Turner II)
Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997)
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 1999-84
March 30
PART VII: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF MASS MEDIA
23 Social Responsibility of Mass Media and Right of Access-----429
Gay Alliance Toward Equality v. Vancouver Sun, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 435
Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974)
CBS, Inc. v. FCC, 453 U.S. 367 (1981)
April 4
24 Government Speech-----442
National Endowment for Arts v. Finley, 524 U.S. 569 (1998)
Arkansas Educational Television Commission v. Forbes, 523 U.S. 666 (1998)
Rust v. Sullivan, 500 U.S. 173 (1991)
April 6 wrap-up
**
April 27 examination