Department of Mass Communication
Media Laws and Ethics
Course Outline
Department of Mass Communication
Course Information:
MCOM
Prerequisite
Credit
Section
Tue & Thu
Class Room
301 Media Laws and Ethics
MCOM 201
03
A
12:30-1:45pm
E-230
Instructor information
Instructor Name:
Office
Office timings
Amber Mubeen
Sinclair Hall Room # 25
(Monday & Wednesday 9:00-10:30am
ambermubeen@fccollege.edu.pk
All information regarding your course will be
uploaded on the following blog:
www.ambermubeen.wordpress.com
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course will provide conceptual knowledge of Ethics and Laws for the
media practices. It will equip the students with the required background to
work in accordance to media regulations. It will not only include the media
laws and regulation but will also delve into the issues which must be
regulated by now.
Students will study the real life case studies and situations faced by media
professionals while deciding what is right and wrong in this field. In this way
students will be able to take ethical decisions in their professional careers.
Department of Mass Communication
This course is aimed at media literacy and developing the critical thinking
among students so they can not only create the media texts and products
with responsibility but also access, analyze and evaluate them.
LEARNING GOALS:
At the end of this course students will be able to:
 Know the essential media laws in Pakistan
 Know the code of ethics defined by Press Council and other
regulating bodies
 Develop opinion about ethical issues faced by Professionals
 Differentiate between media laws and ethics and understand their
purpose in society, politics, economy
 Understand why the media must be regulated
 Know the canons of journalism
 Become Active Audience through media literacy
 Be acquainted with some ethical case studies in Pakistan
Department of Mass Communication
COURSE OUTLINE
Weeks
1
Topics
Activities/ Assignment
(Introduction to course, Syllabus, Work
Activity 1: Students
Plan)
themselves will identify the
Introduction to ethics & laws and their
issues problematic to the
importance for society
growth of Pakistani society
Sources of ethics
and Media.
Ethics and Laws, how both are integrated?
Assignment 01
2
Write a review on the article
Ethical theories
or any movie related to press
laws/media ethics. (List of the
movies is given at the end of
course outline).
3
Normative theories of the media
Activity 2
Journalistic codes and ethics
Students will write their views
Code of ethics for Journalists and other
Media Professionals/ Ethical responsibility
to Sources and Subjects
on “Media needs to be
regulated and legalized”?
Why or why not?
4
A Historical background to Media Ethics
Assignment: 02
and Laws in Pakistan
Evolution of press laws in
Press Laws in Subcontinent
Pakistan and comparative
Press laws in Pakistan and its Evolution in
chart of all regimes
terms of political eras starting from the
(It will includes all regimes of
Department of Mass Communication
beginning in Colonial Era covering all the
different governments from
Govt regimes and contemporary times
1947-Till now).
Legal and ethical Issues and Concerns in
Pakistani as well Global Media
5th
PPO
RPPO
Information Act
Canons of Journalism: (Truth and Fairness,
Objectivity and Integrity, Independence,
Responsibility and Accuracy)
6
Reporters and Sources
Journalists and Privacy
Freedom of Expression, Concept of
7
Watchdog and Gatekeeper
History, Definitions, Legal bases and
Constraints
8
Defamation laws
Assignment 3
Contempt of Courts.
Bring one case study from
Types of contempt of courts
electronic or print journalism
where freedom of expression
harmed or benefitted the
society at large.
9
Constitutional Provisions on the
Obligations and Ownership of the Media
Department of Mass Communication
10
Mid term
11
Persuasion in Advertising
Presentations topics will be
(Laws about what to sell, whom to sell
assigned.
and how to sell, Advertising and
(Group names and topics will
Ideology, Commercialization,
be uploaded on blog)
Capitalism, Image-based culture)
Ethics in advertising
12
Matters of Entertainment Industry
Activity
(Violence, Cultural Imperatives,
Students will identify 2 TV
Censorship)
programs of different formats
and 2 advertisements which
they think are culturally
inappropriate on our
Channels.
13
Constitutional Provisions on the
Obligations and Ownership of the Media
14
Ethical Mechanisms and Case Studies
Press Council, PFUJ and CPNE codes
PEMPR
15
Final Presentations
Department of Mass Communication
Final Presentations
16
Final Exam
Marks Break up
Assignments:
Attendance:
Mid Term: (written exam)
Final term (written exam)
Presentation:
30
5
25
30
10
Total:
100
NOTE: Rubrics for all assignments will be uploaded on blog.
Department of Mass Communication
Texts and Readings
 Martin Hirts and Roger Patching. (2005). Journalism Ethics: Arguments
and Cases. Oxford University Press.





Ron F. Smith. (2008). Ethics in Journalism (6th Ed.). Blackwell Publishing.
Media Laws & Regulations in Pakistan by Javed Jabbar & Qazi Faiz Isa
Media ethics , Cases and moral Reasoning, by Clifford G.
Introduction to Mass Communication. by Dennis, Defleur.
Media and the Mass Communications Laws of Pakistan by Hassan,
Jawad. & Hadi, Syed Ali.
 P.K. Menon. (2005). Journalistic Ethics. Jaipur, India: Pointer Publishers.
While, other reading materials will be delivered in the form of notes, books
and websites at the time of particular lecture.
Recommended Videos & Films:
Some movies like All the president’s men, The Paper (1994),
Network (1976), Shattered Glass (2003) Good Night and Good Luck (2005)
State of Play, Frost/Nixon and “Thank You for Smoking” are
recommended. Students are encouraged to share any other stuff
addressing the ethical issues regarding advertising, new media, public
relations etc.
Class Conduct
(Note: Participation in Class and questions are always welcome. Plagiarism
would not be accepted)
Besides punctuality and regularity (which are inevitable) you are expected
to:
Respect your class mates, your instructor and even yourself. As we will be
talking about topics and issues that some people feel quite passionately
Department of Mass Communication
about, differences of opinion are bound to arise. Disrespectful conduct will
not be tolerated, and students acting inappropriately will be asked to leave.
Avoid side conversations during lecture or video/audio.
Inform me of absences beforehand.
Switch off your mobile off during the lecture.