COMMS 300
Media Law and Responsibility
Communications
College of Fine Arts and Communications
Course Description
Introduction to First Amendment history and press freedom, law, and theory; media regulation and policy; relationship between law and ethics; key ethical issues in professional communications.
When Taught
Fall, Winter, Spring
Grade Rule
Grade Rule 8: A, B, C, D, E, I (Standard grade rule)
Min
3
Fixed
3
Fixed
3
Fixed
0
Other Prerequisites
Major status
Note
This class is for Comms majors, minors and for Pre-Comms students who wish to take it during the semester in which they apply to the program. If you are a Pre-Comms student, please see https://comms.byu.edu/after-application/ for information on how to add the class.
Title
Legal Boundaries of Appropriate Use
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to practice communication within legal boundaries by employing appropriate use of others' work (in attribution, copyright, trademarks, etc.).
Title
Legal Constraints and Defenses
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to practice communication within legal boundaries by demonstrating an ability to identify legal constraints and defenses that shape mass media messages.
Title
Free Speech Laws and Statutes
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to practice communication within legal boundaries by writing and constructing messages that meet the laws and statutes applied to free speech.
Title
First Amendment: Press and Speech
Learning Outcome
Students will demonstrate they value freedom of speech in the marketplace of ideas by knowing how First Amendment rights extend to press and speech.
Title
Historical Development of Free Speech
Learning Outcome
Students will demonstrate they value freedom of speech in the marketplace of ideas by understanding the historical development of free speech.
Title
Legal and Moral Limits of Free Speech
Learning Outcome
Students will demonstrate they value freedom of speech in the marketplace of ideas by recognizing the legal and moral limits of free speech.
Title
Current Issues in Free Speech
Learning Outcome
Students will demonstrate they value freedom of speech in the marketplace of ideas by applying the concepts underlying this principle to current issues.
Title
Preserving Freedom of Speech
Learning Outcome
Students will demonstrate they value freedom of speech in the marketplace of ideas by by showing a commitment to preserving freedom of speech, even when it may be contrary to majority views, opinions, or values.
Title
Ethical Issues
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate sensitivity to the ethical issues of their practice by becoming familiar with prominent cases that demonstrate ethical issues in the communication industries.
Title
Professional Values and Ethical Behavior
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate sensitivity to the ethical issues of their practice by identifying professional values that contribute to ethical behavior.
Title
Ethical Complications in Professional Practice
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate sensitivity to the ethical issues of their practice by discerning possible ethical complications in professional practice.
Title
Addressing Ethical Concerns in Practice
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate sensitivity to the ethical issues of their practice by defining a communications situation that addresses the ethical concerns of alternative actions or decisions.
Title
Moral Reasoning and Ethics
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to exercise moral reasoning when faced with ethical dilemmas by articulating the values that underline their ethical framework.
Title
Ethics Theory and Application
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to exercise moral reasoning when faced with ethical dilemmas by applying principles and theories of ethics to current issues.
Title
Ethics and Gospel-Centered Values
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to exercise moral reasoning when faced with ethical dilemmas by resolving ethical dilemmas using moral reasoning based on Gospel-centered values.
