Communication and Information Law

Presentation

This class seeks to give students basic notions in Law, which will then enable them, technically and scientifically, to perform their duties related to communication and journalism, as well as prepare them to cover high-profile judicial news stories.

Programme

Audiovisual and Multimedia Communication

Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS

| Semestral | 4

Year | Type of course unit | Language

3 |Mandatory |Português

Code

ULP728-7037

Recommended complementary curricular units

N/A

Professional Internship

Não

Syllabus

1. Communication and Information Law and the Portuguese constitution
   1. How the Portuguese State is Organized
   2. Systems of government
2. Fundamental constitutional rights
   1. Protection regimes
   2. When fundamental rights collide
   3. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press
3. Moral and the Law
   1. Sources and historical evolution of Communication Law
   2. Journalistic deontology
4. Freedom of Press
   1. The rights of journalists
   2. Freedom of enterprise and the assurances of independence and pluralism in mass media
   3. The limits to the freedom of press
5. Regulating mass media
   1. Regulation on digital and global scales
6. Justice and mass media
   1. Media's interest on judicial matters
   2. Reporting on court cases
7. Mass media and Human Rights
   1. The role of the press in relation to human rights
   2. Contemporary challenges for mass media

Objectives

The skills acquired are fundamental to practice journalism. They will become acquainted with the boundaries and guidelines of communication, and better prepared to interpret the Law. Students will also be made aware of how Portugal's political system works, and the most important pieces of legislation relevant to their future professions. Students will also be prepared to talk about court procedures.

Teaching methodologies and assessment

Each student group chooses a topic and has to accompany it throughout the semester, presenting a weekly report. 20%

Every group must analyze a decision taken by the ERC in a critical way, integrating what they learned. 20%

The final assignment is the report from the follow-up of the topic chosen. 25%.

A written test. 35%.

All elements are mandatory.

References

CARVALHO,A.Arons;CARDOSO,A.Monteiro/FIGUEIREDO, J.P.(2012) Direito da Comunicação Social, 3.ª Edição, Texto Editores: Alfragide

CASTRO, RAQUEL ALEXANDRA (2013) ¿A Regulação da Comunicação Social numa Democracia Segura¿, in ¿Segurança Pública e Privada¿, 1.º Congresso Internacional de Segurança Pública e Privada, Faculdade de Direito de Lisboa e CJLP, Coimbra Editora: Coimbra

MACHADO, Jónatas; BRITO, I.Rodrigues (2013), Curso de Direito da Comunicação Social, Wolters Kluver Portugal, Lisboa

PINA, Sara (2009) Media e Leis Penais. Almedina: Coimbra

PINA, Sara (2007)¿Jornalismo, Liberdade e Responsabilidade¿, in Ética e Responsabilidade Social dos Jornalistas, Org. Paulo Faustino, FormalPress: Lisboa.

PINA, Sara (2005) "Media e democracia/ O papel político dos mass media nas democracias actuais", in "Revista do Ministério Público", nº 102, Abril/Junho 2005.

WARBURTON, N. (2015). Liberdade de Expressão. Lisboa: Gradiva.

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