Communication Law and Professional Deontology
Code: 104770 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2503868 Communication in Organisations | FB | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Jorge Pedemonte Marino
- Email:
- jorge.pedemonte@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
Communication Law and Professional Deontology as subject does not require a previous knowledge or requisites,it is framed in the second year course in the Degree of Communication of organizations. It is however advisable to review your knowledgeacquired in the Baccalaureate or in the Degree courses related to the historical, political, legal or currentevents and subjects developed in the field of Social Sciences.
Have a love of reading and be attentive to the rhythms of society.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Autonomous University of Barcelona was a pioneer in the inclusion of subjects and courses with legal contentinto the university curriculum of Communication Sciences.
The goal of this course is to do an analysis considering about communication a being regulated by a legal framework not only limited to regulations, but including also the judiciary case law and interpretation. This is why their study is needed because the scope of the legal status of comunication depends onthem as responsible in many occasions. Besides, apart from the importance of having a minimum legal knowledge necessary for communication professionals, the objetive of this course is also to learn skills on fundamental rights and the Law of communication. interpretation by the courts, which in many respects are the bodies responsible for establishing the scope ofIt is needed to focus on the knowledge of freedom of expression and information as fundamental rights for a democratic society. The student will achieve a knowledge of the International, European, statewide and autonomous legal framework as well as the legal research tools helpful for the development of communication contents.
The course aims to acquire knowledge, skills and competences in these three areas:
- an introduction to the normative order and structure that affect communication activity, that is, basic notions aboutthe legal system and the legal regulation and framework of fundamental rights
- legal and ethical rules in the field of the rights to the freedom of expression and information in organizations, doing simultanoulsy analysis of practical content.
- regulation and self-regulation of the exercise of the communication profession at autonomous and statewide level
Competences
- Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
- Act within one's own area of knowledge, evaluating sex/gender-based inequalities.
- Display thorough knowledge of the contemporary world in its social, economic, political and cultural dimensions.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Work in compliance with professional codes of conduct.
Learning Outcomes
- Accept disagreement and show no disrespect to other persons, groups or institutions for reasons of race, gender, disability, etc.
- Apply the principles of professional ethics and the law to the production and dissemination of the organisation's information.
- Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
- Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
- General original ideas on the legal context affecting organisations.
- Interpret and discuss documents on the law governing information and professional standards.
- Interpret the legal context to develop critical thinking and generate original ideas.
- Plan and conduct academic studies in the field of communication law and professional standards.
- Present a summary of the studies made, orally and in writing.
- Propose projects and actions that are in accordance with the principles of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and obligations, diversity and democratic values.
- Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
- Recognise and describe organisations' ethical codes in the context of Spain and that of the European Union.
- Work independently to solve problems and take strategic decisions on the basis of the knowledge acquired.
Content
Unit 1. Rule of Law and legal system.
Unit 2. Fundamental rights. Nature and regulation.
Unit 3. The constitutional configuration of the right to freedom of communication: article 20 of the Spanish Constitution.
Unit 4. The limits of fundamental rights. Limits to freedom of communication.
Unit 5. Organizations: public and private. National and international. Structure and functions.
Unit 6. Communication in organizations: rights and duties. Veracity, transparency, data protection.
Unit 7. Self-regulation and codes of conduct of organizations.
Unit 8. The responsibility of organizations. Civil, administrative, criminal.
Unit 9. The individual responsibility of the communicator and his position before the organizations.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Master lessons | 15 | 0.6 | 2, 6, 7, 9, 12 |
| Seminars and practical lessons | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 2, 6, 9 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Drafting of sheets, case studies, schemas and writings | 5 | 0.2 | 2, 8, 9, 13 |
| Tutories | 5 | 0.2 | 1, 8, 9, 13 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Drafting of works | 10 | 0.4 | 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 |
| Research of documentation and bibliography | 5 | 0.2 | 2, 7, 8, 12, 13 |
| Study and lecture readings | 19 | 0.76 | 2, 7, 8, 12, 13 |
The learning process focuses on the work of the student, who learns working on study, being the mission oflecturers to guide in this learning task by providing information, promoting independent thinking and discussionand showing the sources for learning.
Teaching lessons and training of the student is based on the following activities:
- DIRECTED ACTIVITIES:
a) Theoretical classes: Master classes
b) Seminars
c) Individual or group work on a specific topic or learning activity
a) Tutorials
b) Individual
- AUTONOMOUS ACTIVITIES:
a) Reading, analysis and synthesis of texts, preparation and completion of works
b)Comprehensive readingof texts and studies, recensions, bibliographical essays and drafting of diagrams, conceptual maps andsummaries.
- EVALUATION ACTIVITIES
a) Assessment activities
b) Expression of oral or written knowledge
The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.
Students will be entitled to the revaluation of the subject. They should present a minimum of activities that equals two-thirds of the total grading. To have access to revaluation, the previous grades should be equal to 3,5.
The student who performs any irregularity (copy, plagiarism, identity theft...) will be qualified with 0 in this assignment or exam. In case there are several irregularities, the final grade of the subject will be 0.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active participation differnt of seminars and practical lessons | 10% | 16 | 0.64 | 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13 |
| Final Exam | 50% | 7 | 0.28 | 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13 |
| Practical lessons: correction and evaluation in the classroom, continuous evaluation | 40% | 38 | 1.52 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 |
CONTINUOUS EVALUATION
Activities
The skills of this subject will be assessed through the following activities:
- Final test (final exam), to be done on the date established in the subject Calendar. The teaching team shall indicate the format of this test, which may be written or oral. This part of the continuous assessment accounts for 50% of the final grade of the subject.
- A minimum of two practical evaluation activities. As a guideline, these activities may consist of a partial exam (not valid to release content), practical cases, reports, reviews, legal writings, research papers, among other activities. The selected activities can be carried out individually or in groups, as decided by the teaching team. This part of the continuous assessment accounts for 40% of the final grade of the subject.
- Attendance and participation in class. This means active participation throughout the class sessions, legally based, appropriate and relevant to the topics discussed, and different from that carried out in seminar classes / practicals. This part of the continuous assessment accounts for 50% of the final grade of the subject.
Grades
Each of the continuous assessment activities must have a minimum grade of 3.5 out of 10, to be able to add up and make an average grade in the continuous assessment.
The grade of the continuous assessment will be the result of the sum of the activities, provided that the minimum marks required to be added are obtained. To succeed the continuous assessment, the average grade must be 5 out of 10 or higher.
Re-evaluation
If a student does not pass the subject's assessment, with a minimum grade of 5 out of 10, he/she may take a final re-evaluation exam on the date indicated in the subject's Calendar. The re-evaluation can only be carried out if the student has followed the continuous evaluation. Regardless of the grade obtained in the re-evaluation test, if passed, the subject will be approved with a 5 out of 10.
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Any student who copies or attempts to copy in any of the assessment activities will receive a 0 on such activity. Any student who presents a practice or activity in which plagiarism or any other academic fraud is detected will receive a 0 and will be warned. In case of repetition of the behaviour, the student shall suspend the subject. These measures will be taken without prejudice to the corresponding disciplinary measures, in accordance with the current academic regulations.
If during the correction of any activity or work there are indications that the assistance of artificial intelligence tools has been used, the teacher may complement the activity with a personal interview to corroborate the authorship of the text.
If extraordinary circumstances occur that prevent the normal development of the subject, the teaching staff may modify both the methodology and the assessment of the subject.
SINGLE EVALUATION
Activities
The single assessment of this subject, by students who have taken it, consists of the following evidence:
- Final test (final exam) to take place on the date established in the subject Calendar. This part of the assessment accounts for 50% of the final grade of the subject.
- Subject work. At the beginning of the course, a project will be proposed on some of the topics of the subject. The deadline for handing in the work is the day of the subject's final exam, in accordance with the established calendar. This part of the assessment accounts for 50% of the final grade of the subject.
Grades
Each of the assessment activities must have a minimum grade of 3.5 out of 10, to be able to add up and make an average grade in the assessment.
The grade of the assessment will be the sum of the activities, provided that the minimum marks required to be added are obtained. To pass the assessment, the average grade must be 5 out of 10 or higher.
Re-evaluation
If a student does not pass the subject's assessment, with a minimum grade of 5 out of 10, he/she may take a final re-evaluation exam on the date indicated in the subject's Calendar. In addition to the final exam, the re-evaluation will be conditioned on the presentation of the subject’s work with the amendments indicated by the teacher, in case this part of the evaluation is considered unsuitable. Regardless of the grade obtained in the re-evaluation test, if passed, the subject will be approved with a 5 out of 10.
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Any student who copies or attempts to copy in any of the assessment activities will receive a 0 on such activity. Any student who presents a practice or activity in which plagiarism or any other academic fraud is detected will receive a 0 and will be warned. In case of repetition of the behaviour, the student shall suspend the subject. These measures will be taken without prejudice to the corresponding disciplinary measures, in accordance with the current academic regulations.
If during the correction of any activity or work there are indications that the assistance of artificial intelligence tools has been used, the teacher may complement the activity with a personal interview to corroborate the authorship of the text.
If extraordinary circumstances occur that prevent the normal development of the subject, the teaching staff may modify both the methodology and the assessment of the subject.
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Ignacio BEL, Loreto CORREDOIRA, Derecho de la información. El ejercicio del derecho a la información y su jurisprudencia, Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales, 2015
- Carolina BLASCO, El derecho a la cláusula de conciencia de los profesionales de la información, Editorial Bomarzo 2009.
- Lluís DE CARRERAS. Las normas jurídicas de los periodistas. Derecho español de la información. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona.
- Juan Carlos GAVARA, Josu DE MIGUEL; Sabrina RAGONE, S. (eds.) El control de los cibermedios, Barcelona, J.M.Bosch, 2014.
- Juan Carlos GAVARA; Josu DE MIGUEL.; Daniel CAPODIFERRO, D. (eds.) El control judicial de los medios de comunicación, Barcelona, J.M. Bosch, 2015
- Nuria SAURA. Libertad de expresión y derecho a promover y proteger los derechos humanos, Barcelona, J.M. Bosch, 2015
- Antonio TORRES DEL MORAL, A.(dir.) Libertades informativas, Colex.
- María Jesús GARCÍA MORALES, "La prohibición de la censura en la era digital", Teoría y realidad nº31, 2013.
COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY
Complementary Bibliography will be provided during the course
Software
The Virtual Campus and the Moodle Classroom will be used during the realization of the subject. Through it the teaching staff will inform of all the questions related to the subject.
Language list
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (SEM) Seminars | 71 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (SEM) Seminars | 72 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (TE) Theory | 7 | Spanish | second semester | afternoon |