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Syllabus
COMM 403: Law of Mass Communications
COMM 403 Law of Mass Communications (3 credits): Nature and theories of law; the Supreme Court and press freedom; legal problems of the mass media.
Professional communicators are governed by a complex set of laws and regulations that have, as a common base, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. COMM 403 is designed to provide students with a thorough grounding in First Amendment law generally and an understanding of the workday legal issues that communications professionals face while doing their jobs. The overarching goal of the course is to enrich your understanding of law and the legal process in such a way that will enable you to use that knowledge in your work as communicators and as active citizens in the democracy.
Overview
While society has changed dramatically throughout the past two centuries, the forty-five words that make up the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution remain unaltered. More importantly, the ideals embodied in that language play a significant role in creating the framework for our system of democratic self-governance. The words of the First Amendment are simple and direct. They proscribe governmental meddling in our individual liberty regarding expression. Though the intent is clear, the evolution of the First Amendment over time provides us with many examples of government infringment of speech.
The connection between the infringement and the time period in history is not mere coincidence. During the period surrounding World War I, the government was quick to stamp out the expression of those believed to be spreading anti-democratic messages. In the 1950s, fear of communism led to heightened intolerance for expression. The 1960s saw avenues of communication opening up to accommodate the civil rights movement. The media made headway against the government in the sixties and seventies. The 1980s were marked by a clamping down on campus speech while the 1990s had the government grappling with sexually explicit speech in cyberspace. Today, some are questioning whether anonymous online postings and sites such as TheDirty.com should face liability for disparaging reputation. This course examines free speech from the standpoint of the citizen and information professional. Students successfully completing this course will have a solid understanding of the current issues in First Amendment and media law.
Course Objectives
When you successfully complete this course, you will be able to:
- Develop an understanding of and appreciation for the protections embedded in the First Amendment;
- Understand and apply principles of media law and the concomitant responsibilities of a free press;
- Understand that First Amendment protections apply to all citizens—not just journalists;
- Understand the historic challenges of law to keep pace with the evolution of technology;
- Understand the importance of government transparency and freedom of information laws on the state and federal levels; and
- Recognize that ethics and law do not always merge—what might be lawful is not always journalistically ethical.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Technology and Software page.
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Course Requirement
This course is comprised of 10 self-contained lessons. Most of the lessons are designed to be completed in about a week. A few of the lessons, however, are more extensive than the others and will take about two weeks to complete. A discussion forum called "Course Cafe" is available throughout the semester for questions or comments in response to the lesson's content. Each lesson requires reading from the text, course commentary and a graded Lesson Review Activity. The course includes two exams—the first one after the completion of Lesson 5 and the second one after the completion of Lesson 10.
Deadlines and Late Policy
All assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. North American Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday of the Lesson’s week. Any assignment received late will be subjected to a 10% penalty. The late penalty will increase by 10% for each day the assignment is late. If the assignment is not received within five days of the original deadline, the grade on that assignment will be zero.
Rubric for Written Work
Your single-spaced essays included in the Lesson Review Actities and the exams will be evaluated on content, clarity, comprehensiveness, and creativity.
- Content: Develops and supports a central thesis. Provides a focused argument throughout the essay/paper.
- Clarity: Writes clearly by developing a coherent, well-organized paper; arranges sentences in a logical and coherent manner; uses correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar; and provides correct citations.
- Comprehensiveness: Has reviewed the relevant literature and material, shows an in-depth understanding of the topic, and uses multiple bibliographic sources (books, journal articles, interviews, web-based information). Does not use strictly web-based sources. Able to critique differing points of view on the topic.
- Creativity: Draws the reader in and engages him and/or her in the topic. Attempts to make an original contribution to the topic. Presents material in an interesting and unique way.
| Grade of A | Grade of B | Grade of C | Grade of D | Grade of F |
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Exemplary work in all aspects of content, clarity, comprehensiveness, and creativity; consistent with expectations associated with a professional written product; shows extra effort and initiative. |
Work is better than average quality; demonstrates initiative and extra effort. |
Meets the minimal specifications of the assignment. |
Below minimal assignment specifications. |
Extremely poor quality content and presentation. Failure to complete a required assignment. |
Grading Policy
The graded assignments associated with Lessons 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 will comprise 40% of the final course grade (5% each). Each exam (following Lessons 5 and 10) counts for 30% of the final course grade.
| Assignments | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Lesson Review Activities | 5% × 8 = 40% |
| Midterm Exam | 30% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
Final grades for the course are assigned according to the following scale:
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 93–100% |
| A− | 90–92.99% |
| B+ | 87–89.99% |
| B | 83–86.99% |
| B− | 80–82.99% |
| C+ | 77–79.99% |
| C | 70–76.99% |
| D | 60–69.99% |
| F | Below 60% |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Veterans and Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Privacy Notice
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.Student Responsibilities and Conduct
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Principles
Report Bias
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.