Media and Human Rights is an innovative course bringing together the study of traditional human rights concerns regarding the media and current debates regarding the role played by the media within the field of human rights. It aims to consider the protections offered to the media by human rights law, the role played by the media within human rights and the mediatization of human rights - its turn to advocacy, representation and communication. The course will consider topics such as free speech, hate speech, privacy, the protection of journalists in conflict, human rights reportage, fact-finding and witnessing, the internet, social media and human rights. Case studies will include: Wikileaks, online advocacy such as Kony 2012, the role of social media in the Arab Spring and debates regarding 'clicktivism'. There will also be consideration of the resilience of human rights concepts in terms of internet regulation and internet freedom. This course will be of interest to students with an interest in human rights law and how it applies in the context of media. It will offer a balance of theoretical and practical insights and provide the opportunity for students to engage in research in a new and dynamic field. As such, it will be of particular interest to those students seeking future employment in the field of journalism, print/electronic media, communication and marketing as well as traditional advocacy work. The course complements other JD course offerings in the area of human rights law and media.

It is recommended that students take this course after completing JURD7270 (Law in the Global Context) should that course form part of their core program.

Media and Human Rights aims to critically consider traditional human rights concerns regarding the media and current debates regarding the role played by the media within the field of human rights. To do so the course considers both the relevant human rights protections for and limits placed upon the media, along with examination of the mediatization of human rights. It will offer a balance of theoretical and practical insights and provide the opportunity for students to engage in research in a new and dynamic field. The course will equip students with a human rights framework with which to assess the challenges and possibilities posed by the rise of digital media and the internet. This course will provide coverage of both core principles such as free speech, privacy and the protection of journalists, along with an engagement with detailed case studies and the emerging scholarship in this developing area.

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to: