Media Laws

Unit 1 — Introduction:

1. Introduction to Media and Communication · 2. Importance of Media in Democracy · 3. Kinds of Media · 4. Functions of Media – Information, Surveillance, Service the economic system, hold society together, Entertain, Act as a community forum, Service the political system, etc.

Unit 2 — History of Press and Theories of Press:

1. Historical Foundations of Media Laws in UK, USA and India (Pre and Post-Independence) · 2. International Law and Freedom of Media (UDHR, ICCPR, ECOSOC etc.) · 3. Theories of Press - · a) Authoritarian Theory · b) Libertarian Theory · c) Communist Theory · d) Theory of Social Responsibility · e) Development Media Theory · f) Democratic Participant Media Theory

Unit 3 — Constitutional Framework of Freedom of Media in India:

1. Free Speech and Constituent Assembly Debates in India · 2. Freedom of Speech and Expression in Indian Constitution · 3. Facets of Freedom of Speech and Expression · a) Freedom of Speech and Expression includes Freedom of Press · b) Right to Circulation · c) Right to Receive Information · d) Right to Advertise · e) Right to Telecast / Broadcast · f) Censorship · 4. Law Commission of India: 101st Report on Freedom of Speech andExpression under Article 19 of the Constitution - an Overview · 5. Reasonable Restrictions · 6. Legislative Privileges and Media · 7. Right to Privacy and Media · 8. Freedom of Media during emergency

• Article 19 — Six Fundamental Freedoms and Reasonable Restrictions
• Article 21 and 21A — Right to Life and Personal Liberty & Right to Education

Unit 4 — Legal Dimensions of Media:

1. Media and Criminal Law (Sedition, Obscenity and Defamation) · 2. Media and Law of Torts (Civil Law of Defamation and Negligence) · 3. Media and Judiciary (Contempt of Court) · 4. Media and Executive - An Overview (The Official Secrets Act, 1923, TheRight to Information Act, 2005) · 5. Media and Journalists - an Overview (The Working Journalists (Conditions of Service) Act, 1955)

• Trial of Bal Gangadhar Tilak under Section 124A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code

Unit 5 — Regulatory Framework of Media:

1. Methods of Regulation (Self-Regulation and Statutory Regulation) · 2. The Cinematograph Act, 1952 · 3. The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1955 · 4. The Prasar Bharti Act, 1990 · 5. The Press Council of India Act, 1978 · 6. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 · 7. Advertising Standards Council of India and its codes · 8. The Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986 · 9. Free Speech and Fair Trial under Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – An Overview) · a. String Operation and Media · b. Broadcasting Rights · c. Taxation and Media · d. Media and Convergence · e. Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights · f. Internet and freedom of media · g. Violence against Media persons and Law · h. Role of media in electoral process (Press Council of India, Report on Paid News, 2010, Ministry of Law and Justice, Report of the Committee on Electoral Reforms, 2010 - an Overview)

• Introduction to Social Media
• Social media and freedom of speech and expression