LEC721S - LEGAL ETHICS ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION - 2ND OPP - JANUARY 2024


LEC721S - LEGAL ETHICS ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION - 2ND OPP - JANUARY 2024



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nA1m I BIA U nlVERSITY
OF SCI En CE Ano TECH nOL0 1GY
FACULTYOF COMMERCE,HUMAN SCIENCEAND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGES
QUALIFICATION: BACHELOR OF COMMUNICATION
QUALIFICATION CODE: 07BCMM
LEVEL: 7
COURSE CODE: LEC721S
COURSE: LEGALAND ETHICAL ISSUESIN
COMMUNICATION
SESSION: JANUARY, 2024
DURATION: THREE HOURS
PAPER: {PAPER 1)
MARKS: 100
SUPPLEMENTARY/SECOND OPPORTUNITY EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER
EXAMINER
DR C PEEL
MODERATOR Ms EMILY M. BROWN
INSTRUCTIONS
l.Answer ONE question from Section A, and TWO QUESTIONS from Section B.
2.Read all the questions carefully before answering them.
3. Indicate whether you are a FT, PT, or DE student.
THIS EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER CONSISTSOF _3_PAGES (Including this front page)
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SECTION A:
Section A consists of one compulsory question. All CANDIDATES MUST ATTEMPT THIS
QUESTION. You may NOT substitute this question with a question of your choice.
Question 1
50 marks
Explain each of the following five concepts, and refer to real-life examples for the
appropriate application of each concept:
(a) Ethics
(10 marks)
(b) Law
(10 marks)
(c) Communication ethics
(10 marks)
(d) Morality
(10 marks)
(e) Code of conduct
(10 marks)
SECTION B: ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS ONLY
Question 2
25 marks
Discuss, and illustrate with examples, how the concept of "public interest" may be used
to defend journalists and other content creators from censure for their controversial
news stories and public statements. What does Maractho (2014) mean when she argues
that content generated in the "public interest" can "assist the function of democratic
life" (Maractho, 2014) in modern societies?
Question 3
25 marks
(a) Identify and describe the four categories of media ownership, indicating their
functions and their obligations to their stakeholders ......................................8. marks
(b) Identify one media outlet as an example of each category .............................8. marks
(c) Explain why you believe each media outlet fits the category of ownership that
you have assigned it ............................................................................................9....marks
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Question 4
25 marks
(a) Define and explain one of the following ethical principles: Either Immanuel Kant's
Deontological (Duty) Ethics, or John Stuart Mill's Utilitarian (consequential) Ethics or
Aristotle's Virtue Ethics............................................................................................1..0.. marks
(b) The lsraeli-Hamas war in Gaza in the Middle East has recently grabbed the world
media's attention. Some commentators were enraged at the images of the Israeli
military bombing residential areas with huge losses of life, including men, women and
children of all ages. Other media commentators have defended the Israeli Army, saying
Hamas attacked and killed Israeli civilians first, and is now using Gaza's civilians as
human shields while firing rockets at Israeli cities from those residential areas. Write a
newspaper commentary, using one of the above principles, to argue for or against the
Israeli army's actions ...............................................................................................1..5.. marks.
Question 5
25 marks
The Defence Act, Correctional Services Act, Communications Act and the Common Law
rule of "Contempt of Court" place limits and exceptions on the freedom of speech and
expression in Namibia.
(i) Based on your understanding of the named legal provisions, give justifications
for the limits imposed on free speech and expression by each of the four
provisions.
(4x5marks = 20 marks).
(ii) Do you consider defamation to be a form of censorship? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)
End of Examination question paper
Total: 100 marks
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