About this class

Media Law and Ethics is a foundational course that examines the legal rules and moral principles that govern the work of journalists, broadcasters, advertisers, and other media practitioners. It explains what the media are free to do, where the law draws the line, and how to make sound ethical decisions when the law is silent or the situation is complicated. The course also looks at how media freedom, regulation, and accountability operate in Nigeria and across Africa.

What you'll learn

• Distinguish between law and ethics: Explain how they differ, overlap, and apply to media work.
• Explain press freedom: Describe constitutional protections for expression and the legitimate limits placed on them.
• Identify and analyse defamation: Recognise libel and slander, and apply the available defences.
• Apply privacy principles: Balance an individual’s right to privacy against the public interest.
• Understand court reporting rules: Report on legal proceedings without committing contempt or prejudicing trials.
• Navigate secrecy and access laws: Explain official secrets provisions and use freedom of information laws to obtain public records.
• Respect copyright: Apply intellectual property principles and avoid plagiarism.
• Describe the regulatory landscape: Identify the major media regulators and professional bodies and their roles.
• Assess laws on digital communication: Explain legal risks tied to online publishing and social media.
• Apply ethical theories: Use ethical frameworks to analyse dilemmas and justify decisions.