1. Law in the Information Age Topic 1: Introduction Law and the legal system The Information Age

2. Welcome to Law in the Information Age Two centres

3. Subject outline See outline

4. Course requirements See outline

5. Teaching method and student input Interactive: ask, discuss Intensive: start now!

6. Class attendance 80% rule

7. Course commitment 3 UoC 80 hrs

8. Assessment Media Diary 40 Research essay 60

9. Resources Required Other

10. Housekeeping Times Note taker

11. About the subject

12. What is the Information Age? lWhat is convergence? lFluidity lOpportunities and risks

13. What is ‘the law’, and how does it work? lExamples: lSpam: one Act, simple lInternet Content regulation: Acts, Regs, Codes, cases: complex

14. The documentary basis of law Cases Laws (legislation) & regulations ‘Code’ and Codes (Lessig: business practice, norms)

15. Cases (Common law system) Decisions of a court Specifics of the case: people, actions Specifics of jurisdiction: where, what Specifics of time and date: when Read ‘full text’? Primary legal document Commentary, summaries, media reports Principles, rules, interpretations, changes

16. Laws and regulations Decisions of a legislature: Parliament, Congress Process: Review, Bill, Debate, C’tee, Amend, Act Specifics of an Act: sections, definitions Specifics of jurisdiction: where, what, who Specifics of date: start, end? Amend? Repeal? Replace? Read ‘full text’? Primary legal document Commentary, summaries Principles, specific requirements; Regulations

17. Law, Politics, Media Laws are made by politicians Politicians do politics, not science, common sense, or ‘fairness’ Media can drive politics Spin can turn black into white Laws can affect media owners and journos New technology can change the rules Politics can re-make the rules

18. Look closely at what is being said Media Watch, Hollow Men, Who is writing, what is their interest Commercial, political, other? Conflict of interest? Sources? Spin? Manipulation? Clues? Assertions, factoids, original documents…

19. Topical developments – stories? NBN: Telstra v govt? iiNet case: US movie industry v. ISPs © Internet filter proposal Digital TV / ‘Freeview’: why need to sell it? Computers for schoolies: issues, risks? User-Generated content: issues, risks? Lack of info balance about costs and risks ANPR – why no stories? cf. Streetview