COURSE SYLLABUS

Elective Course: MEDIA LAW AND ETHICS

School: Ateneo Law School
Semester: 1
st
School Year: 201!201"
Professor: R#co $% Do&#n'o( Esq.

A% Co)*se Desc*#+t#on
This course focuses on the legal and regulatory framework underpinning Philippine
media, the role played by media in a working democracy, and ethical issues media
practitioners are likely to encounter in the work environment Constitutional precepts vis!
"!vis freedom of speech and press and corollary principles on prior restraint and
subse#uent punishment in relation to the print, movies and electronic media, right to
privacy and analogous issues will be analy$ed %asic principles on the laws on libel and
defamation will be discussed, specifically as they relate to newsgathering rights, media
and the electoral process, commercial speech, obscenity&indecency issues, and other
constitutionally unprotected speech The legal and ethical ramifications on the latest
trends and advancements in information technology affecting the media practitioners will
likewise be analy$ed
A% Co)*se O)tl#ne

Int*o,)cto*- sess#on%
'irst (ui$

)ole of media in a democracy, common and civil law* constitutional provisions on media
and the structure of government* standards of +udicial review of government actions
affecting media
,octrine of prior restraint and subse#uent punishment* validity of content!based
regulation of media, including an e-amination of the issue of whether laws enacted to
achieve salutary and desirable results .protection of crime victims, consumer rights, right
to information or to prevent inaccurate reporting, e-ploitation of crime for financial gain,
etc/, and which result in media regulation, are constitutionally permissible
0alidity of content!neutral regulation of media as business .e.g., ta-ation, subsidy
legislation, labor relations, anti!trust or anti!monopoly laws, copyright, business
restrictions, etc./
Page 2 of 9
Ateneo School of Law
Media Law and Ethics
Course Outline and Schedule
First Semester, School Year 20!"20#
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
1ewsgathering issues including shield statutes, access to private and public information,
discriminatory access, access to +udicial proceedings, etc.* media and the +udicial system,
including the su$ %udice doctrine, contempt and the right to public and fair trial
Political speech and the electoral process and how the influence of media on democratic
processes is regulated
Commercial speech and advertising* ethical considerations in the conduct of research
pro+ects such as confidential nature of sponsor and respondent* dishonesty* commercial
or industrial espionage* unauthori$ed disclosure* +amming* secret subcontracting*
fictitious organi$ations* partial reporting* and deliberate bias

2nprotected speech: libel and defamation law* the duties of fairness, accuracy and the
right to reply* civil liabilities arising from private wrongs committed by media

M#,!Te*& E.a&#nat#on /0e* Aca,e&#c Calen,a* SY 201!201"1 11 2)l- 2013

2nprotected speech: obscenity and indecency statutes

%roadcasting media .including spectrum use and regulation/ and content!regulation
issues* cable television, regulation of cyberspace and other emerging technologies

Session with corporate communications practitioners and mass media personalities*
alternatively, a media law mini!symposium on contemporary issues in 3edia 4aw and
Ethics may be held with leading media practitioners as guests
.To be announced/

Practice!oriented session on constitutional issues of confidentiality, libel, and prior
restraint* access to and use of public records* practical issues regarding contracts,
trademark law, copyrights, ta-es and collaboration agreement* evolving copyright and
privacy issues* protecting the media practitioner5s ideas

4#nal E.a&#nat#on .Nota Bene: The Professor may opt to re#uire the submission of
term papers at the end of the term in lieu of the taking of 'inal E-amination/
,ue date for release of final grades: 67 8ctober 9:6;

Page & of 9
Ateneo School of Law
Media Law and Ethics
Course Outline and Schedule
First Semester, School Year 20!"20#
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
C% READIN5S AND RE4ERENCES
Case Law
')EE,83 8' E<P)ESS=81
>rticle ===, Sections ;, 7 and ?, 6@?7 Constitution
Be*nas( 206!276 /18893
II Be*nas( 169!216
C*):( 172!21
S#nco( 20!22
De Leon( 660!6;2
E&e*son% T%( The S-ste& o< 4*ee,o& o< E.+*ess#on( 6!20
/18703
6 Aeneral Considerations
a Components
b 'unctions and value
c Scope of freedom
d 4imitations
e Tests
9 'reedom of Speech and Press
a 3eaning and scope
b >spects
c 'orms of abridgment
6 Prior restraint B concept and kinds
9 Subse#uent Punishment B concept and kinds
d Tests
6 ,angerous tendency
9 Clear and present danger
C %alancing of interests
Page ! of 9
Ateneo School of Law
Media Law and Ethics
Course Outline and Schedule
First Semester, School Year 20!"20#
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
e Prior )estraints
Cases:
Ba,o-( 2*% =% COMELEC, CD SC)> 99? .6@7:/
New Yo*> T#&es Co% =% US, ;:C 2S 76C .6@76/
La.a&ana =% Bo*la:a, ;7 SC)> .9@ .6@79/
Co**o =% L#s#n', 6C7 SC)> D;6 .6@?D/
Easte*n B*oa,cast#n' Co*+% /DYRE3 =% Dans( 2*%( 6C7 SC)>
E9? .6@?D/
San#,a, =% COMELEC, 6?6 SC)> D9@ .6@@:/
N0C =% COMELEC, 9:7 SC)> 6 .6@@9/
Blo U&+a* A,#on' =% COMELEC, 9:7 SC)> 769 .6@@9/
Tolent#no =% Sec*eta*- o< 4#nance, 9CD SC)> EC: .6@@;/
00I =% COMELEC, 9;; SC)> 97D .6@@D/
I'les#a n# C*#sto =% CA, 9D@ SC)> D9@ .6@@E/
Nea* =% M#nnesota, 9?C 2S E@7 .6@C6/
T#&es 4#l& Co*+% =% Ch#ca'o, CED 2S ;C .6@E6/
4*ee,&an =% Ma*-lan,, C?: 2S D6 .6@ED/
?U+,ates
SWS =% COMELEC, A) 1o 6;7D76 FD 3ay 9::6G
Cha=e: =% 5on:ales( A) 1o 6E?CC? F6D 'ebruary 9::?G
Newso)n,s B*oa,cast#n' Netwo*>( Inc% =% D-, A) 1os
67:97: H 67@;66 F9 >pril 9::@G
So*#ano =% La')a*,#a, A) 1o 6E;7?D F9@ >pril 9::@G and A)
1o 6E;7?D F6D 3arch 9:6:G
f Subse#uent Punishment
Cases:
0eo+le =% 0e*e:, ;D Phil D@@ .6@9C/
5on:ales =% COMELEC, 97 SC)> ?CD .6@E@/
5#tlow =% 0eo+le o< New Yo*>, 9E? 2S ED9 .6@9;/
Denn#s =% Un#te, States, C;6 2S ;@; .6@D:/
New Yo*> T#&es Co% =% S)ll#=an, C7E 2S 9D; .6@E;/
IU+,ate
So*#ano =% La')a*,#a, A) 1o 6E;7?D F9@ >pril 9::@G and A)
1o 6E;7?D F6D 3arch 9:6:G
Page # of 9
Ateneo School of Law
Media Law and Ethics
Course Outline and Schedule
First Semester, School Year 20!"20#
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
g 'reedom of E-pression and 4ibel
Cases:
U%S% =% 4el#+e B)stos, C7 Phil 7C6 .6@6?/
@)#s)&A#n' =% Lo+e:, @E Phil D6: .6@DD/
0ol#ca*+#o =% Man#la T#&es 0)A% Co%( Inc, D SC)> 6;? .6@E9/
Lo+e: =% Co)*t o< A++eals, C; SC)> 66E .6@7:/
El#:al,e =% 5)t#e**e:, 7E SC)> ;;? .6@77/
La')n:a, =% Soto $,a% De 5on:ales, @9 SC)> ;7E .6@7@/
0h#l% Co&&e*c#al an, In,)st*#al Ban> =% 0h#lnaAan>
E&+lo-ees Assoc, 6:D SC)> C6; .6@?6/
Me*ca,o =% Co)*t o< 4#*st Instance o< R#:al, 66E SC)> @C
.6@?9/
Newswee>( Inc% =% IAC, 6;9 SC)> 676 .6@?E/
A-e* 0*o,)ct#ons 0t-% Lt,% $% Ca+)lon', 6E: SC)> ?E6 .6@??/
B)llet#n 0)Al#sh#n' Co*+% =% Noel, 6E7 SC)> 9DD .6@??/
Sol#=en =% Ma>as#a*, 6E7 SC)> C@C .6@??/
Man)el =% 0aBo, 679 SC)> 99D .6@?@/
Bo*Cal =% CA, C:6 SC)> 6 .6@@@/
Cf: $asD)e: =% CA, 6D Sept 6@@@, A) 1o 66?@76
?U+,ates
M$RS 0)Al#cat#ons( Inc% =% Isla&#c DaEwah Co)nc#l o< the
0h#l#++#nes( Inc%, A) 1o 6CDC:E F9? January 9::CG
4lo* =% 0eo+le( A) 1o 6C@@?7 FC6 3arch 9::DG
5)#n'')#n' =% Co)*t o< A++eals( A) 1o 69?@D@, FC:
September 9::DG
0h#l#++#ne 2o)*nal#sts( Inc% =% Thoenen%( A) 1o 6;CC79 F6C
,ecember 9::DG
In *e1 Macasaet( >3 1o :7!:@!6C!SC F? >ugust 9::?G
h 'reedom of E-pression and >dministration of Justice
Protection of 1ews Sources&Contempt Power
Cases:
0eo+le =% Ala*con, E@ Phil 9ED .6@C@/
In Re Sotto, ?9 Phil D@D .6@;@/
CaAansa' =% 4e*nan,e:, 6:9 Phil 6D9 .6@D7/
0eo+le =% Castelo, ; SC)> @;7 .6@E9/
Fal,#=a* =% 5on:ales, 6EE SC)> C6E 6@??/
0eo+le =% 5o,o-, 9;C SC)> E; .6@@D/
Page ' of 9
Ateneo School of Law
Media Law and Ethics
Course Outline and Schedule
First Semester, School Year 20!"20#
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
In *e1 E&#l 0% 2)*a,o, 9;C SC)> 9@@ .6@@D/
In *e1 Att-% Leona*, ,e $e*a, >3 1o :6!69!:C!SC .9@ July
9::9/
G#l)san' Ma-o Uno( et al. =% The D#*ecto*!5ene*al( et al., A)
1os 6E77@?, 6E7@C: .6@ >pril 9::E/
Senate o< the 0h#l#++#nes( et al. =% E,)a*,o R% E*&#ta( et al.,
A) 1os 6E@ED@, 6E@EE:, 6E@EE7, 6E@E?C;, 6769;E .9: >pril
9::E/
Ba-an( et al. =% E,)a*,o R% E*&#ta( et al., A) 1os 6E@?C?, 6
6E@?;? .9D >pril 9::E/
0*o<esso* Ran,ol< S% Da=#,( et al. =% 0*es#,ent 5lo*#a
Maca+a'al!A**o-o( et al., A) 1os 676C@E, 676;?C, 676;:@,
676;?D, 676;?C, 676;::, 676;?@, 676;9; .C 3ay 9::E/
i 'reedom of E-pression and 8bscenity
)egulation of 8bscene and 8ther Erotic 3aterial
Presidential ,ecree 1o 6@?E .6@?D/
Cases:
5on:ales =% Galaw Gat#'Aa>, 6C7 SC)> 767 .6@?D/
0eo+le =% C#t- Co)*t o< Man#la, 6D; SC)> 67D .6@?7/
0#ta =% Co)*t o< A++eals, 67? SC)> CE9 .6@?@/
Roth =% Un#te, States, CD; 2S ;7E .6@D7/
5#nsAe*' =% New Yo*>, C@: 2S E9@ .6@E?/
M#lle* =% Cal#<o*n#a, ;6C 2S 6D, C7 4 Ed 9d ;6@, @C S Ct 9E:7
.6@79/
4e,e*al Co&&)n#cat#ons Co&&#ss#on =% 0ac#<#ca 4o)n,at#on,
;9? 2S 79E, D7 4 Ed 9d 6:7C, @? S Ct C:9E .6@7?/
?U+,ate
4e*nan,o =% Co)*t o< A++eals, A) 1o 6D@7D6 FE ,ecember
9::EG
+ 'reedom of E-pression and Telecommunication )egulation*
)egulation of 1ew Technology
Case:
Page ( of 9
Ateneo School of Law
Media Law and Ethics
Course Outline and Schedule
First Semester, School Year 20!"20#
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Easte*n B*oa,cast#n' Co*+% =% Dans, supra
?U+,ate
Cha=e: =% 5on:ales( A) 1o 6E?CC? F6D 'ebruary 9::?G B
dichotomy of free press: Print and %roadcast 3edia
Stat)tes o* Iss)ances A<<ect#n' 0*ess 4*ee,o&
Compendium to be distributed in class
To include:
S)+*e&e Co)*t A%M% No% 0;!8!12!SC, )ule on the Krit of Am)aro .D September 9::7/
S)+*e&e Co)*t A%M% No% 07!1!19!SC, )ule on the Krit of *a$eas +ata .99 January
9::?/
S)+*e&e Co)*t A,&#n#st*at#=e C#*c)la* No% 07!2007 .9D January 9::?/, Auidelines in
the 8bservance of Preference in the =mposition of Penalties in 4ibel Cases
Pending Senate5s and Louse of )epresentatives5 %ills on 4*ee,o& o< In<o*&at#on Act
Ma#n Rea,#n's
%ernas, Joa#uin, SJ, ,he 9-( Constitution of the .e)u$lic of the Phili))ines/ A
Commentar0 .9::C/, 3anila, )e- Printing Company, =nc, at pp 99C to C6;
%ernas, Joa#uin SJ, Constitutional .ights and Social +emands, Part 11 .6@@E/,
3anila, )e- Printing Company =nc, at pp 9C7!;6@
Teodoro, 4uis, Jr 0 and Mabatay, )osalinda 0, 2ass 2edia Laws and .egulations 1n
the Phili))ines, A21C F6@@7G.
Pember, ,on ) and Calvert, Clay, 2ass 2edia Law .9::D!9::E/, 3cgraw!Lill, 1ew
York
'ranklin, 3arc and >nderson, ,avid, 2ass 2edia Law .6@@D/, Kestbury, 1ew York,
The 'oundation Press =nc
)obertson, A and 1icol, > .9::7/, 2edia Law, D
th
Edition, Sweet H 3a-well
Page - of 9
Ateneo School of Law
Media Law and Ethics
Course Outline and Schedule
First Semester, School Year 20!"20#
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
S)''este, Rea,#n's /0a*t#al L#st3
'ernande$, P 0, 2anual on Press Freedom, 2anual on S)eech in Action, Peacea$le
Assem$l0 and Petition .6@@C/( 2niversity of the Philippines 4aw Comple- =nstitute of
Luman )ights B 2 P 4aw Center
The Philippine Center for =nvestigative Journalism, 3ews For Sale" ,he Corru)tion of
Phili))ine 2edia .6@@?/
The Philippine Center for =nvestigative Journalism, 3ews 1n +istress 49995.
The Philippine Center for =nvestigative Journalism, From Loren ,o 2iramar" ,he
Phili))ine 2edia 1n ,he 9906s .6@@@/
>brams, 'loyd, S)ea7ing Freel0/ ,rial of the First Amendment .9::D/, 0iking Penguin
%agdikian, %en, ,he 2edia 2ono)ol0 .6@@9/, %oston, 3assachusetts, %eacon Press
%aker, C Edwin, *uman +ignit0 and Freedom of the Press .6@?@/, 4ondon, 8-ford
2niversity Press
%aker, C Edwin, Ad8ertising and A +emocratic Press .6@@D/, Princeton, 1ew Jersey,
Princeton 2niversity Press
Aoldberg, %ernard, Arrogance/ .escuing America from the 2edia 9lite .9::C/, Karner
%ook, =nc
Aoldfarb, )onald 4 and )oss, Aail E, ,he :riter6s Law0er .6@?@/, )andom Louse,
=nc, 1ew York
Labermas, Jurgen, ,he Structural ,ransformation of the Pu$lic S)here .6@@;/,
Cambridge, 3assachusetts, The 3=T Press
Lolt$man, ,avid L, Pri8ac0 Lost/ *ow ,echnolog0 1s 9ndangering Your Pri8ac0
.9::E/, Jossey!%ass
4ewis, >nthony, 2a7e 3o Law 4,he Sulli8an Case and the First Amendment5 .6@@9/,
'irst 0intage %ooks Edition
4ippman, Kalter, Pu$lic O)inion .6@ED/, 1ew York, 1ew York, The 'reePress
Powe, 4ucas Jr, ,he Fourth 9state and ,he Constitution .6@@9/, %erkeley and 4os
>ngeles, California, 2niversity of California Press
Page 9 of 9
Ateneo School of Law
Media Law and Ethics
Course Outline and Schedule
First Semester, School Year 20!"20#
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Smith, >nthony, 3ational 1dentit0 .6@@6/, 1evada, 2niversity of 1evada Press
Starr, Paul, ,he Creation of the 2edia/ Political Origins of 2odern Communications
.9::;/, %asic %ooks
Sunstein, Cass ), +emocrac0 and the Pro$lem of Free S)eech .6@@D/, The 'ree Press
Tungate, 3ark, 2edia 2onoliths/ *ow ;reat 2edia <rands ,hri8e and Sur8i8e .9::;/,
Mogan Page 4imited
Elefant, Carolyn and %lack, 1icole, Social 2edia for Law0ers 4,he 3e=t Frontier5
.9:6:/, >merican %ar >ssociation
Rea,#n's on Me,#a Eth#cs
To be distributed under separate cover
D% Co)*se ReD)#*e&ents an, 5*a,#n' S-ste&
>part from the lectures to be delivered by the Professor, graded recitations will be
conducted during class sessions )ecitations are designed to develop the student5s power
of analysis, ability to reason and facility of e-pression =n this connection, each student is
e-pected to actively lead and participate in group discussions to be scheduled during the
semester
3id!term and final e-aminations will be given Lowever, the Professor may opt to
re#uire the submission of term papers at the end of the term in lieu of the taking of 'inal
E-amination
> student5s final grade shall be computed based on his&her average in recitation and
attendance .6&C/, and grades in 3id!Term .6&C/ and 'inal E-aminations .6&C/
E% Cons)ltat#on Ho)*s

%y appointment with the Professor