Course Overview
Trains journalists to function within the Canadian judicial system. This course explains the inner workings and the various levels of courts and familiarizes students with Canadian criminal law and the laws of libel and slander.
Prerequisite(s)
- Successful completion of all term 1 courses.
Credits
2.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, the student will be able to function within the Canadian Judicial system as a working Journalist by:
- Identify the various levels of the court system.
- Differentiate between common, civil, and statute law.
- Apply the principles of Canadian law to journalism.
- Identify libelous and contemptuous statements and the different kinds of contempt
- Identify statutory restrictions when reporting crime such as publication bans
- Paraphrase judgments and writs while writing news stories.
- Identify the stages of a court case from pre-trial to conclusion.
- Locate search warrants and other court documents that provide material for writing news stories.
- Write legal-based news stories in a fair and balanced way.
- Discuss the relationship between Indigenous laws, Canadian law, and the media.
Effective as of Winter 2025
Related Programs
Media Law (BCST 1331) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Business + Media
- Broadcast and Online Journalism
Diploma Full-time
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.