Media Law (Bacj 131) Question Paper
Media Law (Bacj 131)
Course:Communication And Journalism
Institution: Kenya Methodist University question papers
Exam Year:2012
END OF 3''RD ''TRIMESTER 2012 (EVENING) EXAMINATIONS
FACULTY : EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT : COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM
UNIT CODE : BACJ 131
UNIT TITLE : MEDIA LAW
TIME : 2 HOURS
Instructions:
Answer question one and two others.
Question One
Explain the requirements for the following defenses in defamation.
Fair comment
(6 marks)
Qualified privilege
(6 marks)
Justification
(6 marks)
Consent
(6 marks)
The principle in the New York Times v Sullivan
(6 marks)
Question Two
Describe four distinct ways in which a reporter can avoid libel.
(12 marks)
Describe four distinct ways in which a news organization can mitigate libel once it has occurred.
(8 marks)
Question Three
Distinguish between civil and criminal libel, and give the arguments advanced for the abolition of the law on criminal libel. (20 marks)
Question Four
Discuss two libel cases in Kenya in which the plaintiffs could have sued in Britain or the United States of America, giving two possible reasons in each case why they did not.
(16 marks)
What is the main argument against libel tourism?
(4 marks)
Question Five
Explain two provisions in Kenya’s copyright Act that are relevant to the practice of journalism in Kenya.
(14 marks)
Discuss how Caroline Mutoko could have avoided charges of plagiarism in her column, "letter to my 20 – something self." Published in the star on
3 September 2012. (6 marks)
Question Six
Explain the finding in Campbell V Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd (2004) and its significance. Is the finding a persuasive precedent for similar cases in Kenya? Give reasons for your answer. (20 marks)
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