By MARK PEARSON Follow @Journlaw
Cognitive reflection can be a useful technique for introducing and revising media law topics.
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Our research on the use of mindfulness based meditation techniques pointed to the possibility of short focussed reflections upon media law and ethics topics as a device to encourage a “pause and reflect” approach in the workplace and to deepen learning.
Please see:
Pearson, M., McMahon, C., O’Donovan, A. and O’Shannessy, D. (2019), ‘Building journalists’ resilience through mindfulness strategies’. Journalism. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1464884919833253
Pearson, M., McMahon, C., and O’Donovan, A. (2018) ‘Potential benefits of teaching mindfulness to journalism students’. Asia Pacific Media Educator (December). 28:2: https://doi.org/10.1177/1326365X18800080
This year I have recorded nine such media law cognitive reflections for the use of media law students – all of 7-11 minutes’ duration.
Anecdotal feedback from students to date has been that some love them as another means of accessing the topic at hand, while others found them to be of little value.
I recommend a basic introduction to meditation/reflection prior to the subject-based reflections, such as this “Invitation to Focus” from the Griffith University Counselling and Well Being team.
So, here are the nine cognitive reflections on media law topics. I’d appreciate any feedback.
Reflection 1 – Open Justice
Reflection 2 – Contempt
Reflection 3 – Defamation introduction
Reflection 4 – Defending defamation
Reflection 5 – Secrets and confidentiality
Reflection 6 – Hate speech
Reflection 7 – Intellectual property
Reflection 8 – Privacy
Reflection 9 – Media law in practice / revision
Disclaimer: While I write about media law and ethics, nothing here should be construed as legal advice. I am an academic, not a lawyer. My only advice is that you consult a lawyer before taking any legal risks.
© Mark Pearson 2020 – the moral right of the author has been asserted.
