The media law course examines the press-related legal entertainment and media. Both the media and the law are currently in demand and provide excellent work prospects for highly talented and educated professionals. Depending on their needs, students can follow these courses in the Diploma, LLM, or PG levels.
Media law courses are offered in a variety of specialities at prestigious Indian institutions such as the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, Amity Law School in Delhi, and New Law College at BVP University in Pune.
Candidates can work as human rights lawyers, legal advisors, intellectual property lawyers, etc. with top legal companies in India after completing this course, including Phoenix Legal, Naik Naik & Co., J. Sagar Associates, etc.
Depending on the work type and level of experience in the profession, the typical income for a media lawyer ranges from INR 4,00,000 to INR 15,00,000.
Table of Contents
Media Law Quick Facts:
| Course Name | Media Law |
| Duration | 2-4 years depending upon the course opted by the candidate. |
| Programs Available | Diploma, PG, LLM |
| Admission Process | Merit or Entrance-based |
| Average Course Fee | INR 15,000 to INR 1,50,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 4,00,000 to INR 15,00,000 |
| Top Recruiting Fields | Human Rights Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer, Independent Lawyer, Data Protection, Media Legal Advisor etc. |
About Media Law
- The media industry, which includes publishing, newspapers, television, radio, film, and the internet, is enormous.
- Therefore, it is important to comprehend the regulations that govern these areas.
- The law that controls media infrastructure, imposes restrictions on media communication and safeguards intellectual properties is covered in the Media Law course.
- The knowledge necessary for creative and design professionals is covered in depth in this course, along with a wide range of themes and models.
- The law of the press is a topic covered in the Media Law course.
- One can choose to study media law for a diploma, a graduate degree, or a master’s degree.
- The need for knowledgeable experts in this field is growing.
Why Media Law?
- The demand for this course is rising because both the media and the law are developing industries.
- to educate oneself on the rules and laws that govern the media industry
Who Should Do Media Law?
- A Media Law course is an option for law students who desire to work as in-house counsel for businesses in the media and entertainment industry.
- Law students looking for employment in a firm’s Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) practise
- Independent professionals looking to create contracts for the media and entertainment sector.
- litigators interested in handling transactions involving the media and entertainment
- those who make decisions in an entertainment company.
- Expertise in this field is useful for movie directors as well.
When To Do Media Law?
- Media law courses are available as a Diploma, LLM, and PG, as was previously mentioned.
- Students with a strong interest in this area can choose this course based on convenience.
- With a minimum cumulative score of 45 to 50 per cent in the previous highest qualification, this degree can be taken after 10+2 (as a diploma), LLB (as an LLM), and graduation (as a PG).
Types of Media Law Courses
The length of the diploma, postgraduate, and LLM programmes at Media Law Courses vary from one year to five years. The three courses’ eligibility requirements, durations, admissions processes, and other details are shown below.
Diploma in Media Law
The comprehensive information about courses for the Diploma in Media Law is given below:
| Program Name | Diploma in Media Law |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation from a recognized University |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Admission Process | Through merit or entrance based and/or through College’s own entrance exam. |
PG in Media Law
The detailed information about PG in Media Law courses is given below:
| Program Name | PG in Media Law |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation from a recognized university with a minimum of 45% aggregate |
| Admission Criteria | Through merit or entrance based and/or through College’s own entrance exam. |
| Average Salary | INR 5,00,000 to 10,50,000 |
LLM in Media Law
The comprehensive information about LLM in media law programmes is given below:
| Program Name | LLM in Media Law |
| Eligibility Criteria | LLB from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% aggregate |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Admission Criteria | Through merit or entrance based and/or through College’s own entrance exam. |
Top Online Media Law Courses
- Both online and offline learning options are available for the Media Law courses.
- This means that information on a few platforms that provide this course in an online mode on their platforms is provided below for applicants who intend to study this course in an online style.
MyLaw Online Media Law Course
- At a low fee, MyLaw offers certification in Media Laws & Regulations.
- The given certificate can be shared on a number of websites, including Facebook, Twitter, email, and LinkedIn.
- Understanding the laws and rules that impose restrictions on media communication, safeguarding intellectual property, and managing media infrastructure is made easier by taking this course.
| Platform name | law |
| Course Fee | INR 500 |
| Duration | 5+ hours of content |
LawSikho Online Media Law Course
- LawSikho offers diplomas in media, entertainment, and intellectual property laws. To take this course online, no prior technical knowledge is necessary.
- Additionally, there are assignments in this course that must be finished by a certain date.
- In addition to these advantages, LawSikho offers practical exercises, live online classes to teach assignment-specific information, live doubt-clearing sessions, and money-back guarantees. Hard copy study materials are also couriered to students’ addresses in India.
| Platform Name | LawSikho |
| Course fee | INR 30,000 |
| Duration | 12 months (8-10 hours per week) |
New York University Online Media Law Course
- Through edX, New York University offers a Media Law course.
- The course covers a wide range of subjects, such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Open Source Public License, Creative Commons, Digital Rights Management, practical definitions of Fair Use, and the restrictions on sampling and mingling in various cultures and economic sectors.
- The course is offered in English at the introductory level.
- Benefits: A certificate
| Platform Name | New York University |
| Course fee | INR 18,475 |
| Duration | 14 weeks (8-10 hours per week) |
Scoreboard Advocates and Legal Consultants Online Media Law Course
- One of the top law companies in India, Scriboard Advocates and Legal Consultants, offers a Certificate in New Media Laws in collaboration with Enhelion.
- The course assists in giving the student a fundamental and in-depth understanding of laws that will benefit them in any situation.
- The course fee is not transferable.
- The free “New Media Laws” book, lifetime access to the lecture recordings, one-on-one interactive sessions with the team to resolve problems, and online submission of assignments are just a few advantages of taking this course through Enhelion.
- Perks: Internship and Certificate
| Platform Name | Scoreboard Advocates and Legal Consultants |
| Course fee | INR 1,799 |
| Duration | Self-paced |
E-Justice India Online Media Law Course
- A brand-new online course on media and entertainment law has been launched by E-Justice India. Both students and professionals will benefit from taking this course.
- To ensure that all students have a thorough comprehension of the material, the course is organised into three modules, each of which covers a distinct area of the laws relating to media and entertainment.
- Only the candidates who have registered will have access to all the materials through the mail.
- advantages: certificate
| Platform Name | E-Justice India |
| Course fee | INR 199 |
| Duration | 1 month |
University of Southern California (USC) Online Media Law Course
- Students can get an online Entertainment Law and Business Certificate from the University of Southern California (USC) to gain the foundational knowledge of entertainment law needed to deal with legal difficulties in the entertainment industry.
- Students may pursue careers as entertainment attorneys or as professionals doing legal work in the entertainment industry.
- Students will get the chance to learn more about the complex rules governing the film, television, and media industries in this course.
- The University asks for a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, a resume, and a personal statement as part of the admissions process for this programme. International candidates are not required to submit LSAT, TOEFL, or IELTS scores.
| Platform Name | University of Southern California |
| Course fee | Approx. INR 31,848 |
| Duration | 12 months |
Media Law Course Structure
A few of the legal topics that are covered by the media law courses are given below:
- Defamation
- Media Ethics
- Confidentiality
- Commercial contracts
- Broadcasting
- Employment
- Privacy
- Freedom of Information
- Obscenity and Censorship
- Intellectual Property
The following are some additional types of laws that media law may cover:
- Employment issues
- Crime
- Tax Laws
- Torts
- Labour issues
- Contract Laws
- Bankruptcy
- Immigration
- Insurance Regulations
Media Law Eligibility Criteria
To pursue a specialisation in Media Law, a candidate must follow the eligibility criteria prescribed by a college or university. If an aspirant fills the application form of the desired college without being eligible for media law, his/her candidature would be considered invalid. Check out the pointers mentioned below in order to get an idea of the minimum eligibility criteria of media law.
- Eligibility criteria vary from college to college and programme to programme.
- For Diploma in Media Law, you must be a graduate from a recognised university or college.
- To pursue a PG Diploma in Media Law the candidate must possess a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university/college. The aggregate must not be less than 45% marks.
- In order to get admission to an LLM degree programme, the applicant must have qualified LLB from a recognised university with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks.
- Certain colleges provide relaxation to the reserved categories in the aggregate marks.
Note: The aggregate marks may vary depending on the college/university you have chosen for the media law course admission.
Media Law Admission Process
An applicant has to go through an admission process of the college/university for undertaking admission in the course. Enlisted below are the Media Law Admission Process that a law aspirant encounter after filling out the application form.
- Admission processes of colleges are different from each other. Some colleges take an entrance exam to admit students to the course whilst others consider the score occupied in the common entrance exam of law.
- Some colleges also enrol students on the basis of merit in the qualifying examination. The better the marks of the candidates in the qualifying examination the higher is his/her chances of getting admission to the college.
Media Law Syllabus
A student of media law will encounter the following topics as listed in the table below when pursuing this career.
| Media & the Society | Copyright Law |
| Morality, Obscenity and Censorship | Copyright & Art |
| Right to Information | Patents |
| Broadcasting | Right to Privacy |
| Media and Ethics | History of Freedom of Speech and Expression of India |
| Advertisement and the Law | Contempt of court |
| Investigate Journalism and the Right to Privacy | Media and the Constitution |
| Media and the Law | Cinema and the State |
| Electronic Media and Regulatory Law | Restrictions on Freedom of speech and expression |
| First Amendment Act | Right to Information |
| Privacy and Art | Regulations in Print Media |
| Comedy, Choreography, and Creative Commons | International media issues |
Stream Comparisons: LL.M. in Media Law vs. Postgraduate Diploma in Media Law
| Program Name | Post-graduate Diploma in Media Law | LL.M. in Media Law |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year | 2 years (may vary) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University. (Final year students may also apply) | LLB or equivalent from a recognized University with at least 55% aggregate |
| Selection Criteria | Through merit-based common entrance exam through the college’s own entrance exam | Through merit-based entrance exam |
| Career Opportunities | Lawyer, Public Relations Specialist, Editorial Assistant, Information Officer, Broadcast/Magazine Journalist | Intellectual Property Lawyer, Entertainment Lawyer, Digital Forensics, Data Protection, Legal Advisor, Litigation Lawyer |
| Names of Colleges | School of Business, University of Petroleum, and Energy StudiesSwami Vivekanand Subharti UniversitySchool of Law, University of Petroleum, and Energy StudiesAmity University, Noida | Amity Law School, DelhiILS Law College, Pune |
Top Media Law Colleges in India
There are numerous reputable law schools in India that provide diverse specialities in various areas of media law. The top universities in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Pune that offer programmes in media law are listed below:
| Name of College | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| National Law School of India University, Bangalore | INR 1,38,000 |
| National Law University, Delhi | INR 1,75,000 |
| NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad | INR 1,75,000 |
| National Law Institute University, Bhopal | INR 6,00,000 |
Top Media Law Colleges in Mumbai
The list of best colleges in Mumbai that provide a media law programme and the total cost of the degree are shown below.
| College Name | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| St. Xavier’s College | INR 5,000 + VAT |
Top Media Law Colleges in Delhi
The list of best colleges in Delhi that provide a media law programme and the total cost of the programme is shown below.
| College Name | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| National Law University | INR 1,00,000-2,,00,000 |
| Amity Law School | 1st-year non-sponsored semester (Fee: INR 62,000 1st year sponsored semester (Fee: INR 63,000) |
Top Media Law Colleges in Kolkata
The list of best colleges in Kolkata that provide a media law programme and the total cost of the programme is shown below.
| College Name | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences | INR 5,000 |
Top Media Law Colleges in Pune
The list of best colleges in Pune that provide a media law programme and the total cost of the programme is shown below.
| College Name | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| New Law College, BVP University | N/A |
Top Media Law Colleges in Hyderabad
The list of best colleges in Hyderabad that provide a media law programme and the total cost of the programme is shown below.
| College Name | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| NALSAR University of Law | INR 20,000 |
Skills Required to be A Media Lawyer
Due to the nature of the industry, the Media Law course is very fast-paced and heavily client-focused, thus certain abilities are required. Several are listed below:
| Litigation skills | Alternative dispute resolution skills |
| Analytical and research skills | Confidence to communicate and engage |
| Ability to build a good rapport with clients | Ability to socialize well and quickly with clients |
Media Law Scope
After this course, there are numerous opportunities.
- Many media and entertainment companies are extending their internal legal handling teams as they diversify their content offerings by producing original material.
- Many reputable production companies and TV networks need a legal team to manage contract work relating to the setup of their customers’ exclusive digital apps.
- To handle their contractual documentation work in regard to the establishment and exploitation of intellectual property rights, if any, technology businesses are also establishing their own internal legal teams.
- Additionally, the chance to work as a freelancer for creative professionals, talent management companies, and artists.
Top Employment Opportunities
One can work in a variety of sectors and advance professionally by taking media law courses. A few of the fields in which a media lawyer may work are listed below:
- Music companies
- Social media companies
- Media and entertainment law firms
- Production houses
- Media-related technology companies
- Independent Litigators
- Advertising agencies
- Media and entertainment companies
- Boutique practices of TMT firms
- Entities focusing on digital media content
- Fashion firms
- Heavy advertisers (e.g. FMCG)
- TV channels, newspapers
Top Recruiters
Candidates who have studied media law are currently employed by prestigious firms in both India and the UK. A handful of the top law firm recruiters are listed below:
| UK Recruiters | Indian Recruiters |
| Bird & Bird LLP | Nishith Desai Associates |
| Reed Smith | Phoenix Legal |
| Dentons | Naik Naik & Co. |
| Sheridan’s | J. Sagar Associates |
| Baker McKenzie | DSK Legal |
Media Law Salary
- The amount of time and experience a person has in the subject of media law affects their pay. In this industry, an annual pay of about 12,58,000 INR is typical.
- A starting wage, based on experience, would be roughly INR 8,85,000 per year.
- It is crucial to remember that the wage is dependent on the company, the employer, and the employee’s knowledge.
Job Role Wise:
Based on their job descriptions, media lawyers’ typical annual salaries are detailed below.
| Job Profile | Average Salary Per Annum |
|---|---|
| Human Rights Lawyer | INR 3,00,000 |
| Intellectual Property Lawyer | INR 6,00,000 |
| Media Lawyer | INR 9,52,000 |
| Media & Entertainment Lawyer | INR 9,00,000 |
| Independent Lawyer | INR 7,20,000 |
| Data Protection | INR 14,76,162 |
| Media Legal Advisor | INR 2,70,000 |
| Digital Forensics | INR 8,75,000 |
Media Law Courses FAQs
Ans. It is challenging to provide an objective response to this issue because interests will vary from person to person. Each person has a unique personality and skill set. However, there are numerous legal courses available in a variety of fields, including criminal law, business law, cyber law, media law, etc. Choose based on your skills and interests.
Ans. The effort put into a course determines how effective it is. There are online media law courses that, if taken from a reputable college, are also valuable.
Ans. LLM degree is a Master’s degree so it cannot be studied online or distance mode.