Unit 2: Constitutional Framework and Mass Media
2.1 Freedom of Opinion and Expression
The Art 17(2)(a) core (the verified text): the freedom-of-opinion-and-expression (the fundamental freedom’s first face). The content’s layers: the opinion (the inner-held (the absolute core (the thought’s own freedom))); the expression (the outer manifestation (the speech-and-publication; the medium’s neutrality (the print-broadcast-digital equality))); the access dimension (the media-freedom’s individual face (the everyone’s-right-to-seek-receive-impart (the HR-treaty’s trio (the ICCPR-19-type frame))). The importance: the democracy’s foundation (the 1.3’s rationale’s constitutional anchor); the other-rights’ enabler (the assembly’s-and-participation’s infrastructure).
2.2 Freedom of Press and Publication
The Art 19 (the verified command — the media’s own article): the right-to-communication’s media core: the no-prior-censorship (the pre-publication state’s approval — barred); the no-closure-or-seizure-or-registration-cancellation of the press-and-broadcast (the media’s existence-protection); the no-obstruction-except-by-law (the statutory-only interference). The institutional-press freedom: the media’s collective face (the newsroom’s independence (the editorial’s autonomy)); the journalist’s individual face (the source-protection’s practice-and-debate); the broadcast’s special frame (the licensing’s coexistence (the Art 19’s registration-regime tolerance + the spectrum’s regulation rationale (U3’s design))). The economic face (the media’s viability): the Working Journalists Act 2051 (the journalist’s minimum-terms (the profession’s floor)); the state-advertising’s power (the subsidy’s leverage problem).
2.3 Right to Information
The Art 27 (the verified text): the right-to-information (the public-importance-information’s citizen-right (the confidentiality proviso (the protected-secrets’ limits))). The RTI Act 2064’s machinery (the LAW5605-U8.3 companion): the information-officers’ duty (the public-bodies’ designated responders (the request-and-response timeline)); the proactive-disclosure (the 20-day-type publication duty (the catalogues’-and-decisions’ posting)); the exemption-list (the sovereignty-security-and-privacy faces (the harm’s balancing)); the National Information Commission
This is a preview. The complete Media Law notes — full unit, Exam Focus box and model questions — are in the PDF / full version. Get the complete notes →