PAR 315

Media Ethics

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Gauthier

Fall  2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

Course Requirements

 

 

 

 

1. Attendance at all classes is expected.  Numerous absences will definitely affect your ability to satisfactorily meet the goals of this course.

 

2. Reading of assigned chapters and cases for each class is essential.  These form the basis for your understanding of and participation in class discussions as well as for writing papers and preparing for exams.  Students will be assigned responsibility for specific chapters and will be expected to discuss the main points of those chapters in class.   Please bring the assigned text to class every day. 

3. Participation in class discussions is strongly encouraged.  Active engagement with others in the consideration of ethical issues is central to the development of critical  analysis skills and a well-supported personal position.

 
4. Each student will present one media ethics case for discussion during the semester. There will be a sign-up sheet so that you can choose the topic for the case you would like to present.

 

5. You will write a two-page paper on one of the media ethics cases in each case section, including your own answers to the case questions, with your reasons, and including an application of one of the ethical theories or principles of media ethics to the case you have chosen.  These will be due on the days each case section is discussed.  Late case papers will lose one point (out of 10 points) for each day late.  Case papers may not be submitted by e-mail.

 

6. You will write two formal papers during the semester.  The first paper will be based on a film dealing with ethical issues in the media.  You will be provided with a list of films from which to choose the subject of your paper and instructions for preparing the paper.  This paper will be due on Monday, October 13.  The second paper will concern a media ethics issue of your choosing.  Instructions will be provided for preparing this paper, as well.  The final paper will be due on Monday, December1.   Late papers will be marked down one letter grade. Formal papers may not be submitted by e-mail.

 

7. There will be two exams during the semester.  The mid-term exam will be on Monday, October 20 and the final exam will be on Friday, December 5 at  7 PM. 

 

8. Make-up exams will not be available, except in extraordinary circumstances.  The exams for this course will include ethical theories and principles, definitions, concepts, and essay questions based on our assigned readings, including the reserve readings, handouts, and class discussions.  Final grades will include “plus” modifiers, when appropriate.

  
9. The case papers will add up to 100 points and will together count one-quarter of the final grade.  The two formal papers will together count one-quarter of the final grade.  Each exam will count one-quarter of the final grade.

 

Office: Bear Hall 272

Office Hours:

 

 

Office Phone: 962-3558

 

Tues. & Thurs..

1:30- 2 PM
    Wednesday 4:30- 5 PM

Home Phone: 256-6419

 

E-mail: gauthierc@uncwil.edu

 

 

 

Website:

http://people.uncw.edu/gauthierc/ 

 

Other times by appointment

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEDIA ETHICS:  COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

 

 

The purpose of this course is to explore questions of ethics in the media, including print and broadcast journalism, advertising, public relations, and the entertainment media. As a result of participation in this course, students should be able to (1) explain and employ classical and contemporary ethical theories and principles, values, and virtues as they apply to media activities, (2) explain and critically analyze historical and current ethical issues in the media, (3) critically analyze arguments on opposing sides of these ethical issues, and (4) formulate their own positions on the ethical questions raised by media activities and be able to explain supporting arguments for their positions.

 

 

TEXT:  Media Ethics: Issues and Cases

 

 

Phillip Patterson and Lee Wilkins

 

 

Sixth Edition

 

 

 

 

Required Readings and Discussion Topics

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

August 20 

Introduction, Syllabus
    Small Group Discussion

 

 

 

Monday

August 25

Chapter I  Ethical Decision Making

 

 

pp. 1-17

 

 

Becoming a Moral Adult

 

 

pp. 338-347

 

 

 

Wednesday

August 27

Video

 

 

Media Power: Media Ethics/Breaking the News

 

 

 

Wednesday

Sept. 3

Chapter II  Information Ethics

 

 

pp. 20-36
     

Monday

Sept. 8

Cases  pp. 38-67

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Wednesday

Sept. 10

Chapter III Advertising Ethics

 

 

pp. 68-76
 

Monday

Sept. 15

Cases pp. 77-93

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Wednesday

Sept. 17

Chapter IV  Loyalty

 

 

pp. 94-104

 

 

 

Monday

Sept. 22

Cases pp. 105-122

 

 

Presentations and Discussion
     
Wednesday Sept. 24 Chapter V Public Relations
pp.123-128
 

 

 

 

Monday

Sept. 29

 Cases pp. 129-146

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Wednesday

Oct. 1

Chapter VI  Privacy

 

 

pp. 147-159

 

Wednesday

Oct. 8

Cases pp. 160-174

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 
     

Monday

Oct. 13

First Paper Due

 

 

Discuss Papers
 

Wednesday

Oct. 15

Video:

 

 

Media Rights and Responsibilities

 

Questions and Review for Mid-Term Exam
     
Monday Oct. 20 Mid-Term Exam
     
     

Wednesday

Oct. 22

Chapter VII  The Mass Media in a Democratic Society

 

 

pp. 175-188

 

Monday

Oct. 27

Cases pp. 189-208

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Wednesday

Oct. 29

Chapter VIII  Media Economics

 

 

pp. 209-222

 

 

 

Monday

Nov. 3

Cases pp. 223-236

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

Nov. 5

Chapter IX Photo and Video Journalism

 

 

pp. 237-248

 

 

 
 

Monday

Nov. 10

Cases pp. 249-276

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Wednesday

Nov. 12

Chapter X New Media

 

 

pp. 277-290
     

Monday

Nov. 17

Cases pp. 295-308
Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

Nov. 19

Chapter XI  Art and Entertainment

 

 

pp. 309-322
     

Monday

Nov. 24

Cases pp. 323-337

 

 

Presentations and Discussion
   

 

Monday

 Dec. 1

 Final Paper Due

 
     
Wednesday Dec. 5 Summary of the Course
    Questions and Review for Final Exam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRIDAY

DECEMBER  5 at 7  PM

 

FINAL EXAM