PAR 315

Media Ethics

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Gauthier

Spring  2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

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 Wednesday, February 24.  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 Wednesday, April 21.   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 Wednesday, March 3 and the final exam will be on Monday, May 3 at 3 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

 

Mon. & Wed.

12-12:30 PM
       

Home Phone: 256-6419

 

E-mail: gauthierc@uncwil.edu

 

 

 

Website:

http://people.uncw.edu/gauthierc/ 

 

Other times by appointment

 You can also see me before and after class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. By the end of the semester, you should be able to (1) define ethical theories, principles, values, and virtues and apply them to ethical questions raised by the media, (2) describe and evaluate positions and arguments relevant to current media ethics issues, and (3) explain your own position on these issues with supporting arguments. 

 

TEXT:  Media Ethics: Issues and Cases

 

 

Phillip Patterson and Lee Wilkins

 

 

Sixth Edition

 

 

 

 

Required Readings and Discussion Topics

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

January 6

Introduction, Syllabus
    Small Group Discussion

 

 

 

Monday

January 11

Chapter I  Ethical Decision Making

 

 

pp. 1-19

 

 

Becoming a Moral Adult

 

 

pp. 338-347

 

 

 

Wednesday

January 13

Video

 

 

Media Power: Media Ethics

 

 

 

Wednesday

January 20

Chapter II  Information Ethics

 

 

pp. 20-36
     

Monday

January 25

Cases  pp. 38-67

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Wednesday

January 27

Chapter III Advertising Ethics

 

 

pp. 68-76
 

Monday

February 1

Cases pp. 77-93

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Wednesday

February 3

Chapter IV  Loyalty

 

 

pp. 94-104

 

 

 

Monday

February 8

Cases pp. 105-122

 

 

Presentations and Discussion
     
Wednesday February 10 Chapter V Public Relations
pp.123-128
 

 

 

 

Monday

February 15

 Cases pp. 129-146

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Wednesday

February 17

Chapter VI  Privacy

 

 

pp. 147-159

 

Monday

February 22

Cases pp. 160-174

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 
     

Wednesday

February 24

Film Paper Due

 

 

Discuss Papers
 

Monday

March 1

Video:

 

 

Media Rights and Responsibilities

 

Questions and Review for Mid-Term Exam
     
Wednesday March 3 Mid-Term Exam
     
     

Monday

March 15

Chapter VII  The Mass Media in a Democratic Society

 

 

pp. 175-188

 

Wednesday

March 17

Cases pp. 189-208

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Monday

March 22

Chapter VIII  Media Economics

 

 

pp. 209-222

 

 

 

Wednesday

March 24

Cases pp. 223-236

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday

March 29

Chapter IX Photo and Video Journalism

 

 

pp. 237-248

 

 

 
 

Wednesday

March 31

Cases pp. 249-276

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

Monday

April 5

Chapter X New Media

 

 

pp. 277-290
     

Wednesday

April 7

Cases pp. 295-308
Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

Monday

April 12

Chapter XI  Art and Entertainment

 

 

pp. 309-322
     

Wednesday

April 14

Cases pp. 323-337

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 
 Monday

 

 April 19

Video: Bloody Cartoons

Wednesday

 April 21

 Research Paper Due

Discuss papers
     
Monday April 26 Summary of the Course
    Questions and Review for Final Exam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONDAY

MAY 3 at 3  PM

 

FINAL EXAM