PAR 315

Media Ethics

 

 

 

Dr. Candace Gauthier

Spring  2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

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. The use of electronic devices, including cell phones and computers, is not permitted during class.  Please leave the classroom if you need to use your phone or computer.

 

3. 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. 

 

 

 

4. 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.

 

5. 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.

 

6. You will write a two page paper on one of the media ethics cases in each case section, including your answers to the case questions, with your reasons, and an application of one of the ethical theories to the case. 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.

 

7. 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 February 27.  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 25.   Late papers will be marked down one letter grade. Formal papers may not be submitted by e-mail.

 

Paper assignments and other handouts will be available through links on my website.  You are responsible for accessing these to use in preparing your papers.

 

8. There will be two exams during the semester.  The mid-term exam will be on Monday March 5 and the final exam will be on Monday, May 7 at 3 PM. 

 

 

9. 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.

  

10. 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

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

 

 

Seventh Edition

 

 

 

 

Required Readings and Discussion Topics

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

January 11

Introduction, Syllabus

     

 

 

 

Wednesday

January 18

Chapter I  Ethical Decision Making

 

 

pp. 1-19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday

January 23

Becoming a Moral Adult

 

 

pp. 303-312

 

 

 Sign up for Chapters and Cases

 

Wednesday

January 25

Video: Media Ethics

 

 

 

     

Monday

January 30

Chapter II  Information Ethics

 

 

pp. 21-36

 

 

 

Wednesday

Feb. 1

Cases pp. 38-54

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

Monday

February 6

Chapter III Strategic Communication

 

 

pp. 55-66

 

 

 

Wednesday

February 8

Cases pp. 68-93

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

Monday

February 13

Chapter IV  Loyalty

 

 

pp. 94-103

     
Wednesday February 15  Cases pp. 104-121
Presentations and Discussion
 

 

 

 

Monday

February 20

Chapter V  Privacy

 

 

pp. 122-135

 

 

 

Wednesday

February 22

Cases pp. 136-146

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

Monday

February 27

Film Paper Due

 

 

Discuss Papers
     

Wednesday

February 29

Video:

 

 

Media Rights and Responsibilities

Questions and Review for Mid-Term Exam

 

Monday

March 5

Mid-Term Exam

 

 

 

 

 

     
Wednesday March 7 Chapter VI The Mass Media in a Democratic Society
    pp. 147-159

 

     

Monday

March 19

Discussion of the Media Coverage of the Presidential Primaries

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

March 21

Cases pp. 161-178

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

Monday

March 26

Chapter VII  Media Economics

 

 

pp. 179-191

 

 

 

Wednesday

March 28

Cases pp. 192-204

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday

April 2

Chapter VIII Photo and Video Journalism

 

 

pp. 205-215

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

April 4

Cases pp. 216-241

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

Monday

April 9

Chapter IX New Media

 

 

pp. 242-254

     

Wednesday

April 11

Cases pp. 255-272

Presentations and Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

Monday

April 16

Chapter X Art and Entertainment

 

 

pp. 273-285

     

Wednesday

April 18

Cases pp. 287-305

 

 

Presentations and Discussion

 

 Monday

 

April 23

Video: Free Speech for Sale

Wednesday

 April 25

 Research Paper Due

Discuss papers

     
Monday April 30 Summary of the Course
    Questions and Review for Final Exam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONDAY

MAY 7 at 3  PM

 

FINAL EXAM