MEDIA ETHICS
RTVF 4455.001, Spring 2014
1:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Thursday, RTVF 264
Adjunct Professor: Marjorie Lewis
Office: RTVF 226
Office hours: By appointment
Required textbook:
Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning, 9th ed, Christians, Fackler, Richardson, Kreshel, Woods, Jr.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Examines ethical questions and dilemmas faced by journalists and other media practitioners, with a strong emphasis on how to implement and use an effective ethical decision-making process in the newsroom. Includes extensive use of case studies, class discussions, role-playing, research and writing.
COURSE GOALS
This course is designed to help you apply ethical principles to situations you will encounter as professional communicators and as media consumers through a critical process of reflection and deliberation. You will explore on-the-job problems and moral dilemmas in journalism, advertising, marketing, entertainment programming, organizational life, and between persons --working toward ethically justifiable and biblically responsible solutions.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
As a result of this course students will:
1. learn to recognize ethical issues present in professional situations;
2. develop analytical skills through application of decision-making techniques;
3. learn to tolerate disagreement as to “correct” procedures and techniques;
4. investigate process of moral development and reasoning;
5. seek to understand the impact of media decisions on society;
6. derive more complete understanding of various philosophical orientations to ethics;
7. develop an understanding of key ethical issues facing journalists, as well as advertising, public relations and entertainment media professionals;
8. formulate strategies and guidelines for confronting ethical challenges in journalism, advertising, public relations and entertainment media.
ASSIGNMENTS/ASSESSMENTS/GRADE BREAKDOWN
The class is built around one major assignment; however, two smaller assignments will spring from it. The one major assignment can be done alone or with one partner. It will be the creation of a video or a power-point presentation that answers this question: What is the state of ethics in the media today? That is the macro issue. The micro issue is to pick an area of interest to you to focus on answering that question. Perhaps you are interested in focusing on advertising to children or TV shows that exploit a segment of the population. Do you want to research bias in the news media or in the movie industry? Whether you choose to do a video or a power point, be creative. For example, if you do a video, you might want to do a parody making fun of something unethical that was produced despite its inherent lack of ethical standards. Let's say you do a parody on "Toddlers and Tiaras," the cable program broadcast on TLC. Perhaps you can parody the show with a 5-minute video you produce and then explain during your presentation what makes it either ethical or unethical based on the Potter Box model of ethics. Explain if the show's producers did the ethical or unethical thing by producing this show therefore answering the key question regarding the state of ethics in the media today. The completed project will be worth 350 points.
The smaller assignments that spring from the big project are: (1) one interview with someone in the field who has dealt with similar types of ethical issues. For example, if you chose to do your presentation on advertising to children, set up an interview with someone in the advertising industry and ask about ethical issues he/she has had to deal with in regard to advertising. Ask how he/she handled it. Write a two-paged paper worth 150 points about the interview. Include the interview in your presentation and explain how it helped in your research. (2) Keep a log of ethical issues you encounter while working on this project. List each issue and write one paragraph per issue regarding how you handled each. You must have at least five issues. You'll be surprised how often an ethical dilemma presents itself no matter how big or how small. In the rare event you do not have an ethical issue present itself, substitute this section by researching and ethical dilemma with a similar issue, and write a two-paged paper in the Potter Box model. Include this material in your presentation by explaining how it helped guide your conclusion. This assignment is also worth 150 points.
There will be only one quiz and one test. The quiz will be given the third week of class and will focus on the Introduction. The quiz will be worth 50 points. The test will be given two or three weeks after the quiz and will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the basic foundation for the remainder of the class. The test will be worth 100 points.
Project Presentation/status report = 350 points
Interview paper = 150 points
Log with responses = 150 points
Quiz/Test = 50/100 points
Attendance = 100 points
Participation = 100 points
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Total = 1000 points
A = 900-1000 pts.
B = 899-800 pts.
C = 799-700 pts.
D = 699-600 pts.
F = 599 pts. and below
Attendance (100) and Participation (100 points): Attendance will be taken at each class; unexcused absences will affect your points total. An unexcused absence will cost you 6.6 points. We will take a break during the class period, and if you do not to return for the second half, 6.6 points will be deducted from your attendance grade. If you cannot attend class because you are ill, you must notify me via e-mail before class or your absence will be unexcused. If you miss class due to a religious holiday, notify me in advance of class.
Group and Class Participation Occasionally, we will break out into groups as part of our classroom discussion, so your participation in the groups as well as individually in class is very important. Because this class meets just once a week, we have only 15 class sessions, so it is essential you attend each class session. Because participation is worth 100 total points, 6.6 points will be deducted for lack of participation when a class has not been attended.
CLASS POLICIES
Turn off all cell phones, laptops, tablets, and any other electronic devices during class. Text messaging, sending e-mails, browsing the internet are not permitted in class. Civility is expected at all times during class.
ODA Notification: The University of North Texas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 – The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens. As a faculty member, I will provide “reasonable accommodations” to students with disabilities. Students (you) must inform faculty (me) of their need for accommodation by providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations are at http://www.unt.edu/oda/apply/index.html. Visit the Office of Disability Accommodation in the University Union (room 321) or call 940.565.4323. Be sure and present any ODA documentation to me by the third week of class.
RTVF 4455.001 TENTATIVE CALENDAR (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
All DATES REFLECT DUE DATES
Bring textbook to class
Jan. 16: Personal introductions; Overview of expectations; Discuss: How do we define ethics? Ethics vs. morals? Ethics vs. law?
Jan. 23: Read Introduction; Read Part One; Read pages 31-32 and assigned case (cases will be assigned during class)
Jan. 30: QUIZ ON INTRODUCTION; Read pages 47-48; Read pages 290-291 and pages 298-299 and assigned case
Feb. 6: Read pages 60-61 and assigned case; Read pages 78-79 and assigned case
Feb. 13: TEST; Read pages 95-97 and assigned case
TOPIC AND FORMAT FOR PROJECT DUE: Submit through Blackboard. INCLUDE IF DOING ALONE OR WITH PARTNER. INCLUDE NAME OF PARTNER.
Feb. 20: Read Part Two and pages 20-23 and assigned case
Feb. 27: Read pages 138-139 and assigned case
March 6: Read pages 155-156 and 177-179 and 197-198 and assigned case
INTERVIEW PAPER DUE: Submit through Blackboard
March 13: NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK
March 20: Read Part Three; Read pages 201-202 and 213-214 and assigned case
PROJECT STATUS UPDATE DUE: Submit through Blackboard
March 27: Read pages 226-227 and assigned case
April 3: Read pages 239-240 and bottom of 246-247 and assigned case
PROJECT LOG DUE: Submit through Blackboard
April 10: Read Part Four; Read pages 255-257 and assigned case
April 17: BEGIN PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
April 24: CONTINUE PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
May 1: FINISH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS