Media and ethics

Academic year: 2007-2008 Course code module 3BCOM-040 Semester: 2nd semester Credits: 3 Study load (hours) 84 Theory (hours): 30,00 Practice/Exercises(hours): Other (hours): Part-time program: 2 Instructor(s) Johan Taels Language of instruction: Dutch Semester exam information: semester exam in June Contract restriction information: 1. Prerequisites *Algemene competenties Acquaintanceship with the basic notions and paradigms of ethics *Sequentiality 2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes) -Insight in the most prominent contemporary theories of moral philosophy, and in the main deontological practices of journalists and other media professionals -The competence to express a clear and balanced opinion on an ethical case within the field of mass media 3. Course content The course opens (Ch. 1) with an outline of the specific characteristics and methods of an ethical case-study and with a general survey of three dominant contemporary moral theories (consequentialism, deontic ethics, virtue ethics). Ch. 2 gives attention to the status of professional codes of ethics and to the practice and the rules of journalistic deontology and Ch. 3 to the distinction between objectivity and neutrality in covering international crises. Ch. 4 highlights the ethics of advertising, with special attention to alcohol advertising and Ch. 5 examines in which sense the distinction between modern and postmodern ethics has relevance to media ethics. The final chapter (Ch. 6) focusses on the ambiguous force of 'the comical' in mass media.   4. Teaching method Direct contact: Lectures Personal work: Assignments - individual Supervised self-study 5. Assessment method Exam: Written, without oral presentation Written assignment: Without oral presentation 6. Compulsory reading – study material -syllabus and addenda -more detailed course information and transparencies on Blackboard 7. Recommended reading - study material -Cl. Christians (ed.), Media Ethics. Cases and Moral Reasoning, New York, Longman, 1998 (1991). -B. Pattyn (ed.), Media Ethics. Opening Social dialogue, Leuven, Peeters, 2000. -See detailed bibliography in the syllabus 8. Tutoring laatste aanpassing: last update: 14/08/2006 14:37 johan.taels