Week
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Topic
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Reading
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Assignments
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1
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Wednesday 9/30: Introduction to media ethics |
None yet |
None yet |
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2
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Monday 10/5: Moral claimants and obligation |
Text: pp. 21-54
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Read the case study here and answer the questions. |
| Wednesday 10/7: Ethical Theory: Relativism |
Text: pp 56-60. Also read, Do Objective Moral Standards Exist in the World Today?
See the author bio for perspective. |
Make a list of 5 moral standards you believe everyone, everywhere should follow. Explain briefly why you picked them and wy they are universal in application. |
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3
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Monday 10/12:Ethical Theory: Social Contract
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Text: pp 60-65. Also read this brief discussion of Hobbes' Leviathan. |
Write a 2-page essay (approximately 700 words) discussing why you either agree or disagree with Hobbes' assessment of society and what that would mean in today's media-driven culture. |
Wednesday 10/14: Ethical Theory: Consequential Ethics
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Text: pp 66-76. Also read, "Getting Mill Right." |
Read the case study here and use the "Decision Tree" from today's reading to analyze the problem. |
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4
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Monday 10/19: Ethical Theory: Non- consequential ethics
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Text: pp 262-271. Also read, "Transparency: An Assessment of the Kantian Roots of a Key Element in Media Ethics Practice."
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Read this article from the Atlantic Monthy and write a 2-page (700-word) essay discussing the transparency issues involved with the story featured in the article. Also include whether you agree or disagree with the position taken in the article? |
Wednesday 10/21: Ethical Theory: Virtue ethics
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Read the case study here and answer questions 1 and 2 only. |
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5
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Monday 10/26: The First Amendment |
Text: pp 86-94
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Reade the case study here and follow the directions. |
| Wednesday 10/28: Summary of theory and review for midterm exam |
Exam 1 Study Guide
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Come prepared to ask questions about what we've covered so far in readings and lecture.
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6
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Monday 11/2: Exam 1 |
BRING A LAPTOP! |
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| Wednesday 11/4: News journalism and ethics: Truth. |
Text: pp 113-134 and 225-248 (this contributes to the next few lectures on journalism and part of PR and advertising) |
Read the case study here and answer the questions. We will discuss in class. |
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7
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Monday 11/9: Special Topic: Photo-manipulation |
Text: pp 228-256. Also read, "Perfect Touchups," and "Faking It." And for a fun exploration of photo retouching, see the portfolio page here. |
Read the case study "Altering Photos for Aesthetics" and answer the questions. |
| Wednesday 11/11: Followup to Photo-manipulation plus a special surprise topic |
Rread the following articles:
Obama Joker Artists Unmasked
Show'em You're White Side
Now go to this NPR page and listen to the interview. |
Read the commentary on a Time magazine cover from last year. Write a 1 1/2-page essay (approximately 500 words) discussing what you think this cover means and why you think the cover is either ethical or not. |
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8
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Monday 11/16: Privacy & Harm |
Text: pp 256-262
Also read, Privacy Invasion by the News Media: Three Ethical Models
In preparation for our discussions on PR and advertising, read pp 135-151 in the text |
Read the case study here and answer the question. |
| Wednesday 11/18: Public Relations and Ethics |
Text: and 152-185
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Read the case study here and answer the questions. |
9
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Monday 11/23: Advertising and ethics |
Text: pp 186-205. |
Read the case study here and answer the questions. |
| Wednesday 11/25: Advertising & Stereotyping |
Text: pp 205-211
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Download the assignment sheet and follow the directions. |
10
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Monday 11/30: Special Topic: Morally Offensive Content |
Text: pp 218-224
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Read the case study here and answer the questions. We will discuss in class. |
| Wednesday 12/2: Special Topic: Religion and Ethics |
Read this
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Read the case study here and answer the questions. We will discuss in class. |
