Social & Ethical Issues in Mass Communication (#930) COMM 456
D. Vickers Hall Room 387
Tuesday | Thursday 12:30AM
Joe Burns, Ph.D. 549.2899
Office Hours See schedule at end of syllabus
Text: Ethics in Media Communications; Cases and Controversies (Day)
Attendance: Attendance will be tied to participation and assigned elements in this class.
Note in the Classes section the number of examples, papers, and participation required.
Because attendance is tied to those items, no late examples or papers are allowed.
Cheating: One instance fails the class. For what I consider cheating, see:
Purpose: Media ethics in an elusive topic that will change from medium to medium, from audience to audience and from person to person. Thus, this class cannot be taught from the perspective of right and wrong. It can, however, be taught from the perspective or your moral and ethical beliefs, well supported…or not. When this class has finished, you should be aware of ethical and moral definitions, major media ethical concerns, and how to voice an opinion regarding those concerns. Basically, you should be able to voice an opinion that is well supported and not simply predicated upon, “That’s what I think.”
Graded Elements:
1. Four (4) Opinion Papers (@ 25 points ea.) 100
2. Ten (10) Examples (@ 5 points ea.) 50
3. Midterm 50
4. Ethics Court Argument (2 @ 25 points ea.) 50
5 Final 50
Total Points:300
90% - A || 80% - B || 70% - C || 60% - D || Below – F
I round up if the next level is within one half percentage point.
For example: 7.4 does not round up. However, 7.5 does round up.
Explanation of Graded Items:
Opinion Papers: Over the course of the semester, I call for eight papers. You’ll see the due dates, all Tuesdays, in the Classes section. You will only need to do four of the papers. Which four due dates you choose to meet is your choice. However, because of having to only do four of eight papers, there are no make-up papers or late papers allowed. This is non-negotiable. If you wait and miss getting the four papers in, there are no make-ups.
Each paper is to be at least 3 full pages and no more than four full pages,doublespaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, inch margin. Spelling and grammar count. I will take five points for each typo, misspelled word or grammatical error. Please proofread. If you are a poor proofreader (like I am and have always been) then get someone else to proof your paper (like I always have).
The topic of the paper is to be relevant to the content covered within the week before the paper is due. You can feel free to use your example if you want although you may write on any topic including a topic someone else brought as an example.
The format for each paper is a case-study outline:
- What exactly is the ethical dilemma? Quickly tell the relevant facts and lay it out as simply as possible. I want a citation here so I can find the article you’re using. Please use a true citation format; APA, MLA or Chicago will do nicely.
- Who are the stakeholders – those with interest - in the case?
- What ethical issue is at stake and/or what value is in conflict? This is the section where I want you to take the paper beyond what is written in your textbook and do your own research into the ethical concepts your case study involves. I need at least three to five additional cites here. Again – in a true citation format. You may use the Web but the citations must be legitimate sources. This means journals, newspapers or scholarly articles or sources of equal value. You may not use Wikipedia, blogs, dictionaries or the like. Only use current events magazines if the topic specifically goes to them.
- What course would do the greatest harm and to whom or what?
- What is your opinion? What course of action would you undertake if you had the ability to guide the parties through the dilemma? Why is your course of action the best to take?
Please put a header for each new section.
Please understand there can be no quoting, and no copy and paste of any kind. You must write the entire paper yourself. Any verbatim lifting from any source will cause a grade of zero with no opportunity for a re-write and it will count as one of your four papers.
You must hand me the paper. Do not email me the paper. Emailed papers will not be accepted. An emailed paper will not count as one of your four papers. And please find a stapler. I will simply not accept loose papers. Staple them together. No need for a fancy plastic cover – one staple in the upper left-hand corner will be all that I need.
Examples: I require students to participate in this class. To that end, I am requiring that students bring an example of what we are covering in the current lecture. These are required on the Thursdays denoted in the Classes section. Please note that bringing the example is not enough. You must know it well enough that when called upon, you’re able to speak on the example, explain why you believe it is representative of the topic, and express a position about the example.
Midterm: This is a straightforward test following a short answer and True/False format.
Ethics Court: The final two weeks of class have been set aside for Ethics court. This is a round robin format where students will argue for an ethical statement and against an ethical statement. These will be randomly chosen. A grade will be determined by me. However, each argument will be viewed by the class and rated on a scale of one to 10. That will score the arguments. The person receiving the higher score will receive bonus points depending on the margin of difference in score. Please note that students need to attend each day of ethics court. Failing to come on a day you are not actually arguing will result in a loss of five points per day you miss. I will make an open point of taking attendance on those days.
Final: This is a straightforward test following a short answer and True/False format.
The Classes: Please have the chapter read when you come to class on the day it is listed.
Tue Jan 17Syllabus & Orientation
Thr Jan 19Chapter One: Ethics and Moral Development
Tue Jan 24Chapter Two: Ethics and Society.
Thr Jan 26Bring example today…
Tue Jan 31Chapter Three: Ethics and Moral Reasoning.
Thr Feb 02Bring example today…
Tue Feb 07Chapter Four: Truth and Honesty. Paper Due??
Thr Feb 09Bring example today…
Tue Feb 14Chapter Five: The Media and Privacy. Paper Due??
Thr Feb 16Chapter Six: Confidentiality and the Public Interest.
Bring example today…
Tue Feb 21Mardi Gras Break
Thr Feb 23Chapter Seven: Conflicts of Interest. Paper Due??
Tue Feb 28Chapter Eight: Econ. Pressures & Social Responsibility. Paper Due??
Thr Mar 01Bring example today…
Tue Mar 06Prep for Midterm test
Thr Mar 08Midterm Examination
Tue Mar 13Chapter Nine: The Media and Anti-Social Behavior. Paper Due??
Thr Mar 15Bring example today…
Tue Mar 20Chapter Ten: Normally Offensive Content. Paper Due??
Thr Mar 22Chapter Eleven: Media Content and Juveniles
Bring example today…
Tue Mar 27Chapter Twelve: Media Practitioners & Social Justice. Paper Due??
Thr Mar 29Bring example today…
Tue Apr 03Debate coaching for the Ethics Court
Thr Apr 05Bring example today…
Tue Apr 10Spring Break
Thr Apr 12Spring Break
Tue Apr 17Chapter Thirteen: Stereotypes in Media Communication. Paper Due??
Thr Apr 19Bring example today…
Tue Apr 24Ethics Court
Thr Apr 26Ethics Court
Tue Mar 01 Ethics Court
Thr Mar 03 Ethics Court – Prep for final if there is time
Our Final: Thursday, December 10th at 8AM.
Please let me know if you’re a graduating senior so we can make arrangements.
Statement regarding Classroom Behavior / Decorum
Free discussion, inquiry, and expression are encouraged in this class. Behavior that interferes with other student’s ability to benefit is unacceptable. Examples include routinely arriving late or leaving early, talking in class without being recognized or while others are speaking, or arguing in a manner that would be considered “crossing the civility line”. Beepers and cellular phones are to be turned off, both ring and vibration mode, during the class period, unless prior permission is received from instructor.
Students are expected to treat each other with respect during their time in this classroom.
Note:
If you are a qualified student with a disability seeking accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to self-identify with the Office of Student Life, Room 203, Student Union.
Note:
Friday, March 9this the last day to withdraw from this class. If you drop – withdraw yourself. I will not give an “I” grade in this class.
Note:
This syllabus is my contract with you. It will not be changed without a unanimous class vote. If you wish to call for a class vote to change the syllabus, contact my during my office hours and I will decide whether to bring the vote to the class or not.
My Schedule:
Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu / Fri8:00 / ps / ps / ps / ps
8:30 / ps / ps / ps / ps
9:00 / ps / ps / ps / ps
9:30 / 151 / Hours / 151 / Hours
10:00 / 151 / Hours / 151 / Mr. Movie Man
10:30 / 151 / Hours / 151 / Hours
11:00 / Hours / ps / Hours / ps
11:30 / Hours / ps / Hours / ps
12:00 / Hours / ps / Hours / ps
12:30 / RockSchool / Ethics / Hours / Ethics
1:00 / RockSchool / Ethics / Hours / Ethics
1:30 / RockSchool / Ethics / Hours / Ethics
2:00 / Hours / Hours / Hours / Hours
2:30 / End 2:40 / End 2:40 / End 2:40 / End 2:40
3:00 / Senate
3:30 / Senate
4:00 / Senate
4:30