Course Catalog

Current Controversies in Media Ethics

This course will cover issues such as: This course will cover issues such as: - The gulf between opinion journalism and news-based journalism. Can the audience find truth in journalism that argues a cause? Does ""objective"" reporting shield a hidden agenda? - Invasions of privacy. Even if American media have not engaged in Murdoch-style phone hacking, what limits should be placed on access to individual information? Should suspects be paraded for the cameras? - Should journalists cooperate with the justice system or protect sources even if it means going to jail? When should they promise confidentiality? Do they needlessly allow sources to hide behind such promises? - Media hype: Excesses in coverage of politics, celebrities, private citizens, or natural disasters. What is the impact on the public? Does the fault lie with the promoters and the media alone, or does the audience bear some responsibility? - The need for media to give its public a voice, and the accountability mechanisms that news organizations can use to do that. To what extent should public comment be controlled or edited? Each week we will also discuss controversies as they arise.

This class is not available at this time.

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