PROPOSED COURSE DESCRIPTION:
From a preliminary analysis of the nature and function of ethics, this course examines contemporary topics in media ethics such as advertising, political reporting, and artistic expression. Also examines some theoretical issues such as the debate over the right to privacy as opposed to the public’s right to know. Prerequisites: JRN 100 or permission of instructor. Occasionally.
RATIONALE:
Like other ethics courses in the department, this course focuses on experiential activities, case studies, observation, and research papers. These approaches and skills are particularly appropriate for students to learn in their first few years of study, as this course helps prepare students for the demands of upper-level courses in the department, which are generally more theoretically-oriented. Consequently, the department agreed to renumber all of our ethics courses at the 200 level. PHIL 320 Ethics has already undergone the curricular process and is now offered as IHPHIL 220. At this time, we are also submitting a proposal to renumber COMM 320 Ethics in Communication as COMM 220.
In addition, this course will no longer be cross-listed with JRN 322 as that course has been redesigned as JRN 323 Journalism Law and Ethics. For this reason, the course description for PHIL 222 has been changed to reflect a broader concept of “media”.