Social & Ethical Issues in Mass Communication (#930)
D. Vickers Hall
Tuesday | Thursday
Joe Burns, Ph.D.
Office Hours
jeburns@selu.edu
COMM 456
Room 387
12:30AM
549.2899
See schedule at end of syllabus
http://www.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/jeburns/
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:
http://www.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/jeburns/cheating.html
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.
2.
3.
4.
5
Four (4) Opinion Papers (@ 25 points ea.)
Ten (10) Examples (@ 5 points ea.)
Midterm
Ethics Court Argument (2 @ 25 points ea.)
Final
Total Points:
100
50
50
50
50
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, double spaced, 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:
1. 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.
2. Who are the stakeholders – those with interest - in the case?
3. 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.
4. What course would do the greatest harm and to whom or what?
5. 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 17
Thr Jan 19
Syllabus & Orientation
Chapter One: Ethics and Moral Development
Tue Jan 24
Thr Jan 26
Chapter Two: Ethics and Society.
Bring example today…
Tue Jan 31
Thr Feb 02
Chapter Three: Ethics and Moral Reasoning.
Bring example today…
Tue Feb 07
Thr Feb 09
Chapter Four: Truth and Honesty. Paper Due??
Bring example today…
Tue Feb 14
Thr Feb 16
Chapter Five: The Media and Privacy. Paper Due??
Chapter Six: Confidentiality and the Public Interest.
Bring example today…
Tue Feb 21
Thr Feb 23
Mardi Gras Break
Chapter Seven: Conflicts of Interest. Paper Due??
Tue Feb 28
Thr Mar 01
Chapter Eight: Econ. Pressures & Social Responsibility. Paper Due??
Bring example today…
Tue Mar 06
Thr Mar 08
Prep for Midterm test
Midterm Examination
Tue Mar 13
Thr Mar 15
Chapter Nine: The Media and Anti-Social Behavior. Paper Due??
Bring example today…
Tue Mar 20
Thr Mar 22
Chapter Ten: Normally Offensive Content. Paper Due??
Chapter Eleven: Media Content and Juveniles
Bring example today…
Tue Mar 27
Thr Mar 29
Chapter Twelve: Media Practitioners & Social Justice. Paper Due??
Bring example today…
Tue Apr 03
Thr Apr 05
Debate coaching for the Ethics Court
Bring example today…
Tue Apr 10
Thr Apr 12
Spring Break
Spring Break
Tue Apr 17
Thr Apr 19
Chapter Thirteen: Stereotypes in Media Communication. Paper Due??
Bring example today…
Tue Apr 24
Thr Apr 26
Ethics Court
Ethics Court
Tue Mar 01
Thr Mar 03
Ethics Court
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 9th is 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:
8:00
8:30
9:00
9:30
10:00
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
1:00
1:30
2:00
2:30
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
Mon
ps
ps
ps
151
Tue
ps
ps
ps
Hours
Wed
ps
ps
ps
151
151
151
Hours
Hours
Hours
Rock School
Rock School
Rock School
Hours
End 2:40
Hours
Hours
ps
ps
ps
Ethics
Ethics
Ethics
Hours
End 2:40
151
151
Hours
Hours
Hours
Hours
Hours
Hours
Hours
End 2:40
Senate
Senate
Senate
Thu
ps
ps
ps
Hours
Mr. Movie
Man
Hours
ps
ps
ps
Ethics
Ethics
Ethics
Hours
End 2:40
Fri