COM 419B: COMMUNICATION ETHICS AND LAW
BLOCKS 2015 SEMESTER
Monday / Friday 8:45am- 11.25am
Facilitator: Caroline Kiarie
Email: ckiarie@daystar.ac.ke
Purpose of the Course
There is no doubt that media wield considerable power over the way society live.
Whenever people or a group of people have power to influence the behavior and lives of
others, ethical obligation become imperative. This course is therefore an interplay
between the media law (rights and freedoms that media practitioners enjoy) and ethics
(professional obligations and responsibilities they have to be conscious of while
expediting their rights).Emphasis shall be in the legal privileges and legal limitations
affecting journalists in their practice as well as ethical dilemmas they face on a day to day
operation using various media platform such as: broadcast, print media, public relations
or advertising, entertainment, digital platforms but also about Christian commitment as
communicators. This course will help students to explore what is right and good about
communication and media practice; to
understand freedom and responsible
professionalism from a Christian worldview; and to gain a working knowledge of Kenya
media law.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
1. Define ethics.
2. Discuss various broad approaches to ethics and moral theory.
3. Integrate ethical theory with their Christian faith.
1
4. Identify and respond to major ethical issues in the field of communication.
5. Evidence a good comprehension of the media laws of Kenya.
6. Act as knowledgeable professionals within the legal boundaries of communication as
part of the audience (society).
Course Procedures
The class shall be in groups of 5-7 individuals and shall make a presentation on assigned
reading, thereafter the same presentation shall be handed over to the facilitator for
grading. Other methods employed for delivery in this class shall include critique of a
movie (NIGHT CRAWLER), case studies drawn from media ethics book as well as
contemporary cases, student presentations, guest speakers, and in-class exercises.
Grading
Your final grade will be based on the following:
1. A term paper 20% -This is an individual assignment , you are required on an area
of media and ethics , support your writing with valid arguments , laced with
theoretical underpinnings and at least include 10 references demonstrating your
use in the main text.
2. Group papers/presentations (2x10)= 20%
3. Mid-term 20% and
4. Final is 40%
2
Week/date
Topic
Readings
Week 1
Introduction & course overview: Definition Media Ethics ch. 1of ethics, major branches of ethics (Meta, 2
normative and Applied ethics)
Bok, ch.1 & 2
Week 2
Ethical theories and principles, ethical Media Ethics ch. 1decisions; Porter Box ; a six step process
2
Bok, ch.1 & 2
Principles of Moral reasoning
Media Ethics
Truth telling and Lies Journalism
chapter 1-2
Bok 3-4
Communicator’s values/loyalties
Media Ethics ch. 12
Code of Ethics –Freedom of expressions
M.C.K booklet
Week 3
Week 4
Week 4
Week 5
Week 5
Freedom of Speech; Freedom of Press: Libel Kasoma ch.6;
and Slander, Defences Against Defamation
Makali ch.5;Bok
ch.6
Obonyo ch. 3,6&7
Freedom of Press; journalistic ethics; Media ethics ch. 3
Protecting sources
Week 6
Respecting Privacy
Ethical issues in photojournalism
Week 6
3/7/2015
Mid semester Exam
Week 7
Ethics in Advertising
Media Ethics Ch. 69; Bok ch.5
Week 7
Entertainment, indecency, Obscenity
Bok ch.9 & 10
Week 8
Ethics in Public Relations
Week 8
Ethics in the work place; conflict of interest;
Media Ethics ch.
10-13
Bok ch.8
Bok ch.9 & 10
Week 9
Week 9
Undercover journalism
Citizen reporting
Exam/Assgn
Group
Assignment
given
Current
issues in the
media
Term paper
Media Ethics ch. 5
Group
assignments
Presentations
3
Texts
Christians, C., Fackler, M., Rotzoll, K., and McKee, K. (2001). Media ethics: Cases
and moral reasoning. 6th ed. New York: Longman. (there is also 5th Ed.)
Pember, D.R. & Calvert, C. (2006). Mass Media Law. New York: McGraw.
Bujo, Benezet. (1997). The ethical dimension of community: The African model
and the dialogue between north and south, Nairobi: Paulines Publications
Africa.
Bok, Sissela. (1999). Lying: Moral choice in public and private life. New York:
Random House.
Holmes, A. (1984) Ethics: Approaching moral decisions. Downers Grove, ILL:
Interversity.
Jackson, Tudor. (1986) The Law of Kenya: An introduction, cases and statutes.
Kasoma, F., ed. (1994) Journalism ethics in Africa. Nairobi: African Council for
Communication Education.
Patterson, P. & Wilkins, L. (2008) Media Ethics: Issues and Cases. NY: McGraw-Hill.
Smedes, L. (1983) Mere Morality: What God expects from ordinary people.
Grand Rapids Eerdmans.
Upkapi, Chudi. (987) Handbook on Journalism Ethics: African Case Studies. Windhoek:
MISA
Any other additional readings that the lecturer may assign.
4