University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Curriculum Proposal Form #3
New Course
Effective Term:
2121 (Spring 2012)
Subject Area - Course Number: JOURNLSM 309
Cross-listing:
(See Note #1 below)
Course Title: (Limited to 65 characters)
Media Ethics
25-Character Abbreviation:
Media Ethics
Sponsor(s):
David Wachanga and Kathy Brady
Department(s):
Communication
College(s):
Arts and Communication
Consultation took place:
Programs Affected:
NA
Yes (list departments and attach consultation sheet)
Departments:
Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism; Journalism Advertising
Emphasis; International Journalism
Is paperwork complete for those programs? (Use "Form 2" for Catalog & Academic Report updates)
NA
Yes
Prerequisites:
will be at future meeting
JOURNLSM 212 or JOURNLSM 220
Grade Basis:
Conventional Letter
S/NC or Pass/Fail
Course will be offered:
Part of Load
On Campus
Above Load
Off Campus - Location
College:
Arts and Communication
Dept/Area(s): Journalism
Instructor:
David Wachanga/Kathy Brady
Note: If the course is dual-listed, instructor must be a member of Grad Faculty.
Check if the Course is to Meet Any of the Following:
Technological Literacy Requirement
Diversity
Writing Requirement
General Education Option: Select one:
Note: For the Gen Ed option, the proposal should address how this course relates to specific core courses, meets the goals of General Education in
providing breadth, and incorporates scholarship in the appropriate field relating to women and gender.
Credit/Contact Hours: (per semester)
Total lab hours:
Number of credits:
0
3
Total lecture hours:
Total contact hours:
Can course be taken more than once for credit? (Repeatability)
No
Yes
If "Yes", answer the following questions:
No of times in major:
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No of credits in major:
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48
48
No of times in degree:
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No of credits in degree:
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Proposal Information: (Procedures for form #3)
Course justification:
This course will promote development of critical thinking and reasoning skills, critical for navigating complex
questions and decisions that advertising and public relations professionals, journalists, and other media
practitioners must regularly make. Currently, the department has no specific ethics course.
Relationship to program assessment objectives:
Part of the Communication Department mission is that “we stress an ethical basis for decision-making about
communication and its impact on the wider society in which our student practitioners live and practice.” This
course is key to helping fulfill this part of our mission, as we currently have no dedicated ethics course in our
catalog. The course also supports the component of the University’s Strategic Plan relating to personal and
professional integrity. Finally, LEAP objectives are supported with this course’s emphasis on critical thinking
skills.
Budgetary impact:
None anticipated. The teaching of this course can be managed with the staff already in place and
needs no additional funding to make the course operational.
Course description: (50 word limit)
This course exposes students to ethical theory in the context of rapid technological change and the
means to acquire ethical analytical abilities. This two-tiered approach first examines the relationship
between professional ethics and social philosophy to establish a framework for understanding the
relationship between media practice and a democratic society.
If dual listed, list graduate level requirements for the following:
1. Content (e.g., What are additional presentation/project requirements?)
2. Intensity (e.g., How are the processes and standards of evaluation different for graduates and
undergraduates? )
3. Self-Directed (e.g., How are research expectations differ for graduates and undergraduates?)
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Tentative Journalism 309 Media Ethics Syllabus
Instructor(s):
Dr. David Wachanga — Office: L2229 — Phone: (262) 472-5457 — Email: wachangd@uww.edu
Dr. Kathy Brady — Office: HE458 — Phone: (262)472-1726 — Email: bradyk@uww.edu
Text: Bugeja, M. (2007). Living Ethics: Across Media Platforms. New York: University Press.
Course Objectives:
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To provide students with tools to understand and apply First Amendment principles, media
ethics and the law appropriate to professional practice.
To intersect media ethics with the political, economic, technological, legal, multicultural and
historical factors that shape the American media
To understand the history of media ethics and the role of professionals and institutions in
shaping communications.
To demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to
communications.
To understand concepts and apply media ethics theories in the use and presentation of images
and information.
To allow students to work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
To enable students to think critically, creatively and independently.
To encourage students to explore their own personal beliefs, instincts, and biases regarding
ethical conduct in the media.
Attendance is expected at all classes and will be taken regularly. You are allowed 3 absences for the
semester for any reason. This means that if you use these days as personal days [homework, social
engagements, head cold, etc.], please do not bring me doctor’s notes or other documentation for
additional illnesses. (Contact the Dean of Students if you have a family emergency or extended
illness.) For each absence over the 3-class limit, I will deduct 10 points for each class missed.
Upon returning from medical or mental treatment, you will have one calendar week to make up all
missed work. Any work not handed in during this grace period will not be accepted.
Assignments:
Case study
Quizzes (4) and midterm
Blog (5 entries)
Final exam
300 points
300 points
200 points
200 points
TOTAL
1,000 points
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Grading Scale:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
930 –1000 points
900-929 points
879-899 points
830-878 points
800-829 points
779-799 points
730-778 points
700-729 points
679-699 points
630-678 points
600-629 points
599 points or below
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Week One:
Introduction
Brief history of media ethics in the U.S.
Week Two:
Why media ethics
Week Three:
Key terms: bias, truth, objectivity, power
Week Four:
Key terms (cont’d)
Week Five:
Theories (deontology, libertarianism)
Week Six:
Theories (utilitarianism, communitarianism)
Week Seven:
Tools: Potter Box, Bok’s model, Pyramid model
Week Eight:
Research
Blogging
Week Nine:
Case studies
Midterm exam
Week Ten:
Case studies
Week Eleven:
Media ethics in a globalized society
Week Twelve:
Challenges of New Media
Week Thirteen:
Strategic communication and ethics
Week Fourteen:
Entertainment and ethics
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Week Fifteen:
Semester review
Blogging
Week Sixteen:
Final exam
Bibliography:
Altschull, H. J. (1990). From Milton to McLuhan. New York: Longman
Bok, S. (1989). Lying: New York: Vintage Books.
Bugeja, M. (2008). Living ethics across media platforms. OUP
Christians, CG., et al (1993). Good News: Social Ethics. New York: Oxford U P GN
(2005). Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning. Boston: Pearson.
Cooper, T. W. et al (1989). Communication Ethics and Global Change. White Plains: Longman.
Ess, C. (2009). Digital Media Ethics. Malden, MA: Polity Press.
Lambeth, E. (1992). Committed Journalism Bloomington: Indiana Press. CJ
Land, M. & Bill, H. (eds). (2006). Contemporary Media Ethics: A Practical Guide for
Scholars and Professionals. Marquette Books: January 2006
Phillip, P. & Wilkins, L. (2008). Media ethics issues and cases. McGraw Hill.
Students,
Pember, Don. (1990) Mass Media Law. Dubuque, IA : W.C. Brown.
Perebinossoff, P. (2008). Real-world Media Ethics. Boston: Focal Press.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment.
It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies
regarding Special Accommodations, Academic Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and
Absence for University Sponsored Events (for details please refer to the Schedule of Classes; the “Rights and
Responsibilities” section of the Undergraduate Catalog; the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and
Services sections of the Graduate Catalog; and the “Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures (UWS Chapter 14); and the
“Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" (UWS Chapter 17).
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