Description
This course explores the theoretical and practical ethical questions of mass communication as judged through the application of moral principles. This will be accomplish by reviewing pertinent moral philosophies (e.g. the "Golden Rule," Kant's Categorical Imperative, Hobbes' moral relativism) and learning how they can be applied in examining every day moral problems in the mass media. Three disciplines will be focused on: news, advertising and public relations. Moral problems unique to each discipline will be explored and discussed, while ethical theories are applied in the course of solving them. Guest speakers will enlighten discussion of each discipline, enabling you to discover how practitioners confront moral dilemmas in their professions. Moreover, moral examination of each discipline will consist of a discussion of issues via case studies and simulation. Culminating work in the class will be a paper in the student will be required to present a cogent ethical analysis and opinio