ZURn6201 Ethics and Normative Theories of Media

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. MgA. Jan Motal, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Vojtěch Dvořák, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Veronika Kováč (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. MgA. Jan Motal, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Boris Rafailov, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 18:00–19:40 U53
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The subject is an introductory course on media ethics based on the concept of normative media theories. Students will get acquainted with these theoretical backgrounds on the boundaries of media sociology and professional ethics. Students will understand the relationship of theories to axiology (value anchor of media ethics) and, in selected cases, they will test possibilities of their application. The course guides learners to apply the normative theories in the field of applied ethics by using some of the dominant ethical theories they become familiar with (deontology, consequentialism, ethics of virtue). A special emphasis is to be put on the critical analysis of case studies and work with current material.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Define normative media theory
- Describe and explain dominant ethical theories
- Analyze a case study using normative theories of media and ethical theories
- On the basis of a case study analysis propose alternative solutions that would be consistent with selected ethical theories on a selected axiological basis
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction – Relationship between Media Theory and Media Ethics
  • 2. Normative Media Theory
  • 3. Axiology of media
  • 4. Applied ethics as a normative discipline, media ethics and its starting point
  • 5. Deontology
  • 6. Consequentialism
  • 7. Virtue Ethics
  • 8. Case studies – Journalism
  • 9. Case studies - New Media
  • 10. Case studies - media industries
Literature
  • ANZENBACHER, Arno. Einführung in die Ethik (Orig.) : Úvod do etiky [Anzenbacher, 1994] : Úvod do etiky [Anzenbacher, 2001]. info
  • WHITE, Robert A. Normative Theories of the Media: Journalism in Democratic Societies. Urbana – Chicago: University of Illionis Press, 2009.
  • Handbuch Medienethik. Edited by Christian Schicha - Carsten Brosda. 1. Aufl. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, 2010, 580 s. ISBN 9783531158228. info
  • Media ethics. Edited by Matthew Kieran. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 1998, xv, 187. ISBN 0415168384. info
Teaching methods
Lecture, seminar, reading, student’s presentation
Assessment methods
Attendance, active participation in seminar discussions, reading, final exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2023/ZURn6201