ZUR393g Journalism Ethics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2015
Extent and Intensity
0/2. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Gail MacDonald (seminar tutor), Ing. Rudolf Burgr, Ph.D. (deputy)
Mgr. Jana Ježková (assistant)
Mgr. Pavel Sedláček (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Pavelka, CSc.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Bc. Pavlína Brabcová
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Fri 3. 4. 9:45–11:15 AVC, Wed 8. 4. 15:15–16:45 Studio 527, Fri 10. 4. 9:45–13:00 AVC, Mon 13. 4. 11:30–13:00 AVC, 13:30–15:00 Studio 527, Wed 15. 4. 15:15–16:45 Studio 527, Fri 17. 4. 9:45–13:00 AVC, Mon 20. 4. 11:30–13:00 AVC, 13:30–15:00 Studio 527, Wed 22. 4. 15:15–16:45 Studio 527, Fri 24. 4. 9:45–11:15 Studio 527
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
I. To evaluate press actions and understand why and how ethical decisions are made.
II. To gain the skills needed to make reasoned decisions on ethical issues.
III. To build persuasive written and oral arguments about ethical issues based on facts and examples, rather than emotions and unsupported opinions.
III. To build a foundation for ethical decision making that can be applied as a working journalist or in other media careers.
Professor Gail MacDonald also would very much like to link students here with her US students (via blogging, skyping) on a specified ethical topic.
Syllabus
  • 1. Tools for effective ethical decision making as a journalist
  • a. Professional organization codes of ethics
  • b. Ethical decision making philosophies
  • c. Impact of personal biases
  • 2. Striving for the Truth
  • a. Questionable reporting practices
  • b. Plagiarism – instances of reporters caught plagiarizing/fabricating
  • 3. More about the ideal of “truth”
  • a. Is truth attainable?
  • b. The gap between the goal and reality in reporting
  • 4. The truth of visual journalism
  • a. Ethics of videography and photojournalism
  • b. Does the camera lie?
  • c. Limitations of truth in visual news depictions
  • 5. Professional life vs private life and responsibility to act independently
  • a. Social media presence, private vs. professional
  • b. Conflicts of interest – what is the appropriate professional balance?
  • 6. Media accountability and transparency
  • a. New media transparency
  • b. Financial dependence and its influence on editorial content
  • 7. Responsibility to minimize harm
  • a. The public’s right/need to know
  • b. Tension between the public/private realm in reporting
  • 8. Covering a diverse – international audience
  • a. Ethical responsibility to effectively cover a diverse audience
  • b. Responsibility to be a voice for the voiceless
  • 9. Ethical considerations unique to new media platforms
  • a. Online commenting
  • b. Online reporting – information gathering
  • 10. Undercover reporting
  • a. Where is the ethical line?
  • 11. Elections, campaign and public officials
  • a. Should they be afforded less privacy?
  • b. Public access to information
  • 12. The independent or citizen journalist
  • a. New ethical standards for the entrepreneur?
  • 13. Current ethics cases
Teaching methods
Readings, short reflective writing assignment, blogging, class discussion, oral presentation.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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