MED581: Issues in Media Ethics
Semester: Spring 2011
Times: MWF 3:05 - 3:55 p.m. and TR 3:30 to 4:45
Room: 326 CRAG
Professor: Andrew R. Cline, Ph.D.
E-mail: acline@missouristate.edu
Office: 384 CRAG
Office hours: TBA
Office phone: 836-4923
URLs
IMPORTANT: You are responsible for all the information and instructions in this syllabus. Please read it carefully. Please ask questions about anything you do not understand.
Required Texts: 1. Controversies in Media Ethics 2nd Ed. by Gordon and Kittross.
The bookstore has limited or no copies of this textbook. Amazon has used books. Click here!
News consumption: I assume you will always be familiar with the news of the day and ethical issues in the mass media as they arise.
Note to graduate students: I will give graduate students an addendum to the syllabus on the second class meeting.
Course Description and Goals
The purpose of MED 581 is to explore contemporary issues in mass media using the tools of ethical reasoning. Emphasis will be placed on: 1) understanding ethics as a branch of philosophy, 2) encouraging moral awareness and imagination, 3) recognizing ethical issues, 4) developing analytical skills, and 5) applying ethical reasoning to current issues in media.
Students will be able to recognize ethical situations that may arise in different media.
Students will apply their knowledge of ethical theories to ethical choices.
Students will learn to defend their ethical decisions based on rational thought.
Students will situate their ethical stands historically, politically, and socially.
Central questions we will ask in this class:
What constitutes an ethical problem or dilemma and from whose point of view?
What are the sources of ethical standards, and whose agendas do/should these standards serve?
How do we solve ethical problems, and whose interests are served by the methods we use to arrive at solutions?
I expect you to have, and to fight for, your own positions in regard to all that we discuss and write. But I also expect you to take an academic stance, i.e. a desire to discover and understand how and why media professionals make the ethical choices they do.
Educational Philosophy
MED581 is a senior/graduate seminar. This class is a public forum. I will not give lectures. Instead, I expect the class, as a community of learners, to engage in intelligent and critical discussion about the topics listed in this syllabus and other topics as they may arise based on your interests. Cogent verbal participation and excellent class preparation are critical to your success in this class.
This class requires a large measure of gumption on your part. I begin each class with these assumptions:
1. You have read all the material.
2. You have at least checked into supplemental material.
3. You are familiar with the news of the day.
4. You are prepared to discuss reading assignments and ask questions.
5. You are interested in, and understand the value of, ethical thinking.
It is important for your success in this class to help make my assumptions come true.
Attendance
The Missouri State attendance policy states: “Because class attendance and course grade are demonstrably and positively related, the University expects students to attend all class sessions of courses in which they are enrolled.”
Excellent attendance is necessary to pass this course. I do not, however, have a specific policy designed to penalize you for lack of attendance. Poor attendance will naturally result in poor academic performance considering that this class is a seminar, i.e. your verbal participation constitutes a large portion of your grade.
Regarding attendance and illness: If you have symptoms of a communicable illness (e.g. fever or a severe cough), for the sake of your health and the health of your classmates, please stay home and take care of yourself. I will grant no excuse unless you contact me that day by any appropriate means. I also excuse for family emergencies.
Regarding sports and other official Missouri State functions: You are excused to attend events sponsored by Missouri State for which you play an important role. Please let me know about your participation before your absence.
Grading
I will grade you for the course in these areas:
Class participation (your VERBAL performance and response papers): 30 percent
Case study: 30 percent
Mid-term exam: 20 percent
Individual/Collaborative final exam: 20 percent
Please note: You only earn the percentage spread if you complete all work. If you fail to complete (i.e. blow off) the work in any grading category, you will fail the class.
Good class participation includes:
1. Reading all assignments on time and reading them well (as demonstrated by your verbal participation)
2. Offering cogent discussion and insightful questions
Plus/Minus Grading: I will use Plus/Minus grading for this class. Tests are scored on a numerical basis as follows.
100-95 = A
94-90 = A-
89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B-
79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C-
69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
62-60 = D-
59-?? = F
MSU policy:
Grades are awarded to indicate the quality of a student’s work and are assigned as follows (point values per credit hour appear in parentheses): Consistent with the Faculty Senate action of February 14, 2008, the plus/minus grades will be implemented beginning with the Fall 2009 semester. The following are current grade definitions:
A (4.00): Outstanding work. Outstanding achievement relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was of the highest level. Excellence while meeting course objectives was sustained throughout the course. Not only was the student’s performance clearly and significantly above satisfactory, it was also of an independent and creative nature.
A- (3.70): Excellent work. Excellent achievement relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was clearly and significantly above satisfactory, and was creative and independent.
B+ (3.30): Near excellent work. Achievement was significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was clearly and significantly above satisfactory, and was creative and independent.
B (3.00): Very good work. Achievement significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was very good, although not of the highest level. Performance was clearly and significantly above satisfactory fulfillment of course requirements (For undergraduates: B = meritorious: For graduates B = adequate).
B- (2.70): Good work. Achievement at a level just above that necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was notable.
C+ (2.30): Slightly above satisfactory work. Achievement that meets the course requirements. Performance was slightly more than adequate.
C (2.00): Satisfactory work. Achievement that meets the course requirements. Performance was adequate, although marginal in quality (For undergraduates: C = adequate: For graduates: C = inadequate).
C- (1.70): Slightly below satisfactory work. Achievement that barely meets the course requirements. Performance has been slightly below satisfactory and was marginal in quality.
D+ (1.30): Passing work. Achievement below satisfactory in meeting course requirements. Student demonstrated below satisfactory achievement in meeting course objectives, yet fulfilled a sufficient enough portion of the course objectives that repeating the course is not necessary unless required by the academic unit.
D (1.00): Minimum passing work. Achievement barely worthy of credit. Student demonstrated unsatisfactory achievement in meeting course objectives, yet fulfilled a sufficient enough portion of the course objectives that repeating the course is not necessary unless required by the academic unit.
F (0.00): Failed – no credit. A failure to meet course requirements. The work of course objectives were either: 1) completed but not at a level of achievement that is worthy of credit, or 2) have not been completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an “I” (incomplete).
MSU Policies:
Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at www.missouristate.edu/policy/academicintegritystudents.htm. You are also responsible for understanding and following any additional academic integrity policies specific to this class (as outlined by the instructor). Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy. If you are accused of violating this policy and are in the appeals process, you should continue participating in the class.
Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.
To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of the Disability Resource Center, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide documentation of disability to the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations. The Disability Resource Center refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.
As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the University’s emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.
Students who require assistance during an emergency evacuation must
discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Services. If you have
emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special
arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment
with me as soon as possible.
For additional information students should contact the
Disability Resource Center,
836-4192 (PSU 405), or Larry Combs, Interim Assistant Director of
Public Safety and
Transportation
at 836-6576.
For further information on Missouri State University’s Emergency Response Plan,
please refer to the following web site:
http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm
It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. For information about dropping a class or withdrawing from the university, contact the Office of the Registrar at 836-5520.
Class Behavior: Please do not 1) Sleep in class; 2) Do homework in class; or 3) Engage in willful ignorance.
Special note on the course topic: I encourage each class to be on the lookout for topics that might help us focus the course on a particular theme. Be creative.
Syllabus (subject to change)
CME = Controversies in Media Ethics
Week 1. 1/10
Class introduction
Philosophical foundations
Week 2. 1/17
Read: CME Overview
MLK Holiday
Philosophical foundations continued
Week 3. 1/24
Watch movie: Network
Discussion of movie
Week 4. 1/31
Read: CME chapter 1
Mass media accountability
Week 5. 2/7
Read: CME chapter 2
Individual autonomy and ethical decisions
Week 6. 2/14
Read: CME chapter 3
Codes of ethics
Week 7. 2/21
Read: CME chapter 4
President's Day
Manipulation by the media
Week 8. 2/28
Monday: Prep
Wednesday: Exam
Friday: Exam review
Spring Break March 5 to 13
Week 9. 3/14
Open discussion
Week 10. 3/21
Read: CME chapter 5
Influences on media content
Week 11. 3/28
Read: CME chapter 8
Privacy
Week 12. 4/4
Read: CME chapter 10
Violence and pornography
Week 13. 4/11
Read: CME pgs. 281 to 285
Digital manipulation of pictures (video and still)
Week 14. 4/18
Read: CME chapter 7
Culture, race and the mass media
Week 15. 4/25
Presentation of Case Studies
Week 16. 5/2
Presentation of Case Studies
Exam Prep and Class Evaluation
Final exam: TBA
Assignments
Case Study
Each student will write a conference-length case study examining a recent or historical issue of media ethics. A case study is a very particular form of academic writing. I will spend time in class explaining the form to you and helping you choose a case.
Length: 8 to 10 pages plus bibliography
Format: APA or MLA
You will complete your case study in stages:
Choose your case: 1 paragraph due by Friday of Week 5
Initial bibliography: List of sources in academic style due by Friday of Week 9
Complete paper: 8 to 10 pages plus bibliography due by Friday of Week 15
Please follow this format:
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Facts of the case
Section 3: How the case was resolved
Section 4: A credible alternative outcome
Section 5: Your assessment of the outcome
You must give a presentation to the class about your case study. We'll discuss this entire assignment extensively in class.
Class Participation: Response Papers and Class Discussion
For each week there is a reading (or watching) assignment, please hand in a short response paper (no more than 1 page single spaced) with your thoughts about the reading. The purpose of response paper is not to prove that you read the material. I assume you read. So do not write a summary of the reading. Instead, I expect you to think about what you've read and react to it as you see fit. Tell me what you think.
Response papers are due at the start of class Mondays for the MWF class and Tuesdays for the TR class.
Grading criteria for an A:
1. All response papers handed in on time.
2. Evidence of effort, i.e. thinking.
Class discussion
Please be prepared for each class. That requires you to read the assigned material carefully and to think about it. Further, I expect you to be prepared for each class meeting with one or more examples of ethical issues and/or dilemmas from the mass media that correspond to the week's topic. Make careful notes, and be prepared to discuss and respond fully. It is not possible to pass this class without reading the book.