Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Reason through ethics-related conflicts, using moral philosophy, moral decision-making models or journalistic principles as guides.
• Help students understand the basic principles of libel, reporter's privilege and shield laws.
• Teach ethical practices in journalism and provide a sense of journalists' role in society.
• Examine the role of good corporate owners; the challenges of practicing ethical journalism in an environment filled with hindrances; the responsibilities journalists have to sources, audiences, and employers; the role of diversity; and how philosophers have approached ethical problems.
• Review basic journalism law, such as libel and privacy.
• Examine real-life situations in which journalists and public-relations practitioners have faced ethics-related decisions.