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2009/10 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL2726 Media Ethics

10 creditsClass Size: 300

Module manager: Carl Baker
Email: jha4ceb@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2009/10

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

How does the News of the World get away with deceit and entrapment? Should nudity be banned? Do Big Brother entrants deserve any privacy? Should we allow free expression to those who wouldn't allow us free expression?This course aims to give students the skills to examine philosophically the integrity, rights and responsibilities of journalists and the print and broadcasting media (particularly concerning the status of journalism as an unofficial 'fourth estate'); to understand the main concepts, problems and positions on a range of media issues; to interpret and analyse arguments on media issues; and to express this understanding in a written essay.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- Examine philosophically the integrity, rights and responsibilities of journalists and the print and broadcasting media;
- understand main concepts, problems and positions on a range of media issues;
- interpret and analyse arguments on media issues (particularly concerning the status of journalism as an unofficial 'fourth estate', the integrity, rights and responsibilities of journalists in the print and broadcasting media more generally); and
- express this understanding in a written essay.

Syllabus

Topics to be covered may include:

- the aims of journalism;
- the nature of the public interest;
- 'news' and the ethics of journalism;
- subjectivity, values and bias;
- the ethics of news images and documentary making;
- privacy rights, intrusion and entrapment;
- media regulation;
- offence, harm and censorship;
- the use of deceit;
- the nature of privacy;
- freedom of expression.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Tutorial	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			85.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Tutorial preparation: 10 hours;
Essay preparation: 30 hours;
Lecture preparation: 10 hours;
Associated reading: 35 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Tutorial performance;
Mid-term (optional) essay.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words due near the end of the semester	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 09/07/2010

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