Course Language:
English
Course Objectives:
The goal of this course is to examine the ethical rules and applications of the communication profession in Turkey and in the World, and their applicability, as well as the problems of ethics in the concerning sectors, also problems within “ethics” itself.
Course Content:
The aim of this course is to examine the concepts of ethics and media ethics by focusing on the concepts such as ethics and politics, media and law, freedom of expression, privacy and publicity in modern society, limitations in media, objectivity, partiality, and truthfulness, codes of ethics for media professionals. Different ethical theories and approaches will be discussed with an analytical perspective.
Teaching Methods:
1: Lecture, 2: Question-Answer, 3: Discussion
Assessment Methods:
A: Testing, B: Discussion, C: Homework
Vertical Tabs
Course Learning Outcomes
| Learning Outcomes | Programme Learning Outcomes | Teaching Methods | Assessment Methods |
| 1) Defines and explains the historical development of ethical philosophy. | 1, 2, 5, 12, 13 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | A, B, C |
| 2) Examines their validity in today’s media sector. | 1, 5, 12, 13 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | A, B, C |
| 3) Examines and discusses the source of primary responsibility of ethics in the communication sector. (The dilemma of editors and correspondents, the creative staff and advertisers, PR consultants and clients). | 1, 2, 4, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | A, B, C |
| 4) Discusses the ethical problems of newsmaking. | 2, 5, 8, 12, 13 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | A, B, C |
| 5) Analyzes the problems and solutions about advertising ethics. | 1, 5, 7, 8 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | A, B, C |
| 6) Examines the problems and solutions about PR ethics. | 1, 5, 12, 13 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | A, B, C |
| 7) Analyzes and comments about the ethical problems of today and tomorrow concerning the internet communication ethics. | 1, 2, 4, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | A, B, C |
Course Flow
| COURSE CONTENT | ||
| Week | Topics | Study Materials |
| 1 | Introduction: What are ethics, professional ethics of communication, and their applicability and problems. | |
| 2 | The historical development of ethical philosophy. | |
| 3 | The applicability of the ethical philosophy to the communication profession. | |
| 4 | The ethics of newsmaking and its problems. | |
| 5 | The problem of primary responsibility in the communication profession. | |
| 6 | Ethics of marketing communications. | |
| 7 | Midterm Exam | |
| 8 | Ethical discussions in advertising. | |
| 9 | Ethical discussions in Public Relations. | |
| 10 | Are there (Or should there be) ethical rules in internet communication? | |
| 11 | Presentation of Student Projects | |
| 12 | Presentation of Student Projects | |
| 13 | Presentation of Student Projects | |
| 14 | Presentation of Student Projects | |
| 15 | Final Examination | |
Recommended Sources
| RECOMMENDED SOURCES | |
| Textbook | A.D. Gordon, J. M. Kitross, J.C. Merrill, W. Babcock, M. Dorsher, Controversies in Media Ethics, N.Y., 2011. |
| Additional Resources | Supportive books and papers. |
Material Sharing
| MATERIAL SHARING | |
| Documents | Books, documents, articles |
| Assignments | Projects combining theory and case studies. |
| Exams | Midterm (theoretical) 40%; Final 30%; and Home Project and Class Presentation 30% |
Assessment
| ASSESSMENT | ||
| IN-TERM STUDIES | NUMBER | PERCENTAGE |
| Mid-terms | 1 | 40 |
| Projects | 2 | 30 |
| Final | 1 | 30 |
| Total | 100 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE | 30 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE | 70 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Course’s Contribution to Program
| COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAMME | ||||||
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 1 | Develop and enhance the current and advanced knowledge in the field with original thought and/or research and come up with innovative definitions based on Master's degree qualifications. | X | ||||
| 2 | Conceive the interdisciplinary interaction which the field is related with; come up with original solutions by using knowledge requiring proficiency on analysis, synthesis and assessment of new and complex ideas. | X | ||||
| 3 | Developing and leading new strategic approaches to solve unforeseen and complex issues in the media studies field through integrative and creative elaboration. | X | ||||
| 4 | Contributing to the science of media studies through attaining advanced skills in research methodologies; through developing new scientific methods and approaches, importing existing methods from other fields into media studies; through investigating, comprehending, designing, adapting and implementing original topics. | X | ||||
| 5 | Conducting independent research, analyzing scientific phenomenon through broad, deep and critical perspective, arriving at new syntheses and evaluations in the discipline of media studies. | X | ||||
| 6 | Publishing scientific articles in reputable refereed journals, presenting papers in scientific conferences in the field of media studies and its sub-disciplines. | X | ||||
| 7 | Developing effective communication skills to scientifically present and defend original ideas to an expert audience. | X | ||||
| 8 | To contribute to information society via continuous follow up of social and cultural developments both professionally and academically; To analyse and evaluate media’s agenda setting dynamics and daily events via new media technologies, globalisation and convergence in media. | X | ||||
| 9 | Develop an innovative knowledge, method, design and/or practice or adapt an already known knowledge, method, design and/or practice to another field; research, conceive, design, adapt and implement an original subject. | X | ||||
| 10 | Demonstrate functional interaction by using strategic decision making processes in solving problems encountered in the field. | X | ||||
| 11 | Contribute to the solution finding process regarding social, scientific, cultural and ethical problems in the field and support the development of these values. | X | ||||
| 12 | Defining, questioning, and categorising the political, economical and social components of the process of media monopolisation. | X | ||||
| 13 | Discussing media regarding national, global webs and their sectoral effects regarding their relationship to civil society and politics | X | ||||
| 14 | Assessing and reviewing media regarding the ethical principles and legal regulations. | X | ||||
| 15 | Being able to use a foreign language fluently for both comprehending scientific publications and developing proper communication with foreign colleagues, (“European Language Portfolio Global Scale”, Level B1). | X | ||||
ECTS
| ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION | |||
| Activities | Quantity |
Duration (Hour) |
Total
Workload (Hour) |
| Course Duration (Including the exam week: 15x Total course hours/week) | 15 | 3 | 45 |
| Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice, review/week) | 15 | 6 | 90 |
| Midterms | 10 | 3 | 30 |
| Project | 2 | 24 | 48 |
| Homework/Final Examination | 1 | 48 | 48 |
| Total Workload | 261 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 (h) | 10,44 | ||
| ECTS Credit of the Course | 10 | ||