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Schedule

Lesson 1: Orientation and Welcome to COMM 409
Topic:Familiarize yourself with the course content and structure.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Download and print a copy of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics and keep it as a reference point.
  2. Download and print a copy of the Radio, Television, Digital News Association Code of Ethics and keep it as a reference point.
  3. Download and print a copy of the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics and keep it as a reference point.
  4. Download and print a copy of the Online News Association Social Newsgathering Ethics Code and keep it as a reference point.
  5. Download and print a copy of the Associated Press News Values & Principles and keep it as a reference point.
  6. Explore the online course and become familiar with its structure and format.
  7. Introduce yourself and get to know your classmates in the Packback discussion.
  8. Lesson 1 Quiz

Special note: Although the introduction activity is not graded, it’s important that you complete all activities because they will become part of the process for completing graded activities throughout the course.
Lesson 2: Approaching an Ethical Dilemma
Topic:Understanding journalism’s obligation to serve the public interest and establishing a framework for resolving ethical dilemmas.
Readings:
  • Course notes
  • The Ethical Journalist (Foreman): Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 2 Quiz
  2. Lesson 2 Short Answer
  3. Packback
Lesson 3: Journalism's Obligations to the Public it Serves
Topic:The conflicting “roles” of a journalist and the public’s perception of the news media.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 3 Quiz
  2. Lesson 3 Short Answer
  3. Packback
Lesson 4: More Tools for Dealing with an Ethical Dilemma
Topic:Further developing a consistent method of identifying and resolving ethical dilemmas, including identifying stakeholders, balancing competing interests and projecting the outcome of particular actions.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 4 Quiz
  2. Lesson 4 Short Answer
  3. Packback
Lesson 5: Conflict of Interest and Business Pressures
Topic:Conflict of interest, including business pressures.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 5 Quiz
  2. Lesson 5 Short Answer
  3. Packback
  4. Extra Credit Opportunity
Lesson 6: Accuracy, Fairness and Violations of Trust
Topic:Accuracy and fairness (including plagiarism and fabrication) and understanding the motives of sources who provide journalists with information.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 6 Quiz
  2. Lesson 6 Short Answer
  3. Packback
  4. Prepare Final Project Topic
Lesson 7: Dealing with Sources
Topic:Further exploring the relationship between reporters and their sources, including the use of unnamed sources and understanding when reporters have gotten “too close” to their sources or the issues they’re trying to cover.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 7 Quiz
  2. Lesson 7 Short Answer
  3. Packback
  4. Extra Credit Opportunity
Lesson 8: Privacy and Trauma
Topic:Privacy, including an appreciation of the different ways the media treats public figures, prominent people, celebrities, and ordinary citizens; also, understanding the ethical vs. legal obligations of privacy.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 8 Quiz
  2. Lesson 8 Short Answer
  3. Packback
Lesson 9: Ethical Dilemmas Involving Taste
Topic:Making decisions about taste.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 9 Quiz
  2. Lesson 9 Short Answer
  3. Packback
  4. Commit to final project topic
  5. Extra Credit Opportunity
Lesson 10: Deception as a Reporting Technique
Topic:Reporting methods, including going undercover or using deception to report a story.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 10 Quiz
  2. Lesson 10 Short Answer
  3. Packback
Lesson 11: Diversity and Multiculturalism in a Changing Society
Topic:Ethical challenges of covering a multicultural society; trying to achieve diversity in newsrooms and news coverage.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 11 Quiz
  2. Lesson 11 Short Answer
  3. Packback
Lesson 12: Ethics Issues Particular to Audio, Visual Journalism, and Social Media
Topic:Ethics issues particular to visual journalism.
Readings:
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 12 Quiz
  2. Lesson 12 Short Answer
  3. Packback
  4. Extra Credit Opportunity
Lesson 13: Ethics in a Changing Media Environment
Topic:Ethics issues of web journalism and the challenges of a changing media environment.
Readings:
  • Course notes
  • The Ethical Journalist (Foreman): Thoughts to Take With You
  • The Ezra Klein Show (podcast)
Assignments:
  1. Lesson 13 Quiz
  2. Lesson 13 Short Answer
  3. Packback
Final Project
Readings:
  • None
Assignments:
  1. Final project

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