JOUR 300/0301: Journalism Ethics
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Fall 2005 |
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 2:00-3:15 |
TWS 2212 |
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Andy Glass |
Home:
202.363.2389 | Cell: 202.841.3829 |
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15 weeks |
While I have no campus office, I will be available
by appointment. |
27 sessions |
"To be a
journalist, ethics must be a part of you -- not a page in a book or framed
parchment on a wall."
(--Gerald M. Sass, The
Freedom Forum)
INTRODUCTION: The
chief purpose of gathering and distributing news and opinion is to serve the
public welfare by informing people and enabling
them to make judgments on the major issues of our times. Journalists who abuse
the power of their special role in our society for selfish motives or unworthy
purposes are faithless to that public trust. The Founding Fathers adopted the
First Amendment to permit the press to bring an independent scrutiny to bear on
powerful forces in our complex and diverse society. That privileged role has
come under closer examination, both within and outside the craft. At the same
time, government at all levels has tended to become more manipulative and more
secretive – even as more readers and viewers hold the media, as a Hollywood
mogul once said of an badly behaved actress, “in minimum high regard.” So we
swim in rough waters. Quite likely, this course will not enable you to reverse
those tides. I hope, however, our work together will help you to better
navigate through them. So welcome to Journalism Ethics 300,
a course that will examine the process of decision-making, both good and
bad, in the media and the principles on which those decisions are based. We
will look at what a journalist has a right to do. But we will also look at what
is right to do. We will review cases where someone has done something
wrong, broken a rule or ignored a standard - and in the process has hurt people
and our craft. But we will add to that how to go about fostering a climate that
yields good journalism based on sound and lasting principles.
You should view JOUR 300 as an opportunity to develop your
own ideas about the role of the press in society, sensitive diversity issues
and your own future role in the craft, How diligent
are you going to be in pursuing the highest ethical standards? What
pitfalls may await you in the demanding workplace that you are likely to enter
after graduating?
AND NOW AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM YOUR SPONSOR …
Along with certain rights, UMD students have the responsibility to behave
honorably in an academic environment. Academic dishonesty, including cheating,
fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty and plagiarism, will not be
tolerated. Adhering to a high ethical standard is of special importance in the
world of journalism, where reliability and credibility are the cornerstones of
the field. Therefore, our university has adopted a zero tolerance policy
toward academic dishonesty. Any abridgment of the university’s academic
integrity standards in a
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: Journalism
at its best demands the highest of standards. In this course, you will be
expected to meet those standards. I hope you will find doing so brings you
sense of accomplishment and helps prepare you for a successful career. Through
course readings, assignments and class participation, you should be able to
acquire the needed tools to identify and analyze ethical issues. This includes:
Since the bulk of the learning experience for
this course will be in class, it is necessary that you be here, on time, to
join actively in class discussions. Mere absorption doesn’t cut it. Some
of our class work will be done in small groups. Unexcused absences, tardy
arrivals and a generally passive attitude will be unfavorably reflected in your
final grade.
Students with a specific disability (permanent or temporary, physical or learning)
who need special accommodations during the semester should meet with me.
There will be an open-book mid-term exam based on a case study reviewed in
the official course text. You also be asked to do a considerable, but not
excessive, amount of writing, including up to four ethics memos analyzing of
current news stories and media programming; an open-book commentary on a case
study that will serve as a mid-term exam; a group writing/editing project and a
final research paper. (A key part of ethical decision-making is demonstrating
your ability to articulate your reasoning in strong expository English
sentences.)
Your
ethics memos will discuss a specific case that relates to one or another of the
classroom lessons we will be considering over the course of the semester. Two
of the four will be formal papers. (They could emanate from case studies
to be found in the textbook.) The remaining two should be derived from an
issue you have found outside class, either from reading The Washington Post or
from a scan of a journalism-related journalism websites. If you have a problem
with finding a suitable off-syllabus case, you should see me; I should be able
to suggest one.
Should
you decide to create your own scenario, bear in mind that choosing an altogether
obvious predicament, such as an open-and-shut case of outright plagiarism, may
not best illustrate your ability to think through the kind of complex
situations that are likely to lead to a good grade.
You should write your memo as if you are a line
editor at a news organization who is advising your boss on the scope of the
problem and (a) proposed solution(s). The assignments are meant to grasp your
ability to examine complex situations, offer useful alternatives and
recommendations, such as the pros and cons of a potential course of action.
Here are some “talking points’ you might consider:
· A need to make a lucid exposition of the facts.
· A
brief description of the ethical challenges or values at stake.
· A description of possible actions and alternatives and their
likely consequences.
· A
final resolution of the issue(s).
In
the remaining two informal ethics essays, you should adopt the role of
an ombudsman for the Washington Post or an online blogger.
In either case, you are to assume that you are writing for publication to a
wide audience.
Alternatively,
you may substitute for one of the informal ethics essays, a movie review
after having watched one of the following three films:
Pay
special heed in your review to the ethical issues raised in the movie you have
chosen to review.
Each
of your four memos/stories/review should be about 600
words in length. Please submit them in printed form in two double-spaced
pages.
There
will also be one three-member group project based on the same criteria as I’ve
outlined above. The project will consist of (a) an ethics memo along the same
lines as your two individual efforts, (b) a response memo from your
“supervisor” and (c) an analysis by the “top editor.” Your
should form your own working groups or see me if you have a problem in
finding working partners. You may collaborate freely within your own group after deciding on your individual roles when
editing each part of this this three-part assignment
before it is turned in -- but please refrain from working with other teams.
Your grade for this particular exercise will be a collective one. (This
exercise is meant to illustrate the real-world nature of what occurs when
sensitive ethics dilemmas arise in a newsroom.)
You
will write a final paper in lieu of a final exam. You should submit your topic
for my approval no later than November 3rd. It is most advisable
not to wait until the absolute deadline in thinking through the dimensions of
your paper. It should deal with a significant problem or trend in
journalistic ethics. It should encompass original research and reporting,
although well-sourced derivative material is acceptable to buttress your work.
Your paper, which is due on the last day of class, should be about 8 to 10
pages long, not including footnotes, source notes and the bibliography.
TO
SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS:
TEXT
AND READING MATERIALS:
Additional website checklist:
PERSONAL
NOTE: Since this is the first time I will be teaching this course, I have
relied heavily, with permission, on the
concepts and syllabi prepared for prior semesters by Professors Tony Barbieri,
WEEK
01 – SESSION 01 (Thursday, September 1st)
UNIT
PROLOGUE: This class will serve as an introduction of the instructor to the
students and the other way around. We will have a general discussion of
assignments and readings as well as my expectations and approach to grades. We
will outline the structure of the course as reflected in this syllabus. We will
review the important role of rotating student discussion leaders in class. We
will focus on why ethical issues matter and on the difficulties and ambiguities
posed by some ethics-related issues.
Essay Assignment 1: Write an autobiographical
sketch that gives me a sense of your personal background and your professional
and intellectual interests and plans. Cite any work or courses you may have
already taken that you believe might be valuable to you in undertaking the
issues we will be discussing in JOUR 300. (Your essay will not be shared with
the class.) (500-600 words). (Due at
Session 2.)
WEEK 02 – SESSION 02 (Tuesday, September 6th)
UNIT OVERVIEW: Over two sessions, we will discuss
various ethical models; the difference between law and ethics; between morality
and ethics. We will talk about various codes of ethics and the tools required to make good decisions. We will review in general terms
journalistic misconduct of both a major and minor nature. W will touch on
plagiarism and other career-ending acts. We will talk about the ethical
atmosphere that exist most newsrooms today, the role of competition,
professional ambition and deadlines as they relate to ethical corner cutting.
Before coming to class,
please read Media Ethics (Patterson & Wilkins) Chapters I and XII and:
·
Wolf in Reporter’s Clothing:
·
The Rise of Pseudo-Journalism in
·
Guiding Principles for the
Journalist (handout)
·
Bob Steele, Poynter.
·
Questions for ethical
decision-making. (handout).
·
Code of Ethics, Cox Newspapers
·
Code of Ethics, Society of
Professional Journalists. Statement of Principles,
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American Society of Newspaper
Editors.
·
Code of Ethics, Radio Television
News Directors Association.
Please turn in Essay Assignment
1 as discussed above.
Essay Assignment 2: Write about an ethical dilemma, problem or situation that
you have faced some time in your life that tested your own ethical values.
Explain how you resolved it. This dilemma need not be, and probably will not
be, directly connected to journalism. Do not write anything you are unwilling
to share with the class. (500-600 words) (Due at Session 4.)
WEEK
02 – SESSION 03 (Thursday, September 8th)
UNIT
OVERVIEW: Conclusion of this topic.
WEEK 03 – SESSION 04 (Tuesday, September 13th)
UNIT FAIR I: Over three sessions, we will examine
various aspects regarding the critical issues of journalistic accuracy and
fairness; the risks involved in using (and being used by) sources, particularly
anonymous ones and the traps to avoid. (Is it ever fair or justified to “burn”
anonymous sources?) We will talk about the importance to readers and viewers of
knowing sources of information.
Before coming to class, please read Media Ethics (Patterson
& Wilkins) Chapter II: Ethical Principles and:
·
Guidelines for use of anonymous
sources (handout).
·
The New York Times Guidelines on Anonymous Sources.
·
The
·
Using Anonymous Sources: Glenn Guzzo. Project for Excellence in
Journalism. http://www.journalism.org/resources/tools/reporting/accuracy/guzzo.asp?from=online
·
Using Anonymous Sources, Freedom
Forum
http://www.journalism.org/resources/tools/reporting/accuracy/freedomforum.asp?from=online
·
Cohen v. Cowles. (handout).
Please turn in Essay Assignment 2 as discussed above.
WEEK
03 – SESSION 05 (Thursday, September 15th)
UNIT
FAIR II: We will examine the 2004 CBS/Bush case and the CNN/Time Magazine
Tailwind case. How similar were these cases? Were the failures ethical in
nature or merely examples of bad journalism? How well or poorly did each
organization utilize anonymous sources? How well or poorly did each
organization handle the subsequent fallout?
Before coming to class, please read:
WEEK
04 – SESSION 06 (Tuesday, September 20th)
UNIT
FAIR III: We will examine the New York Times’ coverage of two
controversial stories – the (ultimately scuttled) espionage case against the
Chinese-born Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee and the
presence or absence of weapons of mass destruction in Saddam’s
Before coming to class, please read:
Please turn in your first formal ethics memo as
discussed above.
WEEK
04 – SESSION 07 (Thursday, September 22nd)
UNIT
DECEPTION: We will discuss the ethics of working undercover, lying,
misrepresenting oneself, breaking the law or otherwise
bearing false witness or cheating in pursuit of a story.
Before coming to class, please read:
WEEK
05 – SESSION 08 (Tuesday, September 27th)
UNIT
PRIVACY I: In this session, we will examine one of the most enduring
controversies in American newsrooms: the naming of victims of sexual assault or
those who accuse others of the crime. Should editors never use a name, or only
with permission of the victim? If the decision should be left
to the victim in a sexual assault case, why not in other crimes? What
special issues – celebrity, race, gender – were raised by the Kobe Bryant case?
There is less controversy over protecting the identities of children in news
stories. But what about juveniles charged with notorious crimes as adults? What
about parents or guardians who permit naming or photographing of their
children? Does the child have rights that cannot be given away by his or her parents?
Who protects those rights?
Before coming to class, please read Media Ethics (Patterson
& Wilkins) Chapter VI: Privacy and:
Please turn in your first informal ethics essay or
movie review as discussed above.
WEEK
05 – SESSION 09 (Thursday, September 29th)
UNIT
PRIVACY II: In this session, we will examine the issues surrounding
public figures vs. private lives as well as those that deal with private people
vs. public acts. The First Amendment and the landmark case of New York Times
v. Sullivan gave news organizations the right to print or broadcast virtually
anything about a public person. But is a legal right sufficient? What are the
ethical issues at stake? Where should the bright lines
be drawn?
WEEK
06 – SESSION 10 (Tuesday, October 4th)
UNIT
ROLE OF THE PRESS I – CIVIC JOURNALISM: We will discuss civic journalism,
often also called public journalism, which began as an effort to bridge the
chasm between news organizations and their audiences. It holds that journalists
should not only point out problems but also examine and offer solutions. In
many cases, it advocates getting involved -- and there is where potential
ethical issues may arise.
Before coming to class, please read:
WEEK
06 – SESSION 11 (Thursday, October 6th)
UNIT
ROLE OF THE PRESS II – BEING PART OF THE STORY: We will examine what ethical
and moral factors journalists should consider when the authorities ask their
cooperation to either publish or withhold information. When is it acceptable to
become a participant in a story, influence its course, and then cover it? Do
different rules apply to news reporters, feature writers and columnists? Should
journalists always try to avoid becoming the subject of a news story?
Before coming to class, please read:
WEEK
07 – SESSION 12 (Tuesday, October 11th)
UNIT
ROLE OF THE PRESS III – INSTITUTIONAL & FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: We
will examine as a case study the revelation last January that the Bush
administration paid commentator Armstrong Williams to promote one of its
policies.
Before coming to class, please read:
Please turn in your second formal ethics memo as
discussed above.
WEEK
07 – SESSION 13 (Thursday, October 13th)
UNIT
ROLE OF THE PRESS IV – PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: We will
examine whether journalists give up certain rights when they enter a newsroom.
Where the line should be drawn between one’s professional and personal life?
How deeply can an editor or reporter involve herself or himself in politics
without comprising her or his journalistic role? Should a reporter or editor be
to change her or his assignment because of the work or actions of a spouse?
Before coming to class, please read Media Ethics (Patterson
& Wilkins) Chapter IV: Loyalty and
Note: Your mid-term exam will be assigned at this session.
WEEK
08 – SESSION 14 (Tuesday, October 18th)
Guest
Lecturer – TBA
WEEK
08 – SESSION 15 (Thursday, October 20th)
Guest
Lecturer - TBA
WEEK
09 – SESSION 16 (Tuesday, October 25th)
Guest
Lecturer - TBA
WEEK
09 – SESSION 17 (Thursday, October 27th)
UNIT:
DIVERSITY: We will examine diversity and the status of minorities in
American life as an issue in journalism both within and beyond the newsroom. We
will look at various ethical aspects of diversity as a cornerstone of newsroom
values, e.g. diversity as an accuracy issue; diversity as a fairness issue,
diversity as a moral issue. We will discuss stereotyping when writing about
race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation, the need for inclusiveness and
the ethical risks of painting with too broad a brush.
Please turn in your mid-term exam.
Before coming to class, please read:
WEEK
10 – SESSION 18 (Tuesday, November 1st)
UNIT
ECON: We will examine how advertisers gain influence over the media. We
will discuss the problems of product placement, particularly in the movies and
on television. We will review the issues involved in programming for a diverse
audience in a “bottom-line” numbers-driven media climate. We will discuss how
several recent circulation scandals have given the news business a black eye.
We will look at Los Angeles Times and its
Before coming to both classes on this unit, please read Media
Ethics (Patterson & Wilkins) Chapters III & VIII: News as a Business
and:
Please turn in your second informal ethics essay or
a movie review.
WEEK
10 – SESSION 19 (Thursday, November 3rd)
This is the deadline for approval of a topic for your
final paper. (Kindly submit your proposed research project to me on or before
this date in a brief memo.)
UNIT
ECON: Concluding review of this topic.
WEEK
11 – SESSION 20 (Tuesday, November 8th)
UNIT
PHOTO: We will examine legal and ethical issues as they relate to
photojournalism, with special emphasis on privacy; the issues raised by digital
photography and the increasing ability of editors to alter journalistic art. If
possible, we will have a photo editor join us for this session.
Before coming to class, please read Media Ethics (Patterson
& Wilkins) Chapter IX: Photo & Video Journalism
WEEK
11 – SESSION 21 (Thursday, November 10th)
UNIT:
PR: We will examine the relationship between the media and the public
relations world with special attention to potential ethical issues.
Before coming to class, please read Media Ethics (Patterson
& Wilkins) Chapter V: Public Relations
Please turn in your three-person team ethics study. (For
the remainder of the semester, you should be researching and drafting your
final term paper.)
WEEK
12 – SESSION 22 (Tuesday, November 15th)
UNIT
ONLINE: We will examine ethical behavior on the Internet. We will discuss
such topics as how to follow the rules of the road on the broad information
highway, search engines, online credibility, linking protocols and copyright
issues. We will talk about what it means to navigate through or participate in
the ever-widening blogosphere. We will try to develop
some sound strategies in using the Internet as an effective reporting and
editing tool. (We will try to hold this session in a wi-fi
equipped lab, so if you have one, bring your laptop.)
Before coming to class, please read Media Ethics (Patterson
& Wilkins) Chapter X: Cyberspace
WEEK
12 – SESSION 23 (Thursday, November 17th)
UNIT
ONLINE: Concluding review of this topic.
WEEK
13 – SESSION 24 (Tuesday, November 22nd)
UNIT
Before coming to class, please read Media Ethics (Patterson
& Wilkins) Chapter XI: Art & Entertainment and A Beautiful Mind:
The Life of Mathematical Genius and Nobel Laureate John Nash by Sylvia Nash
(Paperback 1998) and watch the movie by the same name (2001).
WEEK
14 – SESSION 25 (Tuesday, November 29th)
UNIT
GOVERNMENT: We will examine the ethical issues that arise in the
relationship between government and the press.
Before coming to class, please read Media Ethics (Patterson
& Wilkins) Chapters VII: Media & Democracy
WEEK
14 – SESSION 26 (Thursday, December 1st)
UNIT:
TASTE & SENSITIVITY: Newspapers are trying to attract younger readers;
they are desperate to hold on to their core readership, people over 60. Almost every day in every newsroom in
Before coming to class, please read:
WEEK
15 – SESSION 27 (Tuesday, December 6th)
UNIT:
ACCOUNTABILITY & CREDIBILITY: We will examine the problems posed when
the story is ourselves. On two relatively recent occasions in the past few
years, two of the nation’s most respected news organizations were forced to
turn the spotlight on themselves to investigate their own journalistic
misconduct and explain it the their audiences. We will discuss, compare,
contrast and analyze how well they did. What can newspapers and broadcast
stations do when readers call to complain? How should they correct mistakes,
and y explain themselves to the public. Press councils, and why the traditional
hostility and suspicion toward them in the
Before coming to class, please read:
Please turn in your final term paper.
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