(= A DOC 225) Media Law and Ethics

Catalog description

This course examines strategies for making good ethical decisions in newsgathering and writing as well as the laws that pertain to daily journalism and public relations. The course covers the major ethical theories and philosophies and the major legal cases that journalists must know. Emphasis will be on actual cases and hypothetical situations encountered in daily journalism. The course pays special attention to some of the most common dilemmas - libel, free press/fair trial conflicts, anonymous sources, and publishing content that can harm people. Only one version of A JRL 225 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): restricted to Journalism, Documentary Studies and History majors and minors. Others may be admitted space permitting, and with permission from the instructor.