Communications Ethics and the Law

3 units

In this course, we will analyze principles that influence ethical judgment in the newsroom, the public relations firm, and the broader communications business. We will look at historical foundations of ethical thought in communications, study laws governing mass communications, and examine tools and strategies for ethical judgment in the field. We will also consider how one's personal ethical framework influences judgment, and we will use case studies to analyze ethical questions associated with social responsibility, commercial speech vs. political speech, and censorship.