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Lecturer(s)
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Motal Jan, doc. MgA. Ph.D.
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Course content
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* Case study methodology in media ethics. * The Potter Box model of ethical analysis: facts, values, principles, and loyalties. * Application of ethical theories to media cases: deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, ethics of care, dialogical ethics, and ethics of responsibility. * Identifying ethical dilemmas, formulating analytical research questions, and working with relevant source materials. * Values in media communication: truthfulness, accuracy, the public interest, autonomy, dignity, justice, care, responsibility, and transparency. * Ethical principles and professional standards: objectivity, impartiality, independence, source protection, protection of vulnerable persons, and minimising harm. * Research methods, literature review, citation practices, fact-checking, and the use of scholarly sources. * The use of AI in media analysis: opportunities, limitations, transparent disclosure of AI use, verification of AI-generated outputs, and the protection of sensitive data. * Commons and open-source approaches to analysis: open licences, free and open-source software, sharing methodologies, maintaining an analytical journal, and ensuring reproducibility. * Free and open-source tools for research, annotation, analysis, visualisation, and the preparation and presentation of case studies. * Case studies: analysis of selected media materials. * Student presentations followed by seminar discussion.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
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Learning outcomes
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The course builds on Mass Communication II and further develops students' ability to independently analyse specific cases of media ethics. The seminar focuses on case study methodology, the use of the Potter Box model of ethical analysis, the application of ethical theories, and the critical interpretation of media materials from journalism, documentary production, digital media, social media, popular culture, and public communication. Students are guided to identify ethical dilemmas, collect and transparently document relevant materials, distinguish between facts, values, principles, and the loyalties of individual stakeholders, and formulate well-argued ethical judgments. Emphasis is placed on independent analytical work, academic discussion, and the ability to present and defend the results of ethical analyses before the class. The seminar also emphasizes transparency, the principles of the commons, and open-source approaches. Students learn to conduct their analytical work in ways that are clear, verifiable, and reproducible. The course introduces the use of free and open-source software, open data, open licences, citation management tools, and ethical practices for working with digital sources and artificial intelligence tools.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to independently prepare a media ethics case study, identify and formulate an ethical dilemma, work with relevant media materials and scholarly sources, and apply the Potter Box model of ethical analysis as well as selected ethical theories to a specific case. They will be able to distinguish between facts, values, principles, and the loyalties of stakeholders, identify potential harms and conflicts of responsibility, and formulate well-reasoned ethical judgments. Students will also acquire the principles of transparent analytical practice, including proper citation of sources, documentation of the analytical process, disclosure of the use of AI tools, protection of sensitive data, and the appropriate use of the commons, open licences, and free and open-source software where suitable for the nature of the analysis.
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Prerequisites
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Mass Communication II
KMS/PEMK1 and KMS/PEMK2
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Final project
The course is conducted as a seminar requiring the active participation of students. Attendance is mandatory for students enrolled in the full-time mode of study and forms part of the course assessment. The course is completed with a pass/fail assessment. To receive credit, students must attend the seminars, actively participate in seminar discussions, and deliver a presentation of their own media ethics case study. Students select the topic of their presentation independently in consultation with the instructor and register for their presentation via the online booking system. Consultations are available by prior arrangement via email. Attendance, active participation in seminar discussions, and the delivery of an individual presentation of a media ethics case study are assessed.
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Recommended literature
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Aufderheide, Patricia, Peter Jaszi a Mridu Chandra. Honest Truths: Documentary Filmmakers on Ethical Challenges in Their Work. Washington. 2009.
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Benkler, Yochai. (2006). The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom. New Haven.
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Christians, Clifford G., Mark Fackler, Kathy Brittain Richardson, Peggy J. Kreshel a Robert H. Woods Jr. Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning. 10th ed. 405 s. New York. 2016.
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Lessig, Lawrence. Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity. New York. 2004.
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Mejias, U. A., & Couldry, N. (2024). Data grab: The new colonialism of Big Tech and how to fight back.
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Panteli, N. The ethics of using generative AI for qualitative data analysis. , 2024.
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Plaisance, Patrick Lee. Media Ethics: Key Principles for Responsible Practice. 255 s. 2009.
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Potter Jr., Ralph B. (1972). The Logic of Moral Argument. In: Deats, Paul, ed. Toward a Discipline of Social Ethics, s. 93?114. Boston.
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Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. 6th ed. 2018.
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