This course will look at how the motion picture industry has portrayed the people and the profession involved with newspapers and television. The goals of Media Ethics Goes to the Movies are to provide you with the ability to recognize and analyze ethical issues. Through a special arrangement with the New Crystal Theater, this course will take place in a movie theater. In your paper you should identify and briefly describe what appear to be the major issues, select and detail the one you feel is the most important of these issues, and develop appropriate guidelines that will caution other media professionals about this ethical challenge. Since the invention of the motion picture medium, there have been over 2,000 movies that either featured the mass media or contained characters that worked in mass communications.
Every student taking the course for credit is required to complete a mid-term exam.
The examination is of the take-home type and will consist of not more than five short answer questions. You will use a standard blue book to write your answers for the exam. The mid-term is due June 26. Before every motion picture showing, an attendance sheet will be distributed for you to sign. Participation is a qualitative judgment by the instructor as to the quality of your opinions during the discussion periods.