Jour498 Journalism Ethics in the Digital Age

Capstone course for Journalism majors in selected areas of students' interest, resulting in completion of a capstone portfolio project. Prerequisite: Graduate Senior Standing

Student Learning Objectives

Overall Learning Goal: Develop critical thinking skills to analyze, evaluate, critique and discuss journalism ethics in the digital age. Special attention to political, economic, ideological, social and cultural influences affecting journalism principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, limitation of harm, transparency and public accountability.

Students will:
  • Define the function and purpose of journalism ethics
  • Compare and contrast the "code of ethics" adopted by professional journalism associations, individual print, broadcast and online news organizations, and social media platforms that distribute news
  • Analyze the spread of misinformation, fake news, and post-truths threatening the principles of journalism and the role of a free press in a participatory digital democracy
  • Apply journalism principles to specific ethical dilemmas and challenges journalists face in the changing culture of journalism