J255 Media Ethics (Graduate) 10/14-12/2

This is a required seven-week media ethics course for all incoming first-year students.

Class sessions are:

• Oct 14
• Oct 21
• Oct 28
• Nov 4
• Nov 11
• Nov 18
• (no class on Nov 25)
• Dec 2

It starts mid-way through the semester after J207 Research Methods ends.

This course provides students with a rigorous foundation in the principles that guide responsible reporting, framing ethics both as a core moral doctrine and as a dynamic framework shaped by evolving social and industrial realities. The course examines enduring values such as truthfulness, independence, accountability, and minimizing harm, while also engaging with contemporary challenges including digital misinformation, algorithmic bias, corporate influence, and the pressures of a 24/7 news cycle. Students learn to navigate complex editorial decisions, recognizing that ethical standards are not static but continually adapt in response to technological innovation, shifting audience expectations, and broader societal change.