DMC 298 - Media, Law, Ethics

Working in media, we make ethical decisions every day. Often, we find ourselves confronted with conflicting interests, we might get caught between personal and professional standards, and even face the legal consequences of our work. In this course students will be introduced into the basics of media ethics and get a first understanding of the legal structure supporting publishing and creative work. Students will discuss ethical questions such as freedom of expression, privacy, anonymity, conflict of interest, public relations vs. journalism, fairness, adequacy and appropriateness. Legal aspects will include libel, reporter’s privilege, damages, torts and crimes that might be committed during the course of newsgathering, prior restraint, copyright, authorship, and intellectual property. We will specifically examine how digital technology changes the conditions, in particular by the use of algorithms and AI.

Credits 4

Notes
From time to time, departments design a new course to be offered either on a one-time basis or an experimental basis before deciding whether to make it a regular part of the curriculum. First offered Fall 2024.

Area
Humanities

Division
Arts and Humanities

Compass Attributes
Humanities