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Media ethics & governance

Annemarie van Oosten, Rutger de Graaf, Damian Trilling, Sandra Jacobs, and Lotte Salome

Annemarie van Oosten, Rutger de Graaf, Damian Trilling, Sandra Jacobs, and Lotte Salome

Media Ethics and Governance

About this course: This course explores some of the basic theories, models and concepts in the field of media ethics. We will introduce influential ethical theories and perspectives, explore changing societal demands and expectations of media creation and media use, and we will elaborate on existing ethical norms for media professionals. After following this course, you will be able to reflect on ethical dilemmas and develop a well-substantiated argumentation for ethical decision making in a variety of media-related contexts.

Upon completion of this course, students should:

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Media Ethics and Governance

About this course: This course explores some of the basic theories, models and concepts in the field of media ethics. We will introduce influential ethical theories and perspectives, explore changing societal demands and expectations of media creation and media use, and we will elaborate on existing ethical norms for media professionals. After following this course, you will be able to reflect on ethical dilemmas and develop a well-substantiated argumentation for ethical decision making in a variety of media-related contexts.

Upon completion of this course, students should:

• have knowledge of the history and development of perspectives on media ethics;

• have knowledge of the dominant theoretical approaches and concepts;

• be able to use this knowledge to develop a well-substantiated argumentation

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What's inside

Syllabus

Theoretical building blocks of Communication Ethics

In this section, we discuss several ethical theories and perspectives, such as Consequentialism and Utilitarianism. These theories serve as building blocks for the rest of the course: when you understand the most important aspects of each perspective, you are able to use the various perspectives to consider ethical dilemmas from different angles.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines media ethics in-depth, which is critical for understanding the ethical implications of media creation and use

Taught by experts in the field, including Annemarie van Oosten, Rutger de Graaf, Damian Trilling, Sandra Jacobs, and Lotte Salome, this course ensures high-quality instruction

Develops ethical reasoning and decision-making skills, which are essential for professionals in media and communication

Provides a broad overview of ethical theories and perspectives, offering a comprehensive understanding of the field

Covers contemporary ethical issues in media, ensuring relevance to current industry practices

Requires students to come in with some background knowledge in media ethics, which may be a barrier for beginners

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Reviews summary

Media ethics and governance fundamentals

According to learners, this course provides a strong theoretical foundation in media ethics and governance, exploring key concepts, historical perspectives, and influential theories like Consequentialism. Students frequently highlight the value of the practical application module, noting that the introduced ethical decision-making scheme is a highly useful tool for analyzing and resolving real-world dilemmas in various media contexts, from journalism to big data. While some found the initial abstract theories potentially complex to grasp without immediate application, the course is widely considered highly relevant and provides crucial insights for both aspiring and current media professionals seeking to navigate the evolving ethical landscape.

Ethical decision-making scheme is useful.

"The ethical decision-making scheme introduced in the final module is a highly practical tool I can use in my professional life."

"Applying the theories in the 'Communication Ethics in Practice' section clarified everything and made the abstract concepts concrete."

"Liked how they put theory into practice with case studies and the decision scheme; it's very effective."

Provides robust base in ethical theories.

"The course provides a solid understanding of different ethical theories and perspectives."

"I found the foundational modules on consequentialism and utilitarianism particularly insightful and well-explained."

"Really helped build a strong theoretical base before diving into practice; the concepts are clearly laid out."

Highly relevant for media professionals.

"Essential course for anyone working in media today, given the constant ethical challenges we face."

"Provides crucial insights into ethical issues specific to different media fields like journalism, advertising, and big data."

"The content is very relevant to the current media landscape and the evolving responsibilities of professionals."

Readings are extensive and sometimes dry.

"The required readings felt overwhelming at times due to their volume and academic nature."

"Some readings were quite dense and difficult to get through, although they were relevant."

"Could benefit from more varied supplemental materials or summarized versions of the core readings."

Grasping abstract theories takes effort.

"Some of the ethical theories were quite abstract initially and required revisiting the material multiple times."

"Found it challenging to see how certain theories applied to specific scenarios without the practical framework provided later."

"Requires careful study and reflection to fully understand the philosophical underpinnings discussed early on."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Media ethics & governance with these activities:

Review Media Literacy Concepts

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Begin by refreshing your understanding of core concepts in media literacy, such as media bias, media framing, and media effects.

Browse courses on Media Literacy

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Revisit your notes or textbooks from previous courses that covered media literacy
Read articles or watch videos on current media trends and their impact on society

Review basic communication theories

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Refresh your understanding of basic communication theories to lay a strong foundation for the course content.

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Review notes or textbooks on communication theories
Engage in discussions or online forums to discuss theories

Show all two activities

Career center

Learners who complete Media ethics & governance will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Media Analyst

Media analysts use their understanding of media ethics to analyze the effects of media on society and make ethical choices in their own work.

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Media Consultant

Media consultants advise clients on how to use media effectively and ethically to achieve their goals.

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Media Ethics Officer

Media ethics officers ensure that their organizations comply with ethical standards and guidelines.

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Media Law Attorney

Media law attorneys specialize in the legal issues surrounding media and entertainment.

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Media Policy Analyst

Media policy analysts research and analyze media policy issues and make recommendations for policy changes.

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Media Producer

Media producers oversee the production of media content, ensuring that it meets ethical and quality standards.

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Media Relations Manager

Media relations managers build relationships with members of the media and represent their organizations to the public.

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Journalist

Journalists research, write, and report on news stories, adhering to ethical standards of accuracy, objectivity, and fairness.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists manage the public image of organizations and individuals, using media ethics to guide their communications.

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Social Media Manager

Social media managers create and manage content for social media platforms, ensuring that it complies with ethical guidelines.

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Communications Manager

Communications managers oversee all aspects of an organization's communications, including media relations, public relations, and social media.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing managers develop and execute marketing campaigns, ensuring that they meet ethical standards of fairness and transparency.

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Advertising Manager

Advertising managers oversee the development and execution of advertising campaigns, ensuring that they comply with ethical guidelines.

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Media Buyer

Media buyers purchase advertising space and time for their clients, ensuring that they get the best value for their money and that their campaigns comply with ethical standards.

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Media Planner

Media planners develop and implement media plans for their clients, ensuring that they reach their target audience and achieve their marketing goals.

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Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Media ethics & governance.

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Ethics and the Media

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Provides a comprehensive overview of media ethics, with a focus on real-world cases and controversies. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the ethical issues facing the media industry.

Ethics and the Media

Ethics and the Media

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Mediating the Message in the 21st Century

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Offers a comprehensive examination of the ethical principles and theories that guide media and communication practices. It provides valuable insights into the ethical dilemmas faced by media professionals and helps develop critical thinking skills.

Mediating the Message in the 21st Century

Mediating the Message in the 21st Century

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Ethics for the Information Age

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Explores the ethical issues and challenges arising from the information age, including topics such as privacy, data protection, and the spread of misinformation. It provides valuable insights into the ethical responsibilities of individuals and organizations in the digital realm.

Ethics for the Information Age

Ethics for the Information Age

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The Smart City in a Digital World

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the political economy of communication. It examines the relationship between the media and the economy, and it explores the ethical implications of this relationship.

The Smart City in a Digital World

The Smart City in a Digital World

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The Death and Life of American Journalism

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This influential book examines the ethical issues and challenges faced by journalists and mass media professionals. It provides a critical perspective on the role of the media in society and its impact on public discourse.

The Death and Life of American Journalism

The Death and Life of American Journalism

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Examines the ethical issues raised by the internet. It explores the impact of the internet on the media industry, and it discusses the ethical challenges facing journalists and other media professionals.

Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning

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Provides a comprehensive overview of media law and ethics. It examines the legal and ethical issues facing the media industry, and it valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the legal and ethical challenges facing journalists and other media professionals.

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Media and Power

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between the media and society. It examines the role of the media in shaping public opinion, and it explores the ethical implications of this role.

Media and Power

Media and Power

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Normative Theories of the Media

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Examines the ethical responsibilities of the media. It discusses the role of the media in promoting democracy and social justice, and it explores the ethical challenges facing journalists and other media professionals.

Normative Theories of the Media: Journalism in...

Normative Theories of the Media: Journalism in...

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Level

Intermediate

Via

Coursera

Institution

University of Amsterdam

Instructors

Annemarie van Oosten

Rutger de Graaf

Damian Trilling

Sandra Jacobs

Lotte Salome

Language

English

Transcripts

العربية Français বাংলা українська мова 中文 Ελληνικά Italiano Português Nederlands 한국어 Deutsch پښتو اُردُو, Pусский ไทย Bahasa Indonesia Svenska Türkçe آذربایجان دیلی Español हिंदी 日本語 қазақша فارسی magyar nyelv Polski

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines media ethics in-depth, which is critical for understanding the ethical implications of media creation and use

Taught by experts in the field, including Annemarie van Oosten, Rutger de Graaf, Damian Trilling, Sandra Jacobs, and Lotte Salome, this course ensures high-quality instruction

Develops ethical reasoning and decision-making skills, which are essential for professionals in media and communication

Provides a broad overview of ethical theories and perspectives, offering a comprehensive understanding of the field

Covers contemporary ethical issues in media, ensuring relevance to current industry practices

Requires students to come in with some background knowledge in media ethics, which may be a barrier for beginners

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