Ethics and Communication Deontology

Objectives

At the end of the semester, students should be able to:

1. Understand the fundamental concepts of ethics;

2. Justify morally a claim (in the light of the main ethical traditions);

3. To make a well-grounded judgement on the main ethical problems that can arise in the professional practice of journalism;

4. To evaluate the social responsibility of journalism.

Program

Contents

1. Basic notions of ethics

1.1. Ethics, Moral, Deontology and Law. Communication ethics as applied ethics.

1.2. Fundamental concepts of the ethical reflection.

1.3. The nature of moral justification.

2. Problems of communication ethics

2.1. Objectivity and impartiality.

2.2. Free speech.

2.3. Public interest and the defence of privacy.

2.4. The relation between journalists and their sources.

2.5. Problems in the representation of minority groups.

2.6. Values of the journalistic investigation.

3. Deontological codes

3.1. The self-regulation of the media.

3.2. International deontological codes.

3.3. The deontology of the Portuguese journalists.

4. Journalism as a power amongst other powers

4.1. The social responsibility of the media.

4.2. Political power and the media.

4.3. Economic power and the media.

Teaching Methodologies

1. Expositive classes complemented by theoretical-practical classes dedicated to the discussion of practical cases with relevance to the ethics and deontology of journalism.

2. Debates with invited journalists.

3. Selected readings, with emphasis on recent publications.

Bibliography

Arons de Carvalho, A., Cardoso, A. e Figueiredo, J., Direito da Comunicação Social, Cruz Quebrada, Casa das Letras/Editorial Notícias, 2005.

Aznar, H., Comunicação Responsável: A auto-regulação dos media, Porto, Porto Editora, 2005.

Christians, C., e Wilkins, L. (eds.), The Handbook of Mass Media Ethics, London, Routledge, 2009.

Esteves, J., A Ética da Comunicação e os Media Modernos, Lisboa, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 2007.

Keeble, R., Ethics for Journalists, London, Routledge, 2009.

Kieran, M. (ed.), Media Ethics, London, Routledge, 1998.

Meyers, C. (ed.), Journalism Ethics, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2010.

Plaisance, P., Media Ethics: Key Principles for Responsible Practice, Los Angeles/London, Sage Publications, 2003.

Pina, S., A Deontologia dos Jornalistas Portugueses, Coimbra, Minerva, 2000.

Sanders, K., Ethics and Journalism, Los Angeles/London, Sage Publications, 2003.

Warburton, N., Free Speech, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2009.