Course Information

Course Information
Course Title Code Language Type Semester L+U Hour Credits ECTS
- GİT403 Turkish Compulsory 7. Semester 3 + 0 3.0 5.0
Prerequisite Courses
Course Level Undergraduate
Mode of delivery Lecture, Reflective Thinking, Q&A, Problem-Based Learning, Discussion, Media Analysis
Course Coordinator Dr. Öğr. Üyesi AYŞE USLU
Instructor(s) Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Fehime Elem YILDIRIM (Güz)
Goals The aim of this course is to examine debates in the field of media ethics within the context of fundamental theories and principles. By familiarizing students with ethical dilemmas in the media, the course seeks to foster critical thinking about the ethical dimensions of social issues arising from communication. Students will come to understand that the media not only involves decisions about right and wrong but also requires media professionals to make ethical choices regarding dilemmas encountered in everyday practice, which they will be able to analyze through examples.
Course Content This course provides a comprehensive introduction to media ethics, examining fundamental theories and ethical decision-making models in the context of communication practices. Students will explore classical approaches such as Aristotle’s golden mean, Kant’s categorical imperative, utilitarianism, pluralistic value theory, and communitarian perspectives, applying them to media-related ethical dilemmas. Topics include the ethics of art and entertainment, online journalism and digital privacy, photo and video manipulation, issues of loyalty and conflicts of interest, journalistic truth-telling, advertising ethics, and the political economy of media. Through lectures, reflective discussion, case-based learning, and media analysis, students will develop critical reasoning skills and the ability to evaluate ethical issues across diverse media practices. The course emphasizes active student participation, culminating in individual projects and presentations.
Learning Outcomes
# Öğrenme Kazanımı
1 By the end of this course, students will be able to: Understand and possess knowledge of fundamental ethical theories and key concepts specific to the field of communication
2 Recognize that there are different historical and contemporary approaches to media ethics and analyze the practical implications of these approaches
3 Comprehend and articulate ethical conflicts, dilemmas, and professional role-based ethical issues specific to journalism, cyberspace, advertising, filmmaking, television production, and public relations
Lesson Plan (Weekly Topics)
Week Topics/Applications Method
0. Week Journalism Ethics: Telling the Truth; Ethical News Values: Impartiality and Objective Reporting
0. Week Democracy: Reporting on Political Actors; Reporting on Governments; Reporting on Terrorism and Hate Speech
1. Week Introduction to Media Ethics: Course overview: content, method, and scope.
2. Week Ethical Decision-Making Models and Reasoning Methods I: Aristotle’s Golden Mean Kant’s Categorical Imperative Utilitarianism
3. Week Ethical Decision-Making Models and Reasoning Methods II: 4. Pluralistic Value Theory 5. Communitarianism
4. Week The Ethical Dimension of Art and Entertainment: Traditional vs. Popular Culture; Representation of Reality; Aesthetics and Ethics
5. Week Cyber Ethics: Ownership of Information; Use of Sources; Online Journalism; Online Privacy; Accuracy; Accessibility; Reliability
6. Week Ethics of Photo and Video Journalism: Displaying Photographs; Electronic Manipulation; Selective Editing; Fabrication
7. Week Privacy Issues: Right to Know – Need to Know – Desire to Know
8. Week Mid Term Exam
9. Week Conflicts of Loyalty and Ethics in Media
10. Week Journalism Ethics: Telling the Truth; Ethical News Values: Impartiality and Objective Reporting
11. Week Advertising Ethics: Theories of Persuasion
12. Week Political Economy of Media
13. Week Democracy: Reporting on Political Actors; Reporting on Governments; Reporting on Terrorism and Hate Speech
14. Week End-of-Term Student Project Presentations
15. Week Final Exam
*Midterm and final exam dates are not specified in the 14-week course operation plan. Midterm and final exam dates are held on the dates specified in the academic calendar with the decision of the University Senate.
Relations with Education Attainment Program Course Competencies
Program Requirements DK1 DK2 DK3
Recommended Sources
Ders Kitabı veya Notu Ders Kitabı veya Ders Notu bulunmamaktadır.
Diğer Kaynaklar
  • Philip Patterson, Media Ethics: Issues and Cases, 9th Edition.
  • David Gordon, Controversies in Media Ethics, 2nd Edition
ECTS credits and course workload
ECTS credits and course workload Quantity Duration (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Sınavlar
Midterm 1 1 1 1
Homework 1 1 15 15
Final 1 1 1
Practice 14 1 14
Practice End-Of-Term 5 1 5
Classroom Activities 14 3 42
Total Workload 78
*AKTS = (Total Workload) / 25,5 ECTS Credit of the Course 5.0