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• Undergraduate study:
• Courses
• Order a prospectus
• How to apply
• Information for applicants
• Why choose Kingston University
• Disability and mental health support
• Accommodation
• Undergraduate fees
• Fees, funding and payments
• Access, participation and inclusion

Journalism, Ethics and the Industry

• Module code: JO6013
• Year: 2018/9
• Level: 6
• Credits: 30
• Pre-requisites: successful completion of level 5 journalism requirements or equivalent
• Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module aims to build on students' critical understanding of the function of journalism, its place in society and its ethical, legal, technological and commercial framework. It develops material on the nature, history and purpose of journalism covered in earlier modules to critically examine how the UK media has risen to the challenge of reflecting and representing the ever more socially and culturally diverse Britain of today – as well as its duty to accurately and impartially report on foreign affairs and conflicts.

By considering concepts such as truth, objectivity, accountability, a free press, freedom of information and public interest in relation to journalism, students will develop an awareness of the tensions between journalists, readers, sources and proprietors in a changing media landscape and what it means to be an ethically responsible journalist.

Students will also examine the impact of social, technological and commercial changes on the practice and business of journalism, including the decline of conventional advertising, the increasing plurality of media forms, changing audience demands and expectations, and the rise of news aggregating websites and cheap ‘content' over costly original reporting.  

Aims

• To develop students' critical appreciation of the media's responsibility to reflect and represent social and cultural diversity in Britain and the wider world.
• To promote an informed  understanding of the social, technological and commercial developments and challenges currently shaping British journalism – and the likely future form(s) that journalism will take.
• To examine ethical concepts such as accuracy, accountability and public interest and to explore the need to balance commercial imperatives with ethical responsibility.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Show an understanding of the power of journalists to shape society's image of itself through the choices they make about what to report, how to report it, which regions of the world to cover, and which sources to rely on
• Relate historical and current issues in the evolution of British journalism to its likely future shape and nature
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of concepts such as a free press, public interest and freedom of information.
• Show an understanding of how legal constraints and ethical responsibilities have an impact on the production of journalism in practical terms.

Curriculum content

• The limits on freedom of information.
• "Public interest" as a core ethical value.
• The ethics of taste and decency.
• The diversifying social and cultural framework of Britain.
• Technological issues and developments affecting journalism
• Commercial pressures facing journalism
• The democratisation of journalism and the rise of citizen and ‘DIY' journalists
• The uses and abuses of professional PR, marketing, media management and spin and the treatment of sources.
• Reporting foreign news
• The challenges of reporting conflict
• The future of journalism in a globalised online world

Teaching and learning strategy

This module is taught through a weekly lecture which provides an overview of the week's topic, and through a related one hour seminar in which students are expected to actively participating through debates, presentations and other activities.  

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Assessment strategy

The assessment is designed to test students' ability to understand how the journalism industry is changing, where their ethical responsibility lies and what constitutes good practice in a fast-moving, competitive environment.  

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Elements of Assessment

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module

Bibliography core texts

Frost, Chris (2011),  Journalism Ethics and Regulation 3^rd edition, London: Pearson

Harcup (2006) The ethical journalist, London: Sage

Sanders, K (2003), Ethics and Journalism,  London: Sage

Keeble, R (2009) Ethics for journalists 2^nd edition, London: Routledge

Bibliography recommended reading

Blair, Tony (2010) A Journey (Hutchinson)

Bull, Andy (2010) Multi-media Journalism: A practical guide London: Routledge

Cole, P and Harcup, T (2010) Newspaper Journalism, Sage

Davies, N. (2008) Flat Earth News, London: Chatto and Windus

Luckie, Mark S (2010) The Digital Journalist CreateSpace

Packard, Vance, (2007) The Hidden Persuaders (Ig Publishing)