NMD2906 Digital Media EthicsBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs NEW MEDIAGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
NEW MEDIA
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
NMD2906 Digital Media Ethics Spring 3 0 3 6

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Must Course
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi TİRŞE ERBAYSAL FİLİBELİ
Course Lecturer(s): Instructor MERT KAYHAN
Recommended Optional Program Components: None.
Course Objectives: This course aims to provide theoretical perspectives on media ethics in the digital age. Through the theoretical readings students will gain information about subjects as professional journalism ethics, accuracy, fairness, diversity, fake news, fact checking, conflict of interest, privacy, photojournalism, plagiarism, sources, bias etc.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
- critically interpret and discuss the theories and the concepts on media ethics.
- compare and contrast code of conducts of different media companies and institutions.
- avoid conflicts of interest.
- decide how to act when they confront ethical problems.
- know terms as transparency, accuracy, objectivity, accountability, independency etc.
- be informed about very current ethical discussions in the digital age as fake news, deepfake/altered videos, algorithmic manipulation etc.

Course Content

The content of the course includes theoretical perspectives on media ethics in the digital age as well as discussions on case studies from different media organizations.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Intoduction to the course
2) New media, journalism and media ethics / Key concepts
3) Media, law and codes of conducts for journalists / Responsible Journalism
4) Reporters and sources
5) Truth and objectivity / Discussion
6) Accuracy and independence
7) Truth and reporting health
8) Conflicts of interest and public interest
9) Privacy and public interest
10) Ethical issues in war and conflict reporting: Death, disease and destruction
11) Photo & video journalism in the digital age / Data ethics: Data privacy and ethical debates
12) Deepfake and altered videos / New media literacy of journalists: Algorithms, Bots, Trolls, Artificial Intelligence and more
13) Presentations
14) Review of the semester

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Charles Ess, Digital Media Ethics, Cambridge, UK, 2009.
References:

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 13 % 20
Midterms 1 % 35
Final 1 % 45
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 55
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 45
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 13 3 39
Study Hours Out of Class 14 7 98
Presentations / Seminar 12 1 12
Midterms 1 3 3
Final 1 3 3
Total Workload 155

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To be able to critically interpret and discuss the theories, the concepts, the traditions, and the developments in the history of thought which are fundamental for the field of new media, journalism and communication. 5
2) To be able to attain written, oral and visual knowledge about technical equipment and software used in the process of news and the content production in new media, and to be able to acquire effective abilities to use them on a professional level.
3) To be able to get information about the institutional agents and generally about the sector operating in the field of new media, journalism and communication, and to be able to critically evaluate them. 4
4) To be able to comprehend the reactions of the readers, the listeners, the audiences and the users to the changing roles of media environments, and to be able to provide and circulate an original contents for them and to predict future trends. 1
5) To be able to apprehend the basic theories, the concepts and the thoughts related to neighbouring fields of new media and journalism in a critical manner. 3
6) To be able to grasp global and technological changes in the field of communication, and the relations due to with their effects on the local agents. 4
7) To be able to develop skills on gathering necessary data by using scientific methods, analyzing and circulating them in order to produce content. 2
8) To be able to develop acquired knowledge, skills and competence upon social aims by being legally and ethically responsible for a lifetime, and to be able to use them in order to provide social benefit. 5
9) To be able to operate collaborative projects with national/international colleagues in the field of new media, journalism and communication. 2
10) To be able to improve skills on creating works in various formats and which are qualified to be published on the prestigious national and international channels. 2