J 397 - Media Ethics

The mass media are one of the most powerful institutions in society. With that power, SHOULD come great responsibility. This course will explore the origins of ethical behavior and actions within the media. We will look at both classical and contemporary approaches to ethical decision making and apply them to modern media practices. At the same time, we will ask whether the media today are acting appropriately in regard to ethical practice, and if not, why not.

Comparative Internet Law

This survey course on comparative internet law is designed to teach students about a variety of internet-related laws and policies they will likely confront in their personal lives and professional careers. The internet has had a dramatic impact on communication, business, commercial transactions, and the control of information. This course provides an overview of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing communication and commercial activities conducted via the internet and online platforms in the United States and European Union.

Communication Law

The rights to free expression and the free press are central to democracies around the world. They define what we can say, print, or publish, as well as when we can be penalized for unprotected expression. In this course, we pay special attention to speech and press freedoms—covering topics such defamation, pornography and obscenity, media regulation, and the right to access information. We also examine the boundaries of privacy, copyright, and trademark laws. Our focus is primarily on comparing US law and the American legal system with the laws and legal systems of the European Union.

J 460: Brand Development Topic

This course will give you an opportunity to critically analyze and compare communication strategies across different industries in a global marketplace. You will expand your understanding of and cultural awareness about the role of communication in Europe, and enhance your ability to collect, process, analyze, and package information to target specific audiences.

By the end of this course, students can expect to:

J 480: Public Relations Topic

This course examines how strategic communication is used to promote participation in global entertainment and culture, such as music, art, sports, film, and historical sites that operate as both as modern entertainment (i.e., tourism) and symbols of a region’s cultural heritage. Concepts are taught within the context of strategic communication case studies.

News Journalism

Four quarter credits.In this course you will examine the practice of news journalism, and the manner in which it is being remolded by new digital platforms and increasing competition. The key requirement is that you are curious about the world and the way it is changing. You will need to read widely about how the world is reported – and you will have the chance to write and report.Every week, we will look at a topical news story and the different ways in which it is being reported across countries and platforms (TV, press, websites).

Internship in Ghana

You will be assigned to internships according to your interests and qualifications. Internships are full-time experiences for a minimum of five weeks (25 working days) of the program. Internship reports must be completed after the program ends. Internship supervisors will also complete evaluations.

Italian Language and Culture in Siena

“Like sailing, gardening, politics and poetry, journalism is a craft of place; it works by the light of local knowledge," said James Carey. The pre-structure of Italian journalism is different from that of American journalism and the journalistic tradition, as well as the state of the media of a country, has much to tell us about that culture. Media products do not necessarily mirror reality, but the media themselves, as a powerful symbolic agent that creates reality, are an important piece of the mirror image of society.
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