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The mass media are one of the most powerful institutions in our society. While there are laws and codes of ethics that dictate how the media must and should act, those codes are not always followed or enforced. As such, we must all learn to become critical and savvy media consumers. News, entertainment media, advertising, public relations, TV, video games, magazines, social media, and other media all have a strong influence on how we see the world, an influence that often begins in infancy.

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.