Communication Law, Ethics, and Diversity

Course Description

COMM 2240 provides an overview of law, ethics, and diversity in mass media. It examines the basics of freedom of expression and press laws in the United States including freedom of information and access to government records. The course analyzes several approaches to ethics in media, journalism, and public relations. It also examines diversity in media, journalism, and public relations.

Course Learning Objectives

  • Identify and explain the tenets of the First Amendment
  • Explain the Freedom of Information Act
  • Explain Georgia’s Open Records Act
  • Locate and explain a state’s law about access to state records
  • Identify and explain three ethical frameworks
  • Analyze an ethical dilemma in mass media and propose a solution
  • Explain the changing nature of diversity in the professional media workplace
  • Identify different approaches to defining diversity in media

Course Schedule

Graded Work

  • Quizzes

    • 4 quizzes
    • 50 points each
    • Open on Saturday at 9 am and close on Monday at 11:59 pm
    • Exam will be a combination of the following types of questions
      • Multiple choice
      • Fill in the blank
      • Matching
      • True or false

  • Assignments

    • Blog
      • 15 points each
      • Select 8 weeks to write your blog response
      • At least 4 must be completed prior to the mid-point of the course (March 21)
    • Legal Brief
      • 60 points
      • I will assign you a case related to communication law
      • You must use the webpage layout in either Adobe Express or Canva for the assignment
    • Ethical Case Study Presentation
      • 60 points
      • You will create a online presentation about a real ethical case study of your choice
      • You must use presentation software and record your presentation
    • Media Diversity Content Analysis
      • 60 points
      • You will conduct a content analysis of an episode of a current tv show using the Bechdel test as your framework
      • You will write an analysis of your findings