Aims

The course aims to sensitise students to the conditions of production that structure and determine all journalistic work, and to place this reflection in the framework of a deontological approach in a situation of operationalisation. It will also seek to provide students with an understanding of the basis, norms and ethical reasoning of Belgian and international journalistic deontology.
Students are advised to complement their studies in this field by following Course COMU2107
(Communications law).

Main themes

The course aims to sensitise students to the conditions of production that structure and determine all journalistic work, and to place this reflection in the framework of a deontological approach in a situation of operationalisation. It will also seek to provide students with an understanding of the basis, norms and ethical reasoning of Belgian and international journalistic deontology.

Content and teaching methods

Content
The course offers reflection on the problems that 'arise in journalism in the framework of newspapers, radio and television. It will address a number of key issues in this field including:
- information circuits from source to recipients;
- the principles of selecting information;
- the mechanisms of 'misinformation';
- the origins and basis of deontology;
- the relationship between the press and the law;
- the systems and norms of journalistic self regulation.
Methodology
Lectures, case analyses, and personal work completed by students (this will be based on an annotated bibliography provided to students.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Pre requirements: There are no pre-requirements for following this course. Students are nonetheless advised to complement this course by going on Course COMU2107 (Communications law).
Assessment: Students will be expected to demonstrate their deontological analytical thinking in individual work, in addition to acquiring an understanding of the topics taught on the course.
Support: Learning documentation, and a reading portfolio in particular, will complement the lectures.
The course will also include the exercise of deontological and ethical thinking, and a large number of cases will be presented during the course to this end. Some of them will take the form
of audio-visual projections.

Other credits in programs