Mass Communication Ethics: Decision Making in Postmodern Culture

This text is the first to put ethical issues in a cultural and historical context, based on the premise that ethical problems arise from myriad of cultural forces. Each section of the text outlines a specific goal: to inform by helping students understand the present cultural environment through ethical theories, and use individual philosophies in decision making; to entertain with biographical sketches of noted philosophers, helping students understand the human connection to philosophical and ethical principles; and to inspire students to set and achieve higher personal and professional moral standards.Each part of the text helps students create an new element of their individual ethical decision-making approach. The first section focuses on ethics in postmodern America and how to effectively make decisions in a contemporary society. Next, students learn about ethical philosophers—from Plato to Foucault—and their beliefs. The individual philosophical messages within each biographical sketch can be fully realized when applied to the included media case studies. This helps students determine personal their own decision-making approaches. The final part of the text asks students to apply the these philosophers' teachings to ethical issues in areas such as journalism, public relations, and the music industry.New! Some case studies are entirely new, others updated, and include Nike's labor practices, September 11 and the news, the South Park cartoon, the NFL, and the advertising of prescription medicine.