Chapter 1-What is the difference between ethics and morals? Does your author use them interchangeably? What are the three branches of ethics? What are the characteristics of each branch? Ethical communication involves six factors. What are they? What characterizes each factor? Be able to apply the factors of ethical communication to a hypothetical situation. Can ethics education be taught? What does your textbook author say? Be able to argue for yes and no. A course in ethics education should cover 5 areas, what are they? Define moral reasoning. What is ethical fitness? Why is it important? Know the three principles of moral virtue and characteristics of each. What are ethical values and attitudes? How are they formed? What are the three components of attitudes? Provide an example of each component. What are the four sources of attitudes? What is the Heintz dilemma? What are the conflicting values present in the Heintz dilemma?

Chapter 2-Why do we need a system of ethics? There are four reasons. What are the three functions of media in an ethical system? Are these functions mutually exclusive or is there a blurring of the lines? If there is a blurring of the lines, is there a problem? A system of ethics requires 5 components. What are they and explain their importance. As a member of society you have a set of moral duties. Why is a sense of duty important? What are the two levels of moral duty and how do they differ? What is the connection between law and ethics? Are they ever at odds? Compare and contrast the Libertarian view and the social responsibility view. What are the pros and cons for codes of conduct? What is the ombudsman system?

Chapter 3-What is moral reasoning? What are the three areas moral actors need to have knowledge and skills in to carry out moral reasoning? Who supported moral absolutes and knowledge? How do we achieve such absolutes? Be prepared to discuss Socrates’, Plato’s, and Aristotle’s take on moral virtue. What is the Golden Mean? Who is it associated with? Be able to offer an example of the Golden Mean. Know the characteristics and people associated with Judeo-Christian Ethic, Moral Duty, Utilitarianism, Egalitarianism, and Relativism. Describe the characteristics of deontological theories. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Which philosophies fall under these theories? Discuss the characteristics of teleological theories. Which philosophies fall under these theories? What are the objections to these theories? What are virtue theories? Who/what is associated with virtue theories? What are the three steps that drive critical thinking in the moral reasoning process? Describe the SAD model of moral reasoning and the characteristics of each stage. Be able to apply the model to a real-life or hypothetical situation. Be able to describe the quadrants of the Potter Box and use the Potter Box to analyze an ethical dilemma.

Chapter 4-Why is truth important in our society? Your author offers four reasons. Three concepts underlie the notion of truth in reporting. What are they? Briefly explain each concept. Be able to defend your position if presented with a scenario involving deception in journalism. Be able to defend your position regarding truth in media using one or more approaches to moral reasoning discussed on pp. 96-97 of your text. Be prepared to discuss the moral dilemmas in the film, Absence of Malice, and use either the Potter Box or the SAD model to analyze one or more of the ethical situations depicted in the film.

Chapter 5-Why do we value privacy (5 reasons)? Discuss privacy as a legal concept by explaining the four areas of privacy and offering an example of each. Who are Samuel D. Warren and Louis D. Brandeis? Your author suggests four principles that provide the foundation for an ethics of privacy for media practitioners. What are they? Given a hypothetical case involving privacy, be able to defend your position.