31. Assessment 2 -- Essay

University of Botswana

Department of Media Studies

BMS 226 ETHICS FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS

HANDOUT 31: ASSESSMENT 2 – ESSAY

This assessment is worth 60 percent of the total marks for this course. Write between 2,500 and 3,000 words.

DEADLINE: 16.00 Thurs 19 April 2012

Write an essay on ONE of the following.

1.      Why are people worried about bad behaviour in journalists? What can journalists do to show they can behave ethically? 

2.      Advertising is a service to the public and should be legal, decent, honest and truthful. What does ‘legal, decent, honest and truthful’ mean? Give examples of what advertisers should do to be ethical.

3.      What can public relations professionals do to convince the public that they work in an ethical way and are not just telling lies on behalf of the people who employ them?

The essay should:

1.      demonstrate understanding and application of key concepts/theory;

2.      show evidence of a reading/research around the set topic, and demonstrate critical understanding;

3.      demonstrate independence of thought and argument;

4.      be a well-structured answer focused on the question set, and identifying wider issues;

 5.      be comprehensible with correct writing style and English usage, with appropriate references.

Specifically, the essay should

Have introduction that sets out what the essay intends to show and how it will go about it.

Section on what the perceived problems are – why people might say that journalists / advertisers / PR are not behaving well. Give examples.

Section on what the media professionals are doing to show they can behave ethically. Codes of ethical conduct with examples.

Section with critical analysis of the role self-regulation plays – with examples.

Conclusion – summing up the essay and the points you have made.

Throughout cite academic references (books, journals etc.) to support your argument. Cite experts – not just any website.

Throughout correctly reference all sources of information used and give a full list of references (bibliography) at the end.

You should use academic texts for this essay. Please do not just search on Google and use websites that are not written by experts.

To find information for the essay use these search engines (use them in the order listed)

1.      UB Library (Go to UB homepage – then library catalogue – then fulltext journals online)

2.      Google Scholar – www.scholar.google.com

If you are still looking after visiting those websites try these:

1.      Scribd – www.scribd.com

2.      Wikibooks – www.wikibooks.org

3.      Findarticles – www.findarticles.com

THE FINAL CLASS OF THE COURSE WILL BE ON TUESDAY 3 APRIL 2012