Module manager: Dr Adrian Quinn
Email: a.a.quinn@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
| PHIL2726 | Media Ethics |
COMM 2365 Broadcast Journalism Ethics
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Contemporary journalism demands clear personal ethical standards, along with understanding of the journalism industry and research into its potential harms. This module is intended to encourage intellectual engagement with journalism research and critique, and provide an opportunity for critical reflection on journalism with reference to its ethical challenges. The module includes a range of perspectives and experiences from staff in the School of Media and Communication with experience in journalism; a workshop session allows students to apply theoretical knowledge of ethical problem-solving to real world problems.
The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to critically engage with questions of ethics relevant to the field of journalism. It will allow students to examine the responsibilities of journalists and critically reflect on the social impact of journalism. It also aims to provide students with practical guidance and strategies for critical and moral reasoning when confronting ethical dilemmas in journalistic practice. In the main, learning activities take the form of focused case studies which help students to achieve the objectives above.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
LO1: Analyse and critique key theories and approaches to ethics of particular relevance to journalism
LO2: Recognise ethical issues in journalism practice and justify decision making in terms of ethical principles or ideas
LO3: Make informed contributions to critical debate about journalism and ethics
LO4: Express ideas about ethics in a range of styles including verbal presentation
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
SO5: Collaborate and communicate effectively as a member of a team.
SO6: Analyse and reflect upon journalistic outputs in different formats.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 9 | 2 | 18 |
| Practical | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 169 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 31 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Student progress will be monitored and formative feedback given via participation in seminars, , as well as through assessed work scheduled before the Easter break.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | essay | 60 |
| Group Project | group project | 40 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Students who fail the essay can revise and re-submit that component. Students who fail at the Group Project Report can re-sit that component in the form of critical reflection on the group project.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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