Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics
Dr. Lee McGaan
Spring 2014 Office
Office: WH 308 (ph. 309-4572155); email: [email protected]
Home: 418 North Sunny Lane (ph. 309-734-5431)
Hours: MWF: 2-3:30pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A study of the foundations of freedom of expression and
communication ethics in our society. Major historical documents and cases pertaining to freedom of
expression and communication ethics will be reviewed. Development of 1st Amendment law and the
continuing tension between freedom and social control will be examined. Contemporary issues
discussed will include: what constitutes speech, artistic freedom, censorship, control of media content,
media and personal communication ethics, obscenity, media regulation, legal restraints on expression,
and "speech codes."
REQUIRED TEXT:
T. L. Tedford and D.A. Herbeck. FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE
UNITED STATES (6th). Strata Publishing, 2009.
COURSE GOALS: The goals of this course include the following:
1. To develop student awareness of the philosophical background of American concern for free
expression;
2. To develop student understanding of the American legal system and its part in the development
of 1st Amendment law;
3. To provide students with an opportunity to explore contemporary problem areas in freedom of
expression and ethics;
4. To develop student understanding of current rights and responsibilities under the 1st
Amendment;
5. To assist students in developing a strong sense of personal communication ethics and a
philosophy of communication.
6. To provide students with a forum for considering "Life after Monmouth."
COURSE POLICIES:
Lack of professional behavior such as late submission of or missing work, etc. will likely result in
a substantial lowering of the course grade beyond what might be expected based on assignment
weighting below
Except for medical or other emergency reasons, assignments will not necessarily be accepted
late (unless advance arrangements are made). Enrollment in this course constitutes an agreement by
the student to permit the instructor to keep and maintain on file all submitted work for the course.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY CAN RESULT IN FAILING THIS COURSE and will be reported to the
Academic Dean.
GRADED ASSIGNMENTS * (and approximate weight of each):
Ethics Case Written Paper
15% Final Exam
20% Reaction/Position Paper
Mid-term Exam
Chapter Discussion Question - Response Papers (8)
25%
15%
25%
Course Workload: All assignments will be given a letter grade and averaged according to the
percentages above (e.g. A- = 3.7 x Y%, etc.) in order to compute the final grade for the course. The
instructor reserves the right to significantly lower course grades for failure to complete all assignments
or for students who cause difficulty in their work groups.
Syllabus
DATE
1/13 – 1/17
Topic/ Preparation
The Idea of Free Expression: Themes
and Principles; Origins of the Tradition
PREP: Discussion Questions
Readings
READ: Tedford, Ch. 1 N.C.A. Democratic
Society Credo | Introduction to Free
Expression Law
Written answers to assigned Discussion Questions due: 1/20
Ethics and Communication
1/20 – 1/24
Ethical Perspectives on Communication
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ & BRING TO CLASS:
Ethical Traditions - Analyzing Ethics Cases
Ethical Perspectives continued.
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Karl Wallace (handout) &
N.C.A. Ethics Credo & PRSA Code
Written answers to assigned Discussion Questions due: 1/27
1/27 – 1/31
The Philosophy of Free Expression
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Distilled Mill (outline); Milton
summary: Mill - On Liberty Ch. 2
Tedford, Ch. 2
Philosophy and Themes in Free Expression and Law
1/27 – 1/31
Introduction to Free Expression and Law
Control of Political Expression
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Tedford, pp. 452-456
The American Legal System;
Introduction to Free Expression Law part 2
READ: Tedford, Ch 3
Ethics Case Analysis paper due: 1/31
2/3 - 7
Control of Political Expression, continued
Sedition
Written answers to assigned Discussion Questions due: 2/10
Defamation and Privacy | PREP: Discussion
Questions
READ: Tedford, Ch. 4
Defamation Concepts
Defamation and Privacy continued.
Privacy Concepts | The War on Cameras
2/10-14
Written answers to assigned Discussion Questions due: 2/17
2/17 - 21
From Blasphemy to Obscenity
PREP: Discussion Questions |
From Blasphemy to Obscenity, continued
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Tedford, Ch. 5
From Blasphemy to Obscenity
Illinois Obscenity Law (excerpts)
Written answers to assigned Discussion Questions due: 2/24
2/24 - 28
Provocation to Anger
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Tedford, Ch. 6
Fighting - Wounding
Words that Wound
Written answers to assigned Discussion Questions due: 3/3
3/3 – 3/7
3/10 – 3/14
Prior Restraint
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Tedford, Ch. 8
Prior Restraint
READ: Tedford, pp. 455-459 2-level
SCOTUS testing
Review for Exam 1
Exam 1 (sent by email): Time – TBD during this week
Special Topics in Free Expression
3/17 – 3/21
3/24 – 3/28
Time, Place and Manner
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Tedford, Ch. 10
Time, Place, Manner
Commercial Speech
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Tedford, Ch. 7
Commercial Speech
Problems of the Free Press
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Tedford, Ch. 9
Problems of a Free Press
Written answers to assigned Discussion Questions due: 3/31
3/31 – 4/4
Institutional Constraints
PREP: Discussion Questions
READ: Tedford, Ch. 11
Institutional Constraints
Written answers to assigned Discussion Questions due: 4/7
4/7 – 4/11
4/14 – 4/17
4/22 – 4/24
Copyright
PREP: Discussion Questions
Theories of Free Expression
READ: Tedford, Ch. 12
Copyright
READ: Tedford, Ch. 15
Review
FINAL EXAM (sent by email): Time – TBD during this week