COMM 187
Ethical and Policy Issues in Institutions of Mass Communication
Description: (Formerly numbered Communication Studies 187.) Lecture, three hours. Intensive examination of ethical and policy issues arising from interaction of media institutions (print, film, broadcasting, and new technologies) and societal institutions (Congress, federal agencies, courts, Presidency, schools, churches, political action groups, advertisers, and audiences). P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Professor is was one of the best professors I have had since being at UCLA. He is every down to earth. He understands students and you can tell that he is really there for his students. As far as the course goes, there is a midterm and final. Both are fairly straight forward. There are no surprises. Listen to his lectures. That is where most of his testing material will come from I feel like. The reading is a nice, easy read that will be helpful on the exams as a well. Great class.
Professor is was one of the best professors I have had since being at UCLA. He is every down to earth. He understands students and you can tell that he is really there for his students. As far as the course goes, there is a midterm and final. Both are fairly straight forward. There are no surprises. Listen to his lectures. That is where most of his testing material will come from I feel like. The reading is a nice, easy read that will be helpful on the exams as a well. Great class.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2020 - Professor Newton's class was exceptional! This course examines issues in journalistic ethics and their impact on society at large. He covers a number of topics in journalism from using anonymous sources, defamation, conflicts of interest, and the business of journalism. This is a low stakes course, meaning there is minimal reading and the lecture material is pretty straight forward. This course was a balance during the fall quarter when I took four classes. If you're taking four classes or a south campus student who needs an elective, and that needs to balance out your schedule, take this class! However don't pass if off to not show up to class or to disregard the readings. Professor Newton is an exceptional professor and he will probably be one of those professors you will remember well after you leave UCLA. Your grade is made of two exams: midterm and final, both worth 45%. The exams consist of short essay answers about topics covered in lecture or the readings. The other 10% of your grade is attributed to participation. And the participation was not like other classes where you're regurgitate what the instructor says. The class engaged into some really deep discussions about a variety of issues that we deal with in society, politics, and ethics. For me, the discussions gave the course substance and brought back an element we are missing during the absents of in-class meetings during Covid-19. Rather you are seeking a future in journalism or not, this class will help you to develop a critical lens in how to interpret ethical journalism in todays news.
Fall 2020 - Professor Newton's class was exceptional! This course examines issues in journalistic ethics and their impact on society at large. He covers a number of topics in journalism from using anonymous sources, defamation, conflicts of interest, and the business of journalism. This is a low stakes course, meaning there is minimal reading and the lecture material is pretty straight forward. This course was a balance during the fall quarter when I took four classes. If you're taking four classes or a south campus student who needs an elective, and that needs to balance out your schedule, take this class! However don't pass if off to not show up to class or to disregard the readings. Professor Newton is an exceptional professor and he will probably be one of those professors you will remember well after you leave UCLA. Your grade is made of two exams: midterm and final, both worth 45%. The exams consist of short essay answers about topics covered in lecture or the readings. The other 10% of your grade is attributed to participation. And the participation was not like other classes where you're regurgitate what the instructor says. The class engaged into some really deep discussions about a variety of issues that we deal with in society, politics, and ethics. For me, the discussions gave the course substance and brought back an element we are missing during the absents of in-class meetings during Covid-19. Rather you are seeking a future in journalism or not, this class will help you to develop a critical lens in how to interpret ethical journalism in todays news.
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Most Helpful Review
The readings were interesting, lectures always kept my attention, the term project was FUN, and the guest lecturer (Robert Shapiro) was swift but sweet. But the tests were REDICULOUS!!! They didn't test anything valuable or worth retaining!! It was like he'd pick any random sentence in the readings and test us on it. And he didn't mind pointing out his favorites in the class. He gave the impression that he was deeply concerned with our learning the material but he insisted on testing us on worthless stuff. If grades didn't count, this class might be cool...
The readings were interesting, lectures always kept my attention, the term project was FUN, and the guest lecturer (Robert Shapiro) was swift but sweet. But the tests were REDICULOUS!!! They didn't test anything valuable or worth retaining!! It was like he'd pick any random sentence in the readings and test us on it. And he didn't mind pointing out his favorites in the class. He gave the impression that he was deeply concerned with our learning the material but he insisted on testing us on worthless stuff. If grades didn't count, this class might be cool...
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