Media ethics

Media ethics

Philosophy 2582; Media Ethics: Paper 1

Due: June 27th 2014 by 11:59pm; aprox. 8 pages double-spaced (12pt font)
Topic

This question has two parts. If it is helpful, you can divide your paper into different sections.

In the documentary film Manufactured Consent Noam Chomsky and the Media, Chomsky discusses what he calls the “manufacture of consent”. In Part 13 of the youtube version (see note below), Chomsky calls for ordinary people to develop “intellectual self defense”.

Part 1: What, according to Chomsky, is manufactured consent? What role does the media play in manufacturing consent? What role do you think it can plays in fostering “intellectual self defense”?

Part 2: How are these issues “ethical”?

You paper should display a clear understanding of the concepts of “manufactured consent” and “intellectual self defense”. It should also display that you understand why these issues are ethical. Part 1 of Unit 1 will help you answer this part of the question.

Here is the link to number 1 of 17 (note that they are all called the same thing except the number) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FKdU_xL4O8
Secondary Sources
Please use ONE outside text source on Chomsky in this assignment (scholarly article either online or from a journal in the library – text, interview, etc.) Please do not use Chomsky himself – but another writer/theorist. This is to help you understand some of the concepts involved here, and also to help you understand that Chomsky’s views are often challenged.

 

Writing Advice

1. Never underestimate the importance of structure. Consider preparing an outline of your paper either before you write it or when you are in the process of revising it. If you can’t give a clear, step-by-step breakdown of what you’re trying to accomplish in the paper, it’s probably not a very good paper. You should also remember the importance of a good, clear introduction and conclusion. Most good essays begin with a few introductory sentences that make it clear what is supposed to happen in the essay. Likewise, most good essays end with a few sentences that remind the reader of the main points made in the essay.
2. Connect your ideas. There should be no point in your essay that causes your reader to wonder why you’ve jumped from one idea to the next. Try to make the connections between the various things you have to say clear.
3. Don’t forget that philosophy is primarily concerned with arguments, not just taking positions. If you want to take and defend a position on the topic you’re dealing with, it’s not enough to just say what you think, you need to tell me why you think it.
4. A good way of strengthening your presentation of your own view is to consider objections to it. Ask yourself how any reasonable person might object to what you’re saying. If you don’t have an answer to that objection, your assignment needs more work.
5. Write simply and clearly. Don’t try to impress me with unusual words or complicated sentence structure. E.g., Why say ‘it is the observation of this writer that …’ when ‘my view is that …’ will do?
6. Avoid overblown introductions or conclusions. E.g., Don’t begin your essay with some variation on ‘Since the dawn of time mankind has looked up at the sky and wondered [insert name of philosophical question here]’.
7. Avoid dictionary definitions unless they’re helpful. It’s a cliché to begin an essay with something like ‘The Oxford English Dictionary defines film as …’.
8. Don’t worry about writing from the first person point of view (e.g., ‘I disagree’). Philosophers do this all the time (although this is not true in every discipline). However, don’t get carried away with this. Often, referring to yourself is unnecessary. E.g., why say ‘Where I think Plato gets things wrong is by claiming that…’ when ‘Plato gets this wrong by claiming that…’ does exactly the same work? Generally, it will be clear that the view you’re expressing is our own.
9. Remember that good arguments don’t have to be boring. Try to write something the reader will enjoy as well as understand.
10. Most importantly, try to write in such a way that an intelligent person who had never considered the issue you are discussing would understand and be convinced by what you are saying.
Policy on Referencing

For our purposes, formal references to the course notes do not need to be made unless you are directly quoting them. However, all use of the course readings or any outside source should be formally acknowledged regardless of whether you are directly or indirectly quoting. The format you use does not particularly matter, so long as you use it consistently and the format allows me to check your references. If you have already learned a referencing format that you are comfortable with (e.g., APA, MLA, etc.), feel free to use it.

When referencing the film, use the director’s name and the year (and the part)*. When referencing my notes just use my name and the year (2010).

*Note: In addition to the link posted on the guide page for Unit 2 Part 2, you will also find Manufacturing Consent; Noam Chomsky and the Media (Part 1 of 17, etc.) on youtube.com. The benefit of using this version is that it is divided into parts so it is easier to reference, (I reference Part 13 it in the question above).
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