Media Ethics: Issues and Cases

Great book. I loved the overall layout and content. Chapters were easy to read and the case studies asked good critical and ethical questions. I found recommend to any comm professor or comm student.

I have the first edition of this book and, unlike other professors, he did not lecture verbatim from his own book. I appreciated this.His lectures are dynamic, humorous and insightful. His books can give you a fine taste of his vast knowledge but don't adequately reflect his excellent teaching style. Furthermore, his material applies directly to your career. No matter what career you choose. He makes certain that there are contemporary touchstones and references. I went directly from his upper level classes into a career in PR and Marketing Communications with confidence that I would never encounter issues similar to his case studies. Wrong!The funny thing about his writings and lectures is that they trigger epiphanies over a period of years. I made only average grades in his classes (they are VERY difficult and I admittedly didn't always apply myself) but I am able to quote key legal cases, recall ethics case-studies and comprehend media principles that most people with years in the MarCom/PR field can't even grasp. If you get a chance, buy any of his publications. If you feel bold and really seek some enlightenment on Media Ethics and Law issues, you should call Oklahoma Christian University and request any of his lecture videos.If you are reading this Dr. P, I'm still waiting on your book on Media Law. I liked ethics but your media law courses rocked!I have gone on to become an Information Technology engineer and yet still find myself applying knowledge gained from his courses. (Such as Intellectual Property law, copyrights, libel and fair use.)In case you folks think I'm a shill, it should be noted that I haven't been in contact with Dr. Patterson since around 1991 and I'm fairly certain I was among his least-promising students, so we had no casual relationship.Regardless of this, I credit his classes and books as the major force for saving my professional and, to some extent, my personal life, from self-destruction.

I have the first edition of this book and, unlike other professors, he did not lecture verbatim from his own book. I appreciated this.His lectures are dynamic, humorous and insightful. His books can give you a fine taste of his vast knowledge but don't adequately reflect his excellent teaching style. Furthermore, his material applies directly to your career. He makes certain that there are contemporary touchstones and references. I went directly from his upper level classes into a career in PR and Marketing Communications with confidence that I would never be like any of his case-studies. Wrong!The funny thing about his writings and lectures is that they trigger epiphanies over a period of years. I made only average grades in his classes (they are VERY difficult and I admittedly didn't always apply myself) but I am able to quote key legal cases, recall ethics case-studies and comprehend media principles that most people with years in the MarCom/PR field can't even grasp. If you get a chance, buy any of his publications. If you feel bold and really seek some enlightenment on Media Ethics and Law issues, you should call Oklahoma Christian University and request any of his lecture videos.If you are reading this Dr. P, I'm still waiting on your book on Media Law. I liked ethics but your media law courses rocked!I have gone on to become an Information Technology engineer and yet still find myself applying knowledge gained from his courses. (Such as Intellectual Property law, copyrights, libel and fair use.)In case, you folks think I'm a shill, it should be noted that I haven't been in contact with Dr. Patterson since around 1991 and I'm fairly certain I was among his least-promising students, so we had no casual relationship.Regardless of this, I credit his classes and books as the major force for saving my professional and, to some extent, my personal life, from self-destruction.

Most books on ethics and laws are boring. And those that aren't boring usually lean towards not giving any practical information. This book, however, is different. Each chapter has information to explain a specific ethical question, then a real-life example of how that question might come about, then more questions to stimulate responses. I had the honor of being in a Media Ethics class taught by the author, and our discussions were always A) in depth B) heated C) helpful.If you are considering becoming a journalist, photographer, tv personality or any other sower of information, read this book. It will help you to formulate your opinions now, instead of being stuck in an ethical no-win situation later.Read it.