Page 118 - HKSYU Prospectus 2023-24

Shue Yan University Prospectus 2023-24

JOUR 410 Media Ethics
1 Term; 3 Credits
In our democracy, media/communication professionals have the freedom to write and
report and advocate or promote almost anything. However, with that freedom comes an
enormous responsibility – not to mention an economic imperative ‒ to act in a fair, responsible
manner. And the idea of media ethics in the profession only has grown as the power and
influence of both traditional and digital media has increased. This course does not attempt to
provide definitive answers to each and every ethical quandary. In many cases, in fact, there
may be many “right” answers, or perhaps none that seem satisfactory. Instead, what we will
attempt is to provide a framework that will enable students as working media professionals to:
a) identify an ethical dilemma; and b) have a framework to analyse the situation, develop
options and select a solution. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to
demonstrate awareness of deeply held beliefs in the Codes of Media Ethics and how those
beliefs may affect their decisions; critically analyse life experiences and media field cases in
ethical dilemmas; and recognize, analyse and resolve real-world ethical cases using diverse
decision-making approaches.

JOUR 420 Press Policy and Law of China
1 Term; 3 Credits
This course aims to let students understand the major standards of the current legal
system and policies within which the Chinese press and media operate, to compare the
Chinese standards of practice to the basic principles of international media law, and to interpret
and follow these standards in their future careers in Mainland China. Upon completion of the
course, students will be able to describe the basic concepts: legal, policy, Press Law (Media
Law), freedom of expression, freedom of the press, China's social system and the media;
define the basic characteristics of the news system in China; in public law context, evaluate
China’s “citizens have freedom of the media owned by the state” and “party controls the media”
news system, information release system, security system, media management system and
foreign reporters interview system in order to differentiate the cross-border differences; and at
the personal level, critically analyse and compare China with Hong Kong on the protection of
reputation, privacy and other personal rights law, and copyright law.

JOUR 421 Enterprise Journalism
1 Term; 3 Credits
This course aims to provide students with essential journalistic skills and the rigorous, in-
depth, and advanced research skills required to produce original, exclusive, and revelatory
news stories. Enterprise journalism involves stories not based on press releases or news
conferences. Instead, enterprise reporting is about the stories a reporter digs up on his or her
own, what many people call “scoops.” Enterprise reporting goes beyond merely covering
events. Tied to “beat reporting” and good investigative reporting, such as reading documents,
it explores the stories behind those events. Students in this course will learn how to develop
his or her own story ideas and take reference from case studies of complex and high-profile

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