Analyzing Professional Code of Ethics

Your paper must address the following components:

Textbook: Media Law and Ethics, Chapter 5by Roy L. Moore

Textbook: Media Ethics: Issues and Cases, Chapter 1

by Philip Patterson

COM 530 Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric
For this first milestone, you will write a 4–6-page pages demonstrating an analysis of two professional codes of ethics and how they apply to digital and mediated
communication. As part of this assignment, compare and contrast the codes of ethics from two different professional organizations. Choose two ethics codes
from two different professional organizations, for example, journalism and public relations organizations; you can also use the code of ethics from the
organization your work for, if one exists. Analyze these codes for common themes that can be applied to digital and mediated communication messages. Describe
how these codes can help guide ethical creation of messages to the public, and then suggest three to five “ethical guidelines” for how people should
communicate ethically in these fields. Justify why you think each of your best practice suggestions are important.
You can use codes of ethics from the additional resources list, find your own from a professional organization, or use one from the organization you work for. Be
sure it is an existing code of ethics related to communication that can be made available to your instructor.
This assignment was designed to support your successful completion of section III: Ethical Guidelines in the Final Project Guidelines and Rubric.
Prompt: In your submission, include the following critical elements:
a) Describe two professional codes of ethics related to digital and mediated communication and provide your rationale for choosing them. Be sure to
provide the link to each professional code as well.
b) Analyze existing professional codes of ethics for common themes that apply to digital and mediated communication.
c) Based on these common themes, develop your own list of three to five ethical guidelines or ”best practices” with references to where you have obtained
this information.
d) Justify the inclusion of each ethical guideline and provide appropriate examples to support your rationale.
Be sure to include links to your chosen ethical codes or the ethical codes themselves with your submission so that your instructor can see the codes you are
referencing.
Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your paper must be in Microsoft Word and submitted as 4–6 pages, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and use 12-point Times
New Roman font and APA format. Provide an attachment with the codes of ethics you compared or links to the codes.
Critical Elements
Description of Each
Ethical Code
Exemplary (100%)
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
adds specific details to aid in
understanding the codes and
rationale
Proficient (90%)
Describes chosen ethical codes
and provides rationale for
choosing them
Professional Codes
of Ethics
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
common themes show keen
insight into existing professional
codes of ethics that apply to
digital and mediated
communication
Analyzes existing professional
codes of ethics for common
themes that apply to digital and
mediated communication
Common Themes
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
list exhibits a complex grasp of
the common themes in
professional codes of ethics
Develops a list of ethical
guidelines with references to
where the information was
obtained based on the common
themes in existing professional
codes of ethics
Ethical Guideline
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
makes exceptional use of
examples to justify the inclusion
of each ethical guideline
Justifies the inclusion of each
ethical guideline providing
appropriate examples to
support rationale
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
organization and is presented in
a professional and easy-to-read
format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Needs Improvement (70%)
Describes ethical codes but the
description lacks clarity, is not
related to digital
communication messages, or
does not provide rationale
Analyzes existing professional
codes of ethics for common
themes that apply to
communication, but analysis
contains inaccuracies, or does
not clearly apply to digital or
mediated communication
Develops a list of ethical
guidelines with references to
where the information was
obtained, but list is not based
on common themes in existing
professional codes of ethics
Justifies the inclusion of each
ethical guideline, but
justification is cursory, or
examples used to support
rationale are inappropriate
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
readability and articulation of
main ideas
Not Evident (0%)
Does not describe ethical codes
or the rationale for choosing
them
Value
20
Does not analyze existing
professional codes of ethics for
common themes that apply to
digital and mediated
communication
25
Does not develop a list of
ethical guidelines with
references to where the
information was obtained based
on the common themes in
existing professional codes of
ethics
Does not justify the inclusion of
each ethical guideline providing
appropriate examples to
support rationale
25
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
5
Total
25
100%