lOMoAR cPSD| 32110785
, lOMoAR cPSD| 32110785
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
May/June 2025
Examination session: Semester 1/2025
COM3707
Media ethics
OR
Political and government communication
100 marks
Duration: 2 hours
, lOMoAR cPSD| 32110785
This paper consists of five (5) pages.
Instructions:
• Invigilator App QR Code: see page 2 below (failure to use the App will
result in NO MARK & a violation of exam rules & disciplinary action).
• Aim to answer all the questions in the one section of the examination paper
that you choose to answer.
• Please number all your answer pages.
• Exam format: Take-Home timed assesment (closed book exam.)
• Please number all your questions exactly as per the numbering in the
examination question paper.
• Please remember to submit your compulsory Departmental Declaration
with the examination or you will obtain zero. (Refer to the Moodle
Module site - in the exam folder & on this exam site - additional resources
folder). It is also compulsory to submit/tick the university
declaration/honor pledge with your examination (follow the system rules
here).
• Please remember to save your completed examination paper in PDF
format only. Other formats will not be accepted. One file upload only.
• Submission of examination paper: please view the instructions placed on
the Moodle Module site, submit via MyExams Moodle site:
https://myexams.unisa.ac.za/portal/ (for the App upload follow the system
prompts).
• For scanned examination papers: please follow the instruction file placed
in the Moodle Module site. Please ensure it is legible and clear. Only one
single file upload is allowed. What is submitted is/will be marked.
• No emailed examination papers will be accepted.
• Please preview your file to ensure you have submitted the correct file
(content), for the correct module (see exam rules on Moodle Module site).
• Please use the allocated 30 minutes grace time for exam paper
submission.
• For any queries contact or refer to Get-Help for
the list of additional contact numbers. Only communication received from
your myLife account will be considered.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 32110785
SECTION 1: MEDIA ETHICS
QUESTION 1
1.1 What is ethics? (Explain in detail). (4)
1.2 Define media ethics and distinguish between normative ethics, meta-ethics and professional
media ethics. (10)
1.3 Discuss any three meta-ethical theories OR any three normative media theories. Clearly
state which theories you are discussing. (20)
[33⅓]
SECTION 1: MEDIA ETHICS
QUESTION 1.1: What is Ethics? (4)
Definition and Explanation
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions of morality — that is,
with what is right and wrong, good and bad, just and unjust, or fair and unfair. It is
essentially the study of moral principles that guide human conduct in various
contexts of life. While laws provide formal rules enforced by the state, ethics
operates at the level of values, principles, and norms that people choose to live by,
whether or not they are codified into law.
Ethics concerns itself with the standards of behaviour that a society, community, or
profession regards as acceptable. It answers questions such as:
How should we behave towards others?
What obligations do we have as moral agents?
What values should guide our choices and actions?
In philosophy, ethics is often divided into three main areas:
1. Normative ethics – which prescribes what people ought to do.
2. Meta-ethics – which examines the meaning and justification of ethical
concepts.
3. Applied ethics – which applies ethical reasoning to practical issues (e.g.,
medical ethics, media ethics, business ethics).
, lOMoAR cPSD| 32110785
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
May/June 2025
Examination session: Semester 1/2025
COM3707
Media ethics
OR
Political and government communication
100 marks
Duration: 2 hours
, lOMoAR cPSD| 32110785
This paper consists of five (5) pages.
Instructions:
• Invigilator App QR Code: see page 2 below (failure to use the App will
result in NO MARK & a violation of exam rules & disciplinary action).
• Aim to answer all the questions in the one section of the examination paper
that you choose to answer.
• Please number all your answer pages.
• Exam format: Take-Home timed assesment (closed book exam.)
• Please number all your questions exactly as per the numbering in the
examination question paper.
• Please remember to submit your compulsory Departmental Declaration
with the examination or you will obtain zero. (Refer to the Moodle
Module site - in the exam folder & on this exam site - additional resources
folder). It is also compulsory to submit/tick the university
declaration/honor pledge with your examination (follow the system rules
here).
• Please remember to save your completed examination paper in PDF
format only. Other formats will not be accepted. One file upload only.
• Submission of examination paper: please view the instructions placed on
the Moodle Module site, submit via MyExams Moodle site:
https://myexams.unisa.ac.za/portal/ (for the App upload follow the system
prompts).
• For scanned examination papers: please follow the instruction file placed
in the Moodle Module site. Please ensure it is legible and clear. Only one
single file upload is allowed. What is submitted is/will be marked.
• No emailed examination papers will be accepted.
• Please preview your file to ensure you have submitted the correct file
(content), for the correct module (see exam rules on Moodle Module site).
• Please use the allocated 30 minutes grace time for exam paper
submission.
• For any queries contact or refer to Get-Help for
the list of additional contact numbers. Only communication received from
your myLife account will be considered.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 32110785
SECTION 1: MEDIA ETHICS
QUESTION 1
1.1 What is ethics? (Explain in detail). (4)
1.2 Define media ethics and distinguish between normative ethics, meta-ethics and professional
media ethics. (10)
1.3 Discuss any three meta-ethical theories OR any three normative media theories. Clearly
state which theories you are discussing. (20)
[33⅓]
SECTION 1: MEDIA ETHICS
QUESTION 1.1: What is Ethics? (4)
Definition and Explanation
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions of morality — that is,
with what is right and wrong, good and bad, just and unjust, or fair and unfair. It is
essentially the study of moral principles that guide human conduct in various
contexts of life. While laws provide formal rules enforced by the state, ethics
operates at the level of values, principles, and norms that people choose to live by,
whether or not they are codified into law.
Ethics concerns itself with the standards of behaviour that a society, community, or
profession regards as acceptable. It answers questions such as:
How should we behave towards others?
What obligations do we have as moral agents?
What values should guide our choices and actions?
In philosophy, ethics is often divided into three main areas:
1. Normative ethics – which prescribes what people ought to do.
2. Meta-ethics – which examines the meaning and justification of ethical
concepts.
3. Applied ethics – which applies ethical reasoning to practical issues (e.g.,
medical ethics, media ethics, business ethics).
