An Improvement of Content and Teaching Methods for Codes of Conduct and Ethics in Mass Communication Courses of Thailand’s Universities

Abstract

This research examines the content about ethical issues in Thailand’s mass communication courses, teaching methods and guidelines for improving the content and teaching methods about codes of conduct cultivation. This research uses 3 methods in collecting data: content analysis of syllabus in mass communication courses, focus group of experts and in-depth interviews of instructors and professionals. The results show that most media courses emphasize every-day life and professional ethics. Their main content focuses on principles law and ethics which are taught by lecture in classes without any professional organizations’ collaboration. Most instructors and students do not aware of the significance of mass communication ethics’ courses. Guidelines for improving content and teaching methods which suggested by experts and instructors are: 1) collaborating of third parties—mass communication/professional organizations, institutions and enterprises 2) emphasizing practices in reallife situations/scenarios and discussions 3) training and adjusting instructors’ attitudes toward mass communication’s ethics including a role model 4) updating ethical courses’ content and interposing it in every course.