AKU-KE | Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation: Risk management, law and ethics for media industries

This course provides a basic background of how media leaders should manage risk in the digital era. It provides and overview of the main legal and ethical issues facing media business and public communication operations in Africa. It is designed to help students identify situations in which they must carefully consider choices and seek additional counsel if needed. It goes on to look at issues relating to corporate governance, focusing on enhancing the leadership competencies of accountability for performance and results. It explores the basics of business law and business ethics and how they apply to media businesses.

Core reading materials

Rossouw, G. J. (2005). Business ethics and corporate governance in Africa, Business & Society, 44(1):94-106. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650305274851

Recommended reference material

Quinn, F. (2015). Law for journalists. New York: Pearson. KD 2875 .Q56 2015

Martor, B., Pilkington, N., Sellers, D.S. and Thouvenot, S. (2002). Business law in Africa: OHADA and the harmonization process, 2nd Ed. London: Kogan Page (Global Market Briefings Publications). KQC 84.B87 .B87 2002

Brenkert, G.G. and Beauchamp, T.L. (2010). The Oxford handbook of business ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. HF 5387 .O95 2010

Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J. and Ferrell, L. (2019). Business ethics: ethical decision making & cases, 11th ed. Cengage Learning. HF 5387 .F45 2019

Hanson, K. (n.d.). What is ethics? What is business ethics? [Video file; 4 min 35 secs]. YouTube. Santa Clara University. Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmVu66Fpd9U

Guthrie, D. (2011, Feb 24). Business ethics and social responsibility, [Video file; 1 hour]. YouTube. George Washington University School of Business. Retrieved from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCvHMi1zxhs

Leonhard, G. (2014, Dec 6). Digital ethics and the future of humans in a connected world, [Video file; 20 min]. YouTube. TEDxBrussels. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZn0IfOb61U