2008 Woodie Awards
Renowned ethicist leaves MTSU
Cooper returns to Emerson College after a year as a Blue Raider
Christin Pepple
Issue date: 7/18/07 Section: News
Tom Cooper, a nationally recognized media scholar, who filled the position of ethicist in residence, ended his year-long appointment this July.
Cooper is an author, playwright and composer and has been influential in the study of media ethics for 30 years.
MTSU created a new and one-time administrative position in the College of Mass Communications entitled "Ethicist in Residence" in the fall semester of 2006 and the spring semester of 2007. MTSU was awarded a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation in the amount of $120,000 to bring in Cooper.
"We wanted to elevate the intellectual caliber of the Mass Communications program on this campus and through a combined effort, we developed a proposal for the EEJF to aid in finding an ethicist to reside on our campus," said Anantha S. Babbili, the dean of the College of Mass Communications, "We searched nationally for an ethicist and we landed the big fish, Dr. Tom Cooper."
Cooper is the Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College, Boston, MA. Cooper is the co-publisher and editor of "Media Ethics" for 15 years. Cooper has been a teacher for over 25 years and has taught at colleges such as Harvard University, Temple University, University of Maryland, and the University of Hawaii.
Cooper is the author of over a hundred works on media, ethics is journalism and mass communications and his works have been published in such forums ranging from "Journal of Mass Media Ethics," "Critical Studies in Mass Communication," "Business and Professional Ethics."
"The first thing I am interested in is the education of media ethics issues. When I teach students, I am very interested in how they can bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to the ethical issues that media has been involved with for a long time," Cooper said.
While he was the ethicist in residence, Cooper taught a class and opened a campus wide dialogue concerning ethics for any field studied at MTSU, according to Babbili.
"I knew Dean Babbili back when he was a professor and he has always been an outstanding leader in ethics. I also felt that the people here were excellent from the administrations to the faculty to the programs," Cooper said.
"I believe that ethics is such a major part of journalism and Dr. Cooper provided leadership and awareness on its behalf on this campus. Secondly, he assisted raising the profile of MTSU on the national level," said J. Steven Barnes, development director for the College of Mass Communications.
"I would describe Dr. Cooper as a brilliant, energetic intellectual who cares passionately about ethics in media and how society can become better if we pay attention to these ethical and moral issues. I have found it very rewarding to work with him," said John Omachonu, the associate dean of the College of Mass Communications.
Cooper's year-long appointment ended July 13, 2007. Next year, he will resume teaching at Emerson College, Boston, Mass.
Cooper is an author, playwright and composer and has been influential in the study of media ethics for 30 years.
MTSU created a new and one-time administrative position in the College of Mass Communications entitled "Ethicist in Residence" in the fall semester of 2006 and the spring semester of 2007. MTSU was awarded a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation in the amount of $120,000 to bring in Cooper.
"We wanted to elevate the intellectual caliber of the Mass Communications program on this campus and through a combined effort, we developed a proposal for the EEJF to aid in finding an ethicist to reside on our campus," said Anantha S. Babbili, the dean of the College of Mass Communications, "We searched nationally for an ethicist and we landed the big fish, Dr. Tom Cooper."
Cooper is the Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College, Boston, MA. Cooper is the co-publisher and editor of "Media Ethics" for 15 years. Cooper has been a teacher for over 25 years and has taught at colleges such as Harvard University, Temple University, University of Maryland, and the University of Hawaii.
Cooper is the author of over a hundred works on media, ethics is journalism and mass communications and his works have been published in such forums ranging from "Journal of Mass Media Ethics," "Critical Studies in Mass Communication," "Business and Professional Ethics."
"The first thing I am interested in is the education of media ethics issues. When I teach students, I am very interested in how they can bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to the ethical issues that media has been involved with for a long time," Cooper said.
While he was the ethicist in residence, Cooper taught a class and opened a campus wide dialogue concerning ethics for any field studied at MTSU, according to Babbili.
"I knew Dean Babbili back when he was a professor and he has always been an outstanding leader in ethics. I also felt that the people here were excellent from the administrations to the faculty to the programs," Cooper said.
"I believe that ethics is such a major part of journalism and Dr. Cooper provided leadership and awareness on its behalf on this campus. Secondly, he assisted raising the profile of MTSU on the national level," said J. Steven Barnes, development director for the College of Mass Communications.
"I would describe Dr. Cooper as a brilliant, energetic intellectual who cares passionately about ethics in media and how society can become better if we pay attention to these ethical and moral issues. I have found it very rewarding to work with him," said John Omachonu, the associate dean of the College of Mass Communications.
Cooper's year-long appointment ended July 13, 2007. Next year, he will resume teaching at Emerson College, Boston, Mass.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Lisa
posted 7/17/07 @ 11:50 PM CST
It's College of Mass Communication, no "s" on that. Always amazes me when people attend the school, major in MC, but yet do not know the name of the college. (Continued…)
Nick Zamudio
posted 7/18/07 @ 12:25 PM CST
Why is he leaving? Did I miss something in the article?
It was a bunch of praise and no explanation.
I am going to assume that he did not like our southern "hospitality" and wanted to return to the New England area because of it. (Continued…)
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