Unit 4 - Ethics & the Media

Term 4, 2026

Our goal for this term is to analyse how modern media shapes public perception of "reverence for life" issues. We will critique both secular media narratives and official Catholic Church responses to develop an informed, media-literate Christian perspective on contemporary ethical debates. 

Big Idea: The Christian principles of reverence for life and the dignity of the human person serve as a moral compass for ethical decision-making. However, in a media-saturated world, these principles are constantly being broadcast, challenged, and reframed by competing cultural narratives. 

We will achieve this by:

• Deconstructing Key Terms: Defining core ethical concepts related to the reverence for life and identifying how they are framed in news headlines, social media, and public debates.

• Analysing Sacred Sources: Investigating how Christian teachings on life in Scripture and Tradition are communicated to, and interpreted by, modern audiences.

• Decoding secular Media & Legislation: Researching how secular media outlets report on legislative developments, and identifying bias, emotion, and facts in contemporary ethical reporting.

• Evaluating the Catholic Response: Exploring how the Catholic Church uses media and public statements to respond to highly publicised issues.

We have this/these goals because:

• Christian ethical responses to life issues do not exist in a vacuum; they are actively debated in the public square. To advocate effectively for the sanctity of life and human dignity, we must learn to critically evaluate the media messages around us and articulate a well-reasoned perspective in a digital world. 

Assessment Tasks