Office Hrs: M&W: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Wed: 2:30- 3:30 p.m.
Mon: 9:15-10:15 p.m.
And by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on American mass communication and its relation to society. Examined are theories in mass communication, contemporary issues and media effects. Specifics studied include the impact of mass communications on cultural, institutional, political and social groups in U.S. society and the systems of mass communication that weave society together. The twin emphases of this course are (1) how the different mass communication delivery and support systems Ð advertising, public relations, broadcasting, film, the internet, and print journalism Ð shape society and individuals adversely, or in a pro-social fashion, and (2) how the media in turn are influenced by individuals, interest groups and institutions.
COURSE READINGS:
TEXT: The Media Impact: An Introduction to Mass Media, by Shirley Biagi
COURSE GRADING: The course is structured primarily in a lecture-discussion form, with group discussions, films, and paper presentations. Student grades are based on the following:
2 of 3 Exams (Sept. 28, Nov. 7, and Dec. 7)------------------------------------------- 60%
Quizzes (4 of 6)----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20%
Paper and in-class Presentation --------------------------------------------------------- 15%
Final: Media Content Evaluation Ð (Due Dec. 13) ---------------------------------------5%
Grades are computed according to the following university standards:
97-100% = A+ 87-87% = B+ 77-79% = C+ 67-69% = D+ Under 60
93--96% = A 83-86% = B 73-76% = C 63-66% = D = F
90--92% = A- 80-82% = B- 70-72% = C- 60-62% = D-
NOTE:
-- Each set of grades is weighted to ensure class average is at least 78 percent.
-- Assignments will not be accepted after their due dates nor will makeup work
be allowed unless authorized in advance except for bona fide emergencies.
-- All assignments are to be typed or by word processors.
PAPER/PRESENTATION --- This 12-to-15-page paper, plus a Reference page, must contain citations throughout the paper from at least 10 different sources, such as academic journals, trade publications, news magazines, newspapers or the Internet. (Use standard column width, i.e., 1.5 inch right margin, 1-inch left, top and bottom margins. Use 11- or 12-point type size, no larger.) The paper should argue for a specific position, point of view, or action. The paper should: (1) begin with a general introduction of the topic; (2) indicate the current status;
(3) describe the history, that is what events, etc., led to the current situation from whatever beginning you start with; (4) present the major points of dissension such as pro and con, or specific points or actions followed by arguments for and against these points,; and (5) conclude with the position that you think is the correct action. Quote directly those experts whose opinions you wish to attack or use as support, and cite them in the text, such as (Jones, 1999. p. 19). NOTE: Using material verbatim without citing a source is considered plagiarism. While the original author of such material may have earned an A on that material, the individual who uses it without crediting the source earns an F. In the References page, include the authorÕs full name, title of article, publication and year of publication, The paper is due to the instructor immediately before the oral presentation before the class. Presenters may use notes and visual or sound aids but may not read their paper.
PAPER TOPICS: Indicate your top four choices in rank order (such as 2B, 9A, 4B and 12B) on a separate sheet of paper to be given to the instructor who will assign students to specific topics to be presented on those days. The topics are:
9/19 1-A: The news media are necessarily structured to special interests.
9/19 1-B: The news media are the link that enable American democracy to function.
9/26 2-A: Advertising persuades people to buy things they donÕt really need.
9/26 2-B: Advertising is the foundation, and cause, of American economic prosperity.
10/3 3-A: Public Relations glorifies the established order at the expense of truth and justice.
10/3 3-B: Public Relations explains complexities and difficult issues to the public.
10/12 4-A: Corporate America gets a raw deal from a predominantly anti-business news media.
10/12 4-B: The news media reflect a business perspective because the media are big business.
10/19 5-A: The mediaÕs watchdog role results in constant, extreme criticism of government.
10/19 5-B: The news media quite often serves as agents of the American government.
10/24 6-A: Newspapers and TV news equally create a public climate of crime hysteria.
10/24 6-B: Media crime coverage simply reflects what exists in society.
1026 7-A: African-Americans are depicted in news/entertainment through inaccurate stereotypes.
10/26 7-B: African-Americans get better media treatment because they complain more effectively.
10/31 8-A: Hispanic culture/tradition are treated as inferior by the news/entertainment media.
10/31 8-B: Increasing Hispanic economic power is resulting in better treatment by the media.
10/31 9-A: The media view Asian-Americans as either "model citizens" or the sly, evil Fu Man Chu.
10/31 9-B: Asian-Americans are shown as superior individuals by news and entertainment media.
11/2 10-A: Women/minorities are unfairly depicted by media because so few of them work in it.
11/2 10-B: Women have gained more in the media than other minorities in the past 25-30 years.
11/28 11-A: Television must appeal to the lowest audience level in order to have large audiences.
11/28 11-B: Television reflects back the good, the bad, the worthy. the unworthy that is in society.
11/30 12-A: Media regulation is needed to keep smut, garbage and stupidity out of the public mind.
11/30 12-B: Only through unregulated media can society achieve ultimate knowledge and truth.
12/5 13-A: The Internet will soon be considered another delivery system, like TV and newspapers.
12/5 13-B: Eventually, most all media will become part of an overall internet.
WEEK 1
1 Ð Aug. 24 (Wed) ---- Requirements, Major Communication Functions
2 Ð Aug. 29 (Mon) ---- Media Environment: Social Philosophies
3 Ð Aug. 31 (Wed) ---- Media Environment, Media Process
READ BIAGI CHAPTER 1
Sep. 5 (Mon) ---- LABOR DAY --- CAMPUS CLOSED Ð NO CLASS
4 Ð Sep. 7 (Wed) ---- Theories of Mass Communication Power
5 Ð Sep. 12 (Mon) ---- Formal & Informal Controls on Media
READ BIAGI CHAPTER 14
QUIZ #1: ON CLASSES 1 THROUGH 4
6 Ð Sep. 14 (Wed) --- Surveillance: Values in American news/factors of news
READ BIAGI CHAPTERS 3 & 4
WEEK 5
7 Ð Sep. 19 (Mon) ----- Surveillance: Agenda-setting/Gatekeeping
8 Ð Sep. 21 (Wed) ----- Correlation: Media Power to Shape Attitudes
QUIZ #2: ON CLASSES 6 AND 7
WEEK 6
9 Ð Sep. 26 (Mon) ---- Correlation: The Hard Sell (Advertising)
READ BIAGI CHAPTER 10
10 Ð Sep. 28 (Wed) ---- FIRST EXAMINATION
11 Ð Oct. 3 (Mon) ----- Correlation: The Soft Sell (Public Relations)
READ BIAGI CHAPTER 11
12 Ð Oct. 5 (Wed) ----Correlation: Propaganda and Manipulation
14 Ð Oct. 12 (Wed) ---- Transmission of Heritage (Impact on/by Institutions):
Coverage of Business, Religion
QUIZ #3: ON CLASSES 11 THROUGH 13
WEEK 9
15 Ð Oct. 17 (Mon) ---- OUT-OF-CLASS ASSIGNMENT
16 Ð Oct. 19 (Wed) ---- Transmission: Coverage of Government and Military
WEEK 10
17 Ð Oct. 24 (Mon) ---- Transmission: Coverage of Crime and Sports
18 Ð Oct. 26 (Wed) ---- Transmission: Coverage of Minorities: African-Americans
QUIZ #4: ON CLASSES 14 THROUGH 17
WEEK 12
21 Ð Nov. 7 (Mon) ---- SECOND EXAMINATION
22 Ð Nov. 9 (Wed) ---- Entertainment: Hollywood: Death and Rebirth
READ BIAGI CHAPTER 7
WEEK 13
23 Ð Nov. 14 (Mon) ---- Rise of Broadcasting Ð Radio, Parent of TV
READ BIAGI CHAPTER 6
24 Ð Nov. 16 (Wed) ----- Television Ð SocietyÕs Newest Pillar & Cultural Parent
READ BIAGI CHAPTER 8
25 Ð Nov. 21 (Mon) ----- MOVIE: TelevisionÕs Violence Factor
QUIZ #5: ON CLASSES 22 THROUGH 24
Ð Nov. 23 (Wed) ----- START OF THANKSGIVING VACATION. NO CLASS.
WEEK 15
26 Ð Nov. 28 (Mon) ---- Media Issues: Pro- and Anti-Social Effects of Mass Media
READ BIAGAI CHAPTER 13
27 Ð Nov. 30 (Wed) --- Media Issues: Censorship and Pornography
QUIZ #6: ON CLASSES 25 THOUGH 26
Dec. 13 (Tue) ---- FINAL --- DUE BY 5:00 P.M. IN JOURNALISM MAIN OFFICE, DWIGHT BENTEL HALL ROOM 105