| Schedule |
| FALL--2002:
. . . |
M / W, 6:00 - 8:20 p.m., HU 110 (Section #42099) |
| WEEK 1:
. |
|
| (01)-September-25 | Introduction:
Course overview; how to do well in this course; pre-course survey. Homework: read over course web site and complete first assigned readings. Come to next classes prepared to discuss readings. |
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. WEEK 2: . |
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| (02) September 30 | Panel
Discussion:
Mediating the Message, Chapter 2: page 17; Chapter 3: pages 27-28 (Why is Content Important), 30-31 (Our Focus on News and Entertainment), 36-38 (An Active Role for the Media: Media as Participants); and Chapter 4. [Questions for reading: What are the limits of objectivity in both the media and in social science? What is meant by the phrase "symbolic environment"? What are some of the more notable patterns of media content? What do the media "mirror" in our society?]. Video presentation and analysis. |
| (03) October 2 | Panel Discussion:
Mediating the Message, Chapter 5. [Questions for reading: What are the backgrounds, attitudes, and beliefs of most media workers? How much does this influence media content? How do professional roles and ethics influence media content? Also, make a special note of Figure 5.1] Mediating the Message, Chapter 6. [Questions for reading: How do "routines" constrain individuals in society in general? What routines exist in media production? Why? And how do they shape media content? How important are routines, relative to the backgrounds of media workers, in shaping media content?]. Video presentation and analysis. |
| .
. WEEK 3: . |
|
| (04) October 7 | Panel Discussion:
Mediating the Message, Chapter 7. [Questions for reading: Other than organizational routines, what other organizational and commercial factors influence media content? Why? How? How important are these influences relative to others discussed so far?] Mediating the Message, Chapter 8. [Questions for reading: How do sources of information influence media content? How do sources of revenue influence content? How do other external agencies influence content? How do the economy and technology influence content?]. Video presentation and analysis. |
| (05) October 9 | Panel Discussion:
Mediating the Message, Chapter 9. [Questions for reading: What do the terms "ideology" and "hegemony" refer to? What is the central question posed by ideological theories of the media? How would you sum up the dominant ideology in the contemporary United States? How does ideology influence media content?]. Video presentation and analysis. |
| .
. WEEK 4: . |
|
| (06) October 14 | Mid-term
essay due.
Instructor presentation: Influences of Mass Media. Video presentation and analysis. |
| (07) October 16 | Instructor presentation:
Influences
of Mass Media.
[Students should be working on upcoming in-class presentations.] Video presentation and analysis. |
| .
. WEEK 5: . |
|
| -----October 21 | No
Class: Instructor at Media Education Conference
[Students should be working on upcoming in-class presentations.] |
| -----October 23 | No
Class: Instructor at Media Education Conference
[Students should be working on upcoming in-class presentations.] |
| .
. WEEK 6: . |
|
| (08) October 28 | In-class student presentations
[Students should be working on upcoming service-learning presentations.] Video presentation and analysis |
| (09) October 30 | In-class student presentations
[Students should be working on upcoming service-learning presentations.] Video presentation and analysis. |
| .
. WEEK 7: . |
|
| (10) November 4 | In-class student presentations
[Students should be working on upcoming service-learning presentations.] Video presentation and analysis. |
| (11) November 6 | In-class student presentations
[Students should be working on upcoming service-learning presentations.] Video presentation and analysis. |
| .
. WEEK 8: . |
|
| -----November 11 | No Class: Veteran's Day |
| (12) November 13 | In-class student presentations
[Students should be presenting service-learning presentations.] Video presentation and analysis. |
| .
. WEEK 9: . |
|
| (13) November 18 | Discussion of internet
reading and instructor presentation:
The People's Communication Charter (click on this link to view). [Questions: What are the main goals of the Charter? What are the motives and logic behind these goals? Whose interests do they serve? What arguments would you anticipate against these goals? Whose interests might these arguments serve?] Action Coalition for Media Education (click on this link to view). [Questions: What is the purpose or mission of ACME? What are the primary concerns and motives that underlie its mission? In what ways is it pursuing its mission?]. Video presentation and analysis. |
| (14) November 20 | Discussion of internet
reading and instructor presentation:
Independent Media (click on this link to view). [Questions for reading: What is the purpose or mission of the IMC? What are the primary concerns and motives that underlie its mission? In what ways is it pursuing its mission?]. National Public Radio (click on this link to view). [Questions for reading: What is the purpose or mission of NPR? What are the primary concerns and motives that underlie its mission? In what ways is it pursuing its mission?]. (course evaluations) Video presentation and analysis. |
| .
. WEEK 10: . |
|
| (15) November 25 | Discussion
of internet reading and instructor presentation:
The Media Education Foundation (click on this link to view). [Questions for reading: What are the purposes or missions of these organizations? What are the primary concerns and motives that underlie these missions? In what ways are these organizations pursuing their missions?]. Adbusters (click on this link to view). [Questions for reading: What is the purpose or mission of Adbusters? What are the primary concerns and motives that underlie this mission? In what ways is adbusters. pursuing its mission?]. (non-graded post-course survey) Video presentation and analysis. |
| -----November 27 | No
Class: Thanksgiving
. . |
| .
. WEEK 11: . |
|
| (16) December 2 | Service-Learning
Portfolios due.
Instructor presentation (non-graded post-course survey) Video presentation and analysis. |
| (17) December 4 | Journals
due.
Potluck dinner. |
| Note #1: All readings, including internet readings,
must be pre-read before class. The questions for reading are intended to
help you focus your reading and you will be called upon to answer these
questions in class discussions. They should also serve as the basis
for your journal entries.
Note #2: Late assignments will lose 10% of their evaluation per day late, with the possibility for a waiver only under exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances means a personal emergency or some similar problem. Any appeals for an exception will be looked upon more favorably if I was notified in advance rather than after the fact (whenever possible). |