| Students
Mass Communications
READING REQUIREMENTS:
1.
Black, Jay and Jennings Bryant,
Susan Thompson. Introduction to Media Communication,
Fifth Edition. McGraw Hill, 1998.
COURSE CONTENT:
1) Mass
Media and Communication, an overview
a.
What is mass communication? Definition,
need for mass communication, role of mass
communication in society, the influence
and effect of mass communication.
b. What is mass media? Historical
development of: Print, phonograph records,
film, radio, television, public relations, more,
including minority publications.
c. Contemporary mass media systems:
Procedures, goals, power, overall effect
as a means of communication, inter-relationship
between the various mediums, inter-relationship
between the media and society, ethnic
minority media.
2) Unlimited information through mass
media
a.
Importance of public information
b. Sources
c. Impact of technology
d. Influence of information
3) Persuasion through mass media
a.
Propaganda machine: Objectivity
in media news and truthfulness in media
mass
b. Political persuasion
and the media
c. Governmental persuasion
and the media
d. Religious persuasion
and the media
e. Commercial advertising
and the media
4) Legal format, ethical responsibility
of mass media
a.
Ethical parameters: Responsibility,
credibility/objectivity, source protection.
b. Legal considerations:
First Amendment, libel and slander considerations,
FCC regulations, obscenity and pornography,
freedom of expression, right to privacy,
others issues related to
regulation and control
5 ) Society influence
a.
Social control: Social control
b. Violence and media:
Controlling violence in media, using the
media to control violence.
c. Sex and media: Pornography,
obscenity, and censorship
d. Radicalism and media:
Underground press, riots, civil unrest
and media.
e. Ethnic minority media
f. Analysis of social
influences of mass media
6) Influence of technology on mass media
a.
Presenting unlimited information:
Radio, television, print videodisc, videotape,
computer.
b. Legal and ethical
issues brought about by technological explosion.
c. Analysis of impact
on society from mass media technology.
d. Media convergence
e. Global effects, influences
and controls
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this
course, the student should be able to:
a.
Trace the historical development
of mass media.
b. Identify, assess and evaluate
the possibilities for unlimited information
from the mass media and effect that amount
of information has on society.
c. Define, analyze and evaluate
the techniques of the persuasive aspect
of mass media, as well as the effects
this persuasive nature has on society.
d. Identify, assess and evaluate
the ethical responsibilities of media,
and the legal framework which governs
and influences the media.
e. Identify, analyze and evaluate
the rapidly changing forms of the media
and the influence technology is having
on mass media, regionally, nationally,
and world wide.
E VALUATION METHOD:
Evaluation of the student
will be based upon the following items:
a.
Through response to objective
questions and through written essays,
the student will identify and analyze
important events and issues related to
media history, law, ethics and effects.
b. Through written-essay
response on in-class exams, the students
will analyze the impact those developments
have on society.
c. In regular class lecture
session or special class meetings (TV
course), students will discuss and analyze
the affects of unlimited information on
society.
d. In essay responses
and response to objective questions, students
will show they recognize the major theories
related to the political, economic and
social impact of media on their daily
lives.
e. Students will
complete a written project to demonstrate
their ability to gather information, using
primary sources, about media-related careers
and analyze the impact and influence of
these respective jobs on society.
f. Through responses
on objective tests and written essays,
the student will demonstrate an ability
to recognize and evaluate the differences
between objective and subjective presentation
in the media.
g. Students will demonstrate
through responses on objective questions
and essays an ability to identify and
evaluate political, economic, religious
and social persuasion in the media.
h. Students will demonstrate,
through responses to objective questions
and in class-written essays an ability
to recognize and evaluate the persuasive
elements in advertising and its affect
on society.
i. Through response to
objective questions and/or through written
essays, students will recognize and analyze
the roles and effects of woman and minorities
in the media.
j. Through response to
objective questions and/or through written
essay, students will show an understanding
of the impact of media technology on society.
k. Students will show through
class discussion, written essays and through
recognition on objective exams, the impact
of media convergence and global influence.
l. Through written in-class
assignments, class discussion and recognition
on objective exams, students will demonstrate
an understanding of the major ethical
issues confronting the media and evaluate
same in light of contemporary community
standards.
m. Through written essay
and recognition on objective exams, students
will recognize and evaluate important
legal cases related to but not limited
to: freedom of expression, obscenity and
pornography, privacy, free press/fair
trail issues, and more.
n. Your final letter grade
will be calculated based on the following:
1)
Midterm examination
100 points
2)
Final examination
100 points
3)
Essays
100
points
4)
Class participation
50 points
GRADING SCALE:
315-350
A
280-314
B
245-279
C
210-244
D
209-
F
Papers and assignments are due
at the beginning of the class period. All
work should be doubled-spaced and typed.
In-class assignments must be written in
ink, preferably black.
WORKING POLICIES:
1.
The student is responsible for information
dispensed during class: class notes, changes
in assignments, etc. Exchange phone numbers
with classmates to update yourself when
you are unavoidably absent.
2. Plan to carefully follow the
schedule of assignments. Late papers receive
reduced credit. The only exception will
be illness or personal emergency, in which
case you should submit your assignment on
the day you return to class.
3. Submit typewritten writing assignments
on 8 1⁄2” x 11” paper,
double-spaced.
4. Plagiarism is unacceptable and
seriously treated in this class.
To avoid plagiarism, follow these
guidelines:
a.
Identify direct quotations by quotation
marks or other appropriate designations.
Give the source either in text or in acceptable
footnote form.
b. For paraphrasing or summarizing
material from another source in your own
words, acknowledge the source.
c. For borrowed facts or information
obtained from your reading or research,
acknowledge the source.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance is required. You
may miss 4.5 hours of class without grade
point deduction. After that, you will
lose 20 points per hour of class missed. If
you miss more than a total of 7.5 hours
of class, you will be dropped from the class. If
it is after the point at which you can be
dropped, you will receive an F in the class.
Note, it is not my responsibility to drop
you. If you wish to drop the class, you
should do so to make sure that you drop
before the withdrawal from the class is
adversely reflected on your student record.
Excused
absence:
You may have up to 4.5 hours of excused
absence. The only excused absences are
where you are required to attend a college
function, you have a doctor documented
illness or injury, or there is a death
of a family member. Contact me as soon
as you know you can’t come to class.
For college functions, submit a petition
in advance including a written explanation
from the supervising college administrator
documenting the time conflict. For illnesses,
send me an e-mail or leave me a phone
message before class (unless impossible)
and provide written documentation on your
immediate return. Adding the class late,
undocumented sickness, car trouble, job
conflicts and the like are not recognized
excuses.
Late
Arrival Penalty:
If you are 1 to 30 minutes late
to class, you will lose 10 points. If
you are 31 to 60 minutes late to class,
you will lose 20 points. These point deductions
may not be made up. The 4.5 hours of allowed
missed class does not apply to late arrival
penalties. These penalties are independent
of all other absence rules.
COURSE CHANGES:
I reserve the right to modify the course
at any time, including the timing of tests,
the due dates and contents of assignments,
and coverage of material.
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