University of Louisville

COMM 305-50: INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION Spring 2015 Online Course Instructor: Dr. Nabil Echchaibi E-mail: [email protected] COURSE DESCRIPTION: The media play an undeniably important role in our lives and we can either be spectators of their fanfare or critical consumers who analyze and evaluate the impact of their messages. One of the most effective ways to understand this impact is to study the political, social, and cultural contexts in which the mass media operate. COMM 305 is an introductory survey that will provide you with the necessary critical tools to reflect upon and challenge the power exerted by this ever-increasing force in our culture. Through description, analysis, interpretation and evaluation of historical and contemporary trends, students will develop a deeper understanding of the functions and responsibilities of the mass media in democratic society. The following goals will help guide you through this course: • • • • • •

Become informed and critical users of the mass media; develop an understanding of the historical evolution of each medium from books to newspapers to radio to television to the Internet; understand the theoretical foundations of mass communication research; develop and nurture a cultural approach to the study of mass communication; understand how technology and economics have changed the format and impact of the mass media in contemporary societies; develop the ability to both write clearly, correctly and concisely and to formulate and defend arguments orally.

HOW WE’LL GET THERE: ASSIGNMENTS In order to make this course more engaging for all of us, we need the input of each one of you. You may think you know a lot about this topic just because it is universal and you’ve grown up exposed to various media both national and global, old and new, but maybe you haven’t yet applied a critical approach to evaluate the role of daily media messages in a larger context. Here’s how you’ll develop that approach:

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Ø Class discussion: I rely on you to comment and reflect on the readings assigned for this class. There will be about 5 quizzes throughout the semester and I hope they will only help guide your reading of the material; not force you to fulfill this basic of requirements. I also expect you to become avid readers, viewers and listeners of media. You will simply not be able to effectively analyze and evaluate the media using the critical steps outlined in the textbook without immersing yourselves in reading, listening and watching various media. As part of this rubric, you will need to post at least 1 comment every week. Your weekly comment should be at least 150 words and should elaborate on the materials assigned for that week and postings by your colleagues in the class. Remember that for this assignment you will be graded on the quality; not simply the frequency of your posts. Ø Exams: There will be two exams in this course. You will receive a study guide with a list of questions you need to prepare beforehand. There will be no surprises if you do all the required readings and follow our discussions. Ø Critical thinking exercises: Throughout the semester, I will assign exercises to enhance your critical skills and give you an opportunity to apply the critical tools you’ll acquire from our readings and discussions. Media Analysis: In this exercise, you need to describe and analyze a media message whether it’s a TV or radio show, a newspaper, magazine article or an Internet page, a book or an ad. You will write a short paper explaining how the nature of the medium affects the message communicated and its potential effects on its intended audience. Position Paper: This is a final project that will culminate in both a five-page paper and an organized forum discussion in which each student initiates and leads discussion of their chosen topic. Each student will choose a media topic and formulate a position on a given media topic to defend in writing. Topics range from violence and the media, technology and the media, the corporatization of the music or film industry, talk shows and sensational journalism, magazines in the age of specialization, ethics and journalism, advertising and consumerism, cultural imperialism and global media, blogging vs. mainstream journalism, etc. For each of these assignments you will receive a detailed handout with further instructions. Your final course grade will be determined this way: • • • •

Quizzes and Forum participation Critical thinking exercises Midterm exam Final exam

20% 30% 25% 25%

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COURSE FORMAT In addition to ppt presentations, this course will rely primarily on discussion and analysis. You are absolutely required to complete the assigned readings each week and be prepared to critique and talk about things that you might have taken for granted up till now. We will use video and audio clips to illustrate various topics and work as a basis for forum discussion. Structure of the course on Blackboard Here is what you need to look for in Blackboard: •

Announcements: there will be frequent announcements for due date reminders, learning units’ outlines, and other important messages. Please read the first announcements on the welcoming page of COMM 305 carefully when you log in.

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Course documents: Each week on Blackboard in course documents you will find that week’s unit material including Powerpoint presentations, case studies, quizzes and external links for further examples. Once you have read the chapter assigned for each week, review its content along with the Powerpoint presentation. Some of the external links I include as part of a week’s material can sometimes be required readings as well. I will let you know in the announcements. -Quizzes: You will have until Sunday of the week in which a quiz is assigned to complete it. The quiz will be available on Monday, but you need to remember that once you open it you must finish it within 10 minutes. These will be available under “assignment”.

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Assignments: Here you will find your assignments, quizzes, and exams.

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Videos: You will receive an announcement every time there is a video screening. You will receive a link that will enable you to watch critical documentaries Online. I expect you to take notes while watching these videos because I consider them as important as the readings assigned in this course.

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Discussion Board: Each week I will be leading the discussion with a question or a comment related to a weekly case study and the assigned readings.

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Communication: If you have any questions about the course, assignments or any concerns about your performance at any given time, do not hesitate to contact me. I will be commenting on your weekly discussions from time to time. Please do not expect me to be available at any time during the day. I

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can’t respond to all your posts, but I will engage the discussion as a whole and send you weekly emails about the week before. REQUIRED READINGS Richard Campbell, Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication.(9th edition Your textbook has an extremely useful web site (http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/mediaculture9e/#t_857007____) Use this site for your research and to test your understanding of the readings. A Few Other Responsibilities: Check your e-mail daily. I like to send messages, usually to clarify a point, assignment or due date, but sometimes to make requests or announce changes. And of course, stay up on the news in general and news about media industries. DEADLINES: I have been trained as a journalist working with constant deadlines; I’ll expect the same from you. I will announce a deadline each time an assignment is made. Work handed in after that deadline -- without prior approval -- will automatically lose 10 points (on a scale of 100) for each 24 hours it is late. The best strategies for avoiding the late penalty are to finish a day before the actual deadline, and to keep backup copies of all work in progress. Putting off your work until the last minute may seem exhilarating or romantic, but after the first two times, the stress it creates tends to take the fun out of learning. PROFESSIONALISM: By “professionalism,” I mean that in my courses I am trying to create a professional environment. That means, among other things, that we respect each of our colleagues in the course, the work we do is neat enough to be presented to an outside audience, we each carry an attitude of integrity in our work, and we are willing to offer and receive criticism constructively. I will expect each one of you to participate heavily in our discussion board and contribute your ideas, comments, and insights regarding the topics covered and the role of the mass media in our social lives. ACADEMIC HONESTY I start from the premise that none of you will take unethical shortcuts in your work. In case you’re unsure about what constitutes academic misconduct, here are the rules.

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Students must give due credit to the originality of others and honestly pay his/her literary debts. You should do so: • when quoting another person’s actual words; • when using someone else’s ideas, opinions or theories; • when using someone else’s facts, statistics or anything else unless the information is part of common knowledge. You can expect that any form of academic dishonesty in COMM 305 will result in an F -- either for the assignment or for the entire course, depending on the severity of the misconduct. If you have questions or are unsure about a particular practice, please get in touch with me before you turn in your assignment. HELP! I want you to succeed in this course, and to enjoy it in the process. Please don't feel you have to wait until the end of the semester to talk to me about your performance, or about any other aspect of the course. I encourage you to call, e-mail or stop by my office to discuss your work. ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR I am an associate professor and the associate director of the Center for Media, Religion and Culture in the Journalism and Mass Communication program at the University of Colorado Boulder. My research is situated at the crossroad of important contemporary issues such as identity, religion, and the role of media in shaping and reflecting modern religious subjectivities among Muslims in the Middle East and in diaspora. My work on diasporic media and the leveling of religious authority through the proliferation of Islamic media has appeared in various international publications such as Javnost, International Communication Gazette, Journal of Intercultural Studies, Nations and Nationalism, Journal of Arab and Muslim Media Research, and Media Development. Before joining CU, I spent three years as an assistant professor at an American university in Switzerland. Before enrolling in graduate school at Indiana University-Bloomington where I obtained my MA and PhD, I worked in radio as copy editor. I am also a freelance writer. My articles have appeared in the Guardian, Salon Magazine, the Huffington Post, Geo, and Religion Dispatches.

I lived in Louisville, KY for two years (2005-2007) and I taught in the department of communication at the University of Louisville. I’m familiar with the university system there and I’m still in touch with a lot of my students with whom I shared wonderful learning moments.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY I teach with a strong belief in a personal philosophy that is always amenable to change and progress. From the long version, here is a short excerpt. 5

Learning is an individual experience and any reliance on external motivation should be complementary, never compulsory. I refuse to lead you by the hand because that will only rob you of the joy of learning. I only set rules to chart a path we should enjoy discovering together. I do not believe teaching is about exerting authority because I think at this (st)age you should be your own guiding voice of discipline. I will work with you to help you grow in and out of the classroom and your challenge is to believe that growth is possible and desirable. There is nothing more gratifying for both the teacher and the student. I will simply not nudge you, but I will certainly try to convince you to take pleasure at learning. Your motivation is my biggest challenge. Put lightly, we will have fun learning together! Tentative Course Schedule I reserve the right to modify the schedule as I see fit Date

Class Content

Readings, Deadlines, Assignments

Week 1

- Course Introduction - Read Ch. 1: Mass Comm.: a critical approach

Ch. 1 Case Study Discussion postings due by Sunday Jan. 11

Jan. 7- 11

Week 2 Jan. 12-18 Week 3 Jan. 19-25 Week 4 Jan. 26-Feb. 1 Week 5 Feb. 2-8

Word and Pictures - Read Ch. 10: Books and the power of print Words and Pictures - Read Ch. 9: Newspapers and the rise of modern journalism Words and Pictures - Read Ch. 8: Magazine in the age of specialization

Ch. 10 postings due by Sunday Jan. 18 Quiz 1 due by Sunday Jan. 18 Ch. 9 postings due by Sunday Jan. 25 Quiz 2 due by Sunday Jan. 25 Ch. 8 Media analysis report due by Sunday Feb. 1 postings due by Sunday Feb. 1 Sounds and Images Ch. 4 - Read Ch. 4: Sound recording and postings due by Sunday Feb. 8 popular music

Week 6 Feb. 9- 15

Sounds and Images - Read Ch. 5: Popular radio and the origins of broadcasting

Week 7 Feb. 16-22

Sounds and Images - Read Ch. 7: Movies and the impact of images Sounds and Images - Read Ch. 6: Television and the power of visual culture

Week 8 Feb. 23March 1

Ch. 5 Midterm Review Session Midterm Exam due by Sunday Feb. 15 Ch. 7 postings due by Sunday Feb. 22 Quiz 3 due by Sunday Feb. 22 Ch. 6 postings due by Sunday March. 1

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Week 9 March 2-8 Week 10 March 9-15

Week 11 March 1622 Week 12 March 2329 Week 13 March 30April 5 Week 14 April 6-12

- Read Ch. 6: Cable and the specialization of television The Business of Mass Media - Read Ch. 13: Media economics and the global marketplace - Read Ch. 11: Advertising and Commercial Culture SPRING BREAK -Media and Cultural Imperialism Readings: PDF Articles on BB

Ch. 6 Quiz 4 due by Sunday March 8 Chs. 13 and 11 postings due by Sunday March 15

SPRING BREAK

postings due by Sunday March 29 Quiz 5 due by Sunday March 29

- Read Ch. 2: The Internet, Digital Media, and Media Convergence

Ch. 2 Postings due by Sunday April 5

- Read Ch. 15: Media Effects and Cultural Approaches to Research

Ch. 15 Topic Position Paper due on Sunday April 12

Week 15 April 13-19

Presentations

Week 16 April 19-26

Final Exam Due by Friday April 24

Presentations Due by Sunday April 19 Final Exam Due by Friday April 24

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