|
Click
here for a printable version of the Syllabus and Class Schedule
Class Objectives:
Through
assigned reading, class discussion, and weekly analysis and critique of current
events and recent trends in media communications, we will explore the creation
of a contemporary framework for making sound ethical, moral and professional
judgments as media professionals. Much
of the class reading will focus on the mass media, where there is a large body
of theory, research and practice from which to draw – with a strong historical
perspective, a review of theories as they relate to responsibility and ethics,
and ongoing comparisons to current mass media practices.
Additional class reading will focus on the role of technology in the
media, especially focused on how technology affects the daily tasks and
decisions of today’s media professional.
We
will move away from thinking about technology as a tool, and will avoid the
review of the history of media tools from the printing press to the PC. Rather,
we will explore how the tools we use to communicate affect the work we do as
media professionals, and how the work we do – and how we do it – affects the
final product. We will also focus on how the final product affects society, and
why every decision media professional make are ecological in that they may have
profound effects on diverse groups of people.
Since
“media” means more than just the popular usage sense of the term (i.e., mass
media), we will also discuss how theory and research regarding media ethics
is relevant to other media disciplines, including advertising, marketing,
graphic design, Internet design and public relations. Additionally, we will
spend some time comparing American media practices to those of other countries
to gain a socio-cultural appreciation of the universal and cultural-specific
moral and ethical aspects of media communication.
Always
remember, we’re studying the impact of our roles as COMMUNICATORS on society;
to do this, we will COMMUNICATE with each other in class and via written
assignments about the issues brought up in the weekly reading, in class, and in
current events.
The primary goal of this course is
to understand the importance of media in society by learning:
·
WHY media has become an
integral aspect of the human experience in our society
·
HOW it became so
important
·
WHO is affected by the
media
·
WHEN it is important to
evaluate the ethical aspects of media decisions, and
·
WHAT you can do to become &/or remain a socially-responsible media professional.
Topical Outline:
·
Historical review of media in society
·
Media ethics and the media professional's duty to society
·
Current theories, practices and controversies
·
Impact of technology and the globalization of media
·
Assessment of the impact of media
·
Media as a reflection of cultural values
·
Impact of media technology on the role of the media professional
·
Decision-making and ethical issues for media professionals
Expected Student Outcomes:
·
Enhanced media literacy and analysis skills gained through reading
and understanding assigned materials
·
Increased writing skills applied in analysis and critique of
assigned reading and current media topics
·
Ability to clearly communicate an individual framework of ethical
practices, supported by sound critical thinking, displayed through writing,
design, and discussion
·
Proven ability to solve problems and address ethical challenges in
course assignments and research
·
Knowledge of ethical and cultural issues in media communication
Learning Materials:
Course
assignments will be derived from text books (i.e., two required texts),
current event analysis, mainstream and alternative media sources including
newspapers, televisions, web sites and trade journals.
We will use individual and group writing and design assignments along
with robust participation and discussion to accomplish the above objectives.
Additional reading material accessible through the library’s EBSCO database
may be assigned.
Use
of the recommended reading listed in the course syllabus is highly recommended
for assisting with weekly writing and analysis assignments, and may be good
fodder for final research topics and referential data.
Assignments Evaluated On:
·
Good faith attempts to show understanding of course reading
through analytical writing, often displayed though point/counterpoint and direct
comparisons and contrasts of various media outlets or elements
·
Creative use of required and recommended reading to extend the
class discussion to a new area, media type, or topic
·
Introduction (and potential defense) of new, relevant information
sources to the course assignments
·
Participation in class discussions
·
Level of participation in group assignments
·
Progressive enhancement of writing, analysis and critical skills
from the first assignment through the final project
Grades Determined Through:
A
combination of class participation, individual assignments, and group
assignment, team assignments, divided as follows:
31%
class participation (the best advice one can give for this class is:
“Come to class!”)
35%
bi-weekly individual assignments (primarily short written analyses,
with potential for visual/design products)
34%
final group assignment (a written and visual product to be chosen in groups)
or individual thesis
Attendance/Promptness
- Because the class will function largely similarly to a business
environment, where showing up to the meeting is vital, so, too, will showing
up to class be crucial to your performance. Arriving late will negatively
impact your ability to participate in class effectively; therefore, tardiness
will detract from your final grade. Each unexcused absence could affect
your final grade by an entire letter grade.
Your first absence can be considered excused; additional absences
must be excused explicitly via telephone or e-mail with direct confirmation,
or the absence will be considered unexcused. Only two classes maximum
will be excused without penalty. Mutiple instances of tardiness will count
as absences.
Classroom
Policies -- No mobile
phones, pagers, or text messagers are to be used in class; this is department
policy. Individuals who violate this policy will be asked to leave class;
dismissals will count as absences.
Individual
assignments and course reading – Again, in the media business,
being prepared is of utmost importance, so preparation for class is your
responsibility. All reading for each class should be completed before
we meet, as the reading will guide the class discussion and should be
integrated into your weekly assignments. The course schedule clearly defines
the reading for each week. There will be a short quiz or written assignment
for each week of class. Written assignments are in your syllabus.
Quizzes may be given at the instructor's discretion. Grades for
the first two weeks will be flat pass/fail, then assignments will be graded
on letter-grade scale as indicated in the grading rubric. Late work will
be deducted a grade for each class not presented, and work not presented
receives a score of zero (0). See
& print a sample analysis here.
Group
assignment – Think of this as the final term paper, except that
it will be completed by the group, not by individuals, and it does not
necessarily have to be a paper. In fact, electronic forms are media are
preferred. In the business environment metaphor, this is very much like
a team-based agency project, expected to be of high quality, collaborative,
and deliverable on deadline. You will research a topic of importance in
mass media, and produce a piece of media that shows your reasearch, your
findings,and your recommendations for the future, with respect to the
impact of the topic on society. This project will include in-class work,
but will require work outside of class and in your groups. You will show
how the lessons you've learned in class this semester apply to your topic.
Your peers will hold you to a sincere and equitable effort on your part,
and lack of participation by any individual in the group assignment will
result in a failing grade. Students will also have the option of preparing
a fully-developed thesis in the area of social responsibility in media
communications. Theses and research materials will be presented and vetted
in class.
|