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JOUR 2 CurriculumDE ANZA COLLEGE
LANGUAGE ARTS DIVISION
COURSE OUTLINE
Degree Applicable
JOURNALISM 2 Effective Fall 2004
I. Catalog Information
JOUR 2: Mass Communication and its Impact on Society 4 units
Advisory: EWRT 1A
Four hours lecture
A survey of the mass media and measurement of its impact on culture and society. Mass media effects on global and American institutions. Theories of mass communications in the context of each medium: books, newspapers, magazines, movies, radio, recordings, television and the Internet. Ethical and legal implications of media and their effects on the individual and society. Influences of the media on gender, ethnic and minority issues.
II. Course Objectives
The student will:
A. Define the nature and importance of mass communications media (books, newspapers, magazines, movies, radio, recordings, television and the Internet) within the larger communication field.
B. Examine historical, cultural and consumer-oriented aspects of media in America and the world, to better understand the impact of the media in contemporary society.
C. Explore interrelationships and synergy between media industries.
D. Analyze various media theories and apply them to mass communications issues.
E. Examine legal and ethical issues within the media from various perspectives.
F. Interpret and apply ethical philosophies in mass communications contexts.
G. Explore career possibilities and interests in the mass communication field.
H. Explore the role of minorities, ethnic groups, women in the mass media and the effects of the mass media on those groups.
III. Essential Student materials
Computer with access to the Internet.
IV. Essential College Facilities
Computer with access to the Internet
V. Expanded Description: Content and Form
A. Define the nature and importance of mass communications media (books, newspapers, magazines, movies, radio, recordings, television and the Internet) within the larger communication field.
1. Definition of and types of communications
2. Models of communications
3. Types of mass media and their roles in society and culture.
B. Examine historical, cultural and consumer-oriented aspects of media in America and the world, to better understand the impact of the media in contemporary society.
1. History of each medium and its historical relationship to other media
2. Treatment of minorities, ethnic groups and women in the media throughout history
3. Relationship of media and governments in the U.S. and the world
4. Media’s relationship with its audience, including societal behaviors and customs, effects on children, violence and images
5. Impact of media on audiences
C. Explore interrelationships and synergy between media industries.
1. Patterns of ownership
2. Relationships, specialization and diversity
3. The news, entertainment and persuasion industries (advertising and public relations)
D. Analyze various media theories and apply them to mass communications issues. Media theories may include: selective exposure, perception and retention; opinion leaders and the two-step flow of communication; powerful, minimal and mixed effects models; flow or bullet; social learning; individual differences; cultivation; agenda setting; cumulative effects; catharsis.
1. Scientific research such as content analysis, laboratory experiments, surveys
2. Historical perspectives such as war propaganda, “Invasion from Mars” study and studies of the effects of TV on children
3. Causation and correlation using examples such as subliminal advertising and pornography and violence
4. Cultural studies and anecdotal reports exploring cultural approaches such as gender studies and media ecology.
E. Examine legal and ethical issues within the media from various perspectives.
1. Historical trends in media law
2. Personal rights including libel and privacy laws
3. Intellectual property rights and copyright
F. Interpret and apply ethical philosophies in mass communications contexts.
1. Ethics from a historical perspective, such as (but not limited to) early controversies surrounding printing of the Bible, the partisan press, media hoaxes, yellow journalism, muckrakers, ethical codes, quiz show scandals, hate radio/Web sites, inaccuracies and subjectivity, accountability.
2. Ethical orientations and conflicting loyalties influencing decisions, such as the effects of absolutist and situational ethics in areas such as personal conscience, duty to one’s organization or one’s profession and to society in general.
3. Bias and conflicts of interest, such as liberal, conservative and creeping bias; stereotyping; checkbook journalism.
G. Explore career possibilities and interests in the mass communication field.
1. Careers available in the communications fields and job requirements.
2. Researching the job market
H. Explore the role and perception of minorities, ethnic groups, age groups, and genders in the mass media and the effects of the mass media on those groups.
1. Historical roles and treatment of groups such as their roles in films and on television, stereotyping and inaccurate portrayals these groups.
2. Effects and impact of the media on groups, such as spiral of silence, health and image issues and academic performance.
VI. Assignments
A. Reading
1. Assigned readings from an introductory mass communications textbook or a similarly organized package of print or electronic media.
2. Supplemental readings on related current events from a variety of print or electronic media.
B. Verbal
1. Individual, small group and/or class activities, which guide students’ problem solving abilities in the context of media issues and serves as a forum for examining and synthesizing information. In a distance learning section, this would be done electronically in a discussion board or chat room type of environment.
2. Presentations or projects that require students to explore, analyze, create and apply criteria to establish the purposes and use of mass media.
C. Written
1. Objective quizzes and/or exercises.
2. Discussion questions or journal entries.
3. Scholarly research paper demonstrating scholarly research, critical thinking,, and issues in mass communication concepts from assigned readings using library research tools such as EbscoHost, Infotrac or Proquest (minimum five pages). Students use a guided process which includes five sections: a) an explanation of the controversy which is based on a topic presented in the textbook, b) an explanation of one view of the controversy, using sources, c) an explanation of another view of the controversy using sources; d) their own opinion, backed by expert opinion and theories from parts b and c, and e) the bibliography.
4. Internet research project demonstrating student knowledge and understanding of various aspects of the mass media, including Web searching skills.
5. Final exam including examining, interpreting, thinking critically and analyzing concepts and issues in mass communication.
VII. Methods of Evaluating Objectives
Evaluation will be based on students’ demonstration of factual knowledge and critical thinking skills applied to concepts and issues of mass communications.
A. Regular assessment in the form of quizzes, exercises and/or journal entries.
B. Written responses to readings and/or small group discussions
C. Scholarly research paper (minimum five pages).
D. Internet research project.
E. Final exam including essay questions.
VIII. Texts and supporting materials
A. A college-level introduction to mass communications textbook (or similarly organized package of print/media materials) such as:
1. * Biagai, Shirley. Media Impact. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2003
2. Baron, Stanley. Introduction to Mass Communication. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002
3. Campbell. Richard, Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002.
4. Rodman, George. Making Sense of Media: An Introduction to Mass Communication. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 2001
5. Vivian, John. The Media of Mass Communication. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2003
B. Media related Web sites such as:
1. Recording History Technology. Steve Schoenherr
<http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/recording/notes.html>;
2. Gannett. <http://www.gannett.com/>;
3. Federal Communications Commission. <http://www.fcc.gov>;
4. Poynter Institute. < http://www.poynter.org>;
5. Freedom Forum. <http://www.fredomforum.org>;
C. Optional specialized media materials such as:
1. Seguin, James. Media Career Guide. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002
2. Ferguson, Facts on File. Top Careers for Communication Graduates, 2003
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