Mass Communication 101
Survey of Mass Communication
(PEL 206)
Nicki Boudreaux, M.S.
Office: 100 B Talbot Hall
Phone: 985-493-2537
Email: nicki.boudreaux@nicholls.edu
Office hours: M-W-F 9:40-10:35 (3M) ; T-Th 8:30-10:20 (2T), 1:00-3:30; and by appointment
1. Course Description: Print, broadcast, advertising and public relations and their roles in American society; the concept of freedom of the press; the relationships of press and government and press and the public; theory, criticisms, problems and ethical concerns of the media. Open to all majors.
2. Prerequisites: None
3. Course Objectives/Content: This course is designed to provide students with the basic groundwork for understanding and appreciating the broad context within which mass media operates. Media will be studied within a sociological framework, an economic framework, a theoretical framework, an historical framework, and a legal, ethical and practical framework. This course will constantly evaluate ethics and diversity in a variety of issues related to the mass media. This course does not provide skills training, but provides the mechanisms which make students more critical and analytical observers and consumers of mass media.
The textbook is divided into five units. We will be covering four of the five. The topics of ethics and diversity will be discussed as they apply to each unit. By the end of this course, you should be able to demonstrate understanding and appreciation of the following:
Ch. 1: Understanding Mass Media: The Importance of Media Literacy
Ch. 2: Making Sense of the Media Business
Ch. 3: Formal and Informal Controls on Media Content:
Government regulation, Self Regulation and Ethics
Ch. 4: Making Sense of Research on Media Effects and Media Culture
Ch. 7: The Print Media: From Past to Present
Ch. 8: The Book Industry
Ch. 9: The Newspaper Industry
Ch. 10: The Magazine Industry
Ch. 11: The Rise of Sound Recordings and Radio
Ch. 12: The Radio Industry
Ch. 14: The Rise of Motion Pictures and Television
Ch. 15: The Motion Picture Industry
Ch. 16: The Television Industry
Ch. 17: The Internet and Computer Software Industries
Ch. 18: The Rise of Advertising and Public Relations
Ch. 19: The Advertising Industry
Ch. 20: The Public Relations Industry
4. Material and Textbooks: Required text:
Turow, Joseph. Media Today: An Introduction to Mass Communication. Second Ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.
5. Course Requirements:
¬ Class Procedure and Student Participation:
Class time will be composed of lecture, class discussion, and exercises.
Participation is required.
¬ Attendance:
Attendance and punctuality are expected at all class meetings. If you must be absent, documentation of an excusable reason (illness, death in the immediate family, etc.) is required. Three unexcused absences will result in an F in the course. As in the professional world, you are expected to call the instructor or the secretary of the Mass Communication department (448-4586) as soon as possible, preferably BEFORE the absence occurs, to relay appropriate information concerning absence. Any work and/or changes in the syllabus which are missed while absent must be made up prior to the next meeting you attend.
¬ Readings:
Students are expected to read all assigned materials prior to each class period. Reading prior to class is essential. An unannounced quiz on reading materials may take place at the beginning of any class period.
¬ Blackboard:
This course uses Blackboard software. You are required to check the Blackboard site for this class at least every other day. You are responsible for all materials posted to the Blackboard site.
¬ News Consumption:
1. Read any two newspapers weekly, in addition to The Nicholls Worth
2. Watch or listen to national broadcast news programs at least three times a week
3. Watch or listen to local public affairs programs at least twice a week
6. Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and other forms of dishonesty will be dealt with severely, the minimum penalty being failure of the course.
7. Thoroughness: Students must complete all the work (i.e. tests, projects, presentations, papers, productions, writing assignments, etc.) required for the course. Completion of all required work does not guarantee a passing grade. Failure to complete any required work will result in a grade of F in the course.
8. Exams and Assignments:
¬ Exams: Students will take a total of four (4) exams consisting of multiple choice, true/false and short answer. Students will be required to bring a Scantron sheet and no. 2 pencil for each exam. Exams will not be cumulative, and students are required to take all four exams. Make-up exams will be given at the instructorÕs discretion only if the student has an excused absence in writing. Students missing the exam without an excused absence will be given an automatic F on the exam.
¬ Journal Entries: Students will be required to keep a three-pronged folder as a journal. The instructor will provide a list of journal topics that coincide with the chapters. These will be used as a catalyst for class discussion. Entries should be approximately 250 words in length and must be completed by the first day of each chapter. The journal entries for chapters 1-9 are due on MARCH 11th. The journal entries for the remaining chapters, along with the previously-graded entries, are due on APRIL 25th. The completed journal must be turned in to receive a final grade. Entries will be evaluated on clarity, critical thinking and quality of work. Entries should be typed, Times, 12 pt., double or single spaced. The chapter, question number, and word count should be listed at the top of each page. Entries should be three-hole punched and placed in a three-pronged folder. The completed journal is worth a total of 100 points.
¬ Assignments: Additional assignments, quizzes or in-class exercises may be added at the instructorÕs discretion and will be worth 10-20 points each (depending on the assignment). All assignments must be typed, Times 12 pt., double spaced. Quizzes may include material from the text or current events and may or may not be announced.
9. Grading:
Student performance will be evaluated on a 10-point scale (100-90=A). The studentÕs overall average in the course will be computed by dividing the points earned on exams and exercises by total possible points.
10. Etiquette/Class Conduct: All cellular telephones, beepers and other noise-making, disrupting devices must be silenced during class. NO ONE should answer a cell phone during class! If a disruption occurs, the instructor reserves the right to answer the call or to instruct the student to leave the class. Students may be penalized for disruption and must receive permission from the instructor to return to the class. These devices will be allowed only for emergency purposes and the student must receive prior permission from the instructor. No children or other visitors will be allowed in class due to University liability policies.
This course encourages the free exchange of opinions and ideas as class discussion is an integral part of the course. Everyone is expected to be respectful of one another, the instructor, and any guest lecturers in the classroom.
Week 1 (Jan. 18-24)
Week 2 (Jan. 24-28)
Week 3 (Jan. 31-Feb. 4)
Week 4 (Feb. 11)
Week 5 (Feb. 14-18)
Week 6 (Feb. 21-25)
Week 7 (Feb. 28-Mar.4)
Week 8 (Mar. 7-11)
Week 9 (Mar. 14-18)
Week 10 (Mar. 21-25)
Week 11 (Mar. 28-Apr. 1)
Week 12 (Apr. 4-8)
Week 13 (Apr. 11-15)
Week 14 (Apr. 18-22)
Week 15 (Apr. 25-29)
FINAL EXAMS (May 2-6) Date of this exam TBA.
JOURNAL ENTRIES
Journal topics can be found at the end of each chapter in the ÒChapter ReviewÓ section. I have approved questions from the ÒQuestions for DiscussionÓ for each chapter. The approved questions are as follows. Please remember, entries should be 250 words in length and completed for each chapter. Entries must be typed – Times, 12 pt., double spaced. Also, please write the chapter and question number that you are answering at the top of each entry.
Ch. 1 -- #2 or #4 Ch. 11 -- #4
Ch. 2 -- #2 Ch. 12 -- #5
Ch. 3 -- #1,2 or 3 Ch. 14 -- #2 or 3
Ch. 4 -- #1 or 3 Ch. 15 -- #4
Ch. 7 -- #4 Ch. 16 -- # 1, 4 or 5
Ch. 8 -- #4 Ch. 17 -- #1, 2 or 5
Ch. 9 -- #3, 4 or 5 Ch. 18 -- #4
Ch. 10 -- #2 or 4 Ch. 19 -- #1
Ch. 20 -- #4 or 5