Spring 2011
Northeastern
State University
College of
Liberal Arts
Department of
Communication Studies
Tahlequah, OK
INSTRUCTOR:
Professor David K.
Scott, Ph. D., Office: SH355
Telephone: 918-456-5511 ext. 3614.
E-mail: scottd@mail.nsuok.edu
Course Web Page: http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~scottd/SPCH4623.htm
COURSE
TITLE AND NUMBER: CLASS DAYS & TIME:
0503 M C 4203 MEDIA AND
POLITICS M
5:30 PM- 8:10 01/10-05/06
SCOTT D SH 109
1741 M C 5723 MEDIA AND
POLITICS M
5:30 PM- 8:10 01/10-05/06
SCOTT D SH 109
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:
This course examines the processes of mass-mediated political communication in
democratic societies. Although these processes can be studied in a variety of
contexts, this course will focus primarily on the interaction between news
media, audiences, and politicians in the United States. Special emphasis will
be given to the role of news media in democratic theory, the politics of media
control, media coverage of war, elections and policy-making, the impact of new
mass communication technologies, the effects of media messages on audiences,
and factors shaping the construction of news such as journalistic routines,
media economics, and the strategic management of news by politicians.
COURSE
PURPOSE:
Students will demonstrate that they have developed: an understanding of the
basic values of American civic culture; the relationship of the mass media to
institutional, political and legal processes in American; the role of the mass
media in public policy formation and implementation; the philosophical,
ethical, and legal issues related to mass media in democracies; how the
American media compare to those of other societies showing an ability to apply
social science methods to practical problems regarding the media's role in
politics and to communicate their knowledge in written assignments and
examinations.
EXPECTED
COURSE OUTCOMES:
This course has four primary objectives. By the end of this course, students
should be able to:
1) identify the roles played by news media in contemporary American politics
2) appreciate the production of political news as a complex interaction between
news organizations, audiences, and politicians
3) understand how the "marketplace of ideas" constituted by mediated
political communication affects democratic politics, and how the content of
this marketplace is affected by the constraints under which the news media
operate
4) analyze critically a variety of news texts
INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS:
Students will be required to read and occasionally make oral reports on
assigned articles and readings. Readings will be assigned on a weekly basis and
will placed on reserve in the library, distributed in class, or posted on the
course web-page. Note: You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print these articles. Download it for
free.
INSTRUCTIONAL
PROCEDURES:
The expected course outcomes will be realized through a variety of
instructional strategies to complement life experiences.
Tentative course outline/topics.
Course Overview
& Policies
Jan 24 Historical Phases of
Media/Political Interaction
An Electoral
Behavioral Context for the Study of Political Communication
Jan 31 Case Studies of recent
media trends and political impact:
*Narrowcasting: Modern
Marketing and Political Packaging
|
*Christian News: Framing
News to fit audience preferences
*News Divisions: Filtering
News based on Ideological preference
*Texas Textbooks:
Rewriting history based on Politics?
|
Articles to be read by class by Hit Article Link to
Download Acrobat File |
Student
Assigned Article |
|
Eric Davis |
|
|
Kristen Turner |
Early Broadcast
Media Effects on Politics
Feb 7 Increased Media Competitive
Pressures Early Historical Observations
|
Articles
to be read by class by Hit Article Link to Download Acrobat
File |
Student Assigned Article |
|
Truman's 1948 Election: The
Inadvertent Broadcast campaign |
David Scott |
|
Jennifer Lawler |
|
|
Tip Crowley |
Satire, Mock
News and Politics pt. 1
Feb 14 Saturday
Night Live and Weekend Update: Impacts on Politics and Journalism
Aspects of Visual Literacy Social Semiotics and Iconography and
Broadcast Satire & Parody
Analysis of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin
Satire, Mock
News and Politics pt. 2
Feb 21 Discussion of The Daily Show and "The
Onion"
|
Articles to be read by class by Hit Article Link to
Download Acrobat File |
Student
Assigned Article |
|
Dustin Woods |
Media and
Elections
Feb 28
Journalistic Norms and Representation of Politics
The
Quality of Media Coverage
|
Articles to be read by class by Hit Article Link to
Download Acrobat File |
Student
Assigned Article |
|
Kim
Reynolds outline |
|
|
Emma Allen |
|
|
Kristen Turner outline |
|
|
David Scott |
Media and
Elections
Negative Campaigning/Negative spot advertising
Mar 7 The impact of political advertising (video samples)
Political Advertising (PBS Video: the 30 second president)
|
Articles to be read |
Student Assigned Article |
|
Eric Davis |
|
|
Jennifer Lawler |
|
|
Tip Crowley |
Spring Break
Mar 14
Mid Term
Examination
Mar 21
Media and
Elections
Mar 28 Political
Debating (Sampler Tape)
Evolution of Debates
Criterion of Winning and Losing Debates
|
Articles to be read |
Student Assigned Article |
|
|
|
|
|
Media and
Elections
Apr 4 No Debates) Political
Debating Continued pt. 2
|
Articles to be read |
Student Assigned Article |
|
No Debate: How the
Republican and Democratic Parties Secretly Control the Presidential Debates. |
|
|
|
Manipulation of the Media (Video: Journeys with
George)
Apr 11 The Modern political Campaign: the 2000
Bush campaign
Manipulation of
the Media pt2
Apr 18 Creating the
media "enemy"
|
Articles to be read |
Student Assigned Article |
|
|
|
|
|
Media Bias/ Radio/TV and
Conservative Politics Fox News
Apr 25
(The
making of Fox News) (graduate student papers due)
|
Articles to be read |
Student Assigned Article |
|
|
|
|
Ideological Cues and
Perceptions of Bias in Television News. |
|
Final Exam
May 4
Possible additional
topics (dates to be announced)
Conservative
Talk radio
Social Media and
Politics
STUDENT PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES: (Attendance/Punctuality)
Consistent and punctual attendance is both expected and required for your successful
completion of the course. Absences will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Death or grave illness in the family, childbirth, impassable roads are of
course beyond our control. Decisions to celebrate anniversaries, for example,
or attend concerts, go on hunting safaris, or participate in a variety of
extra-curricular affairs are not. Students will be expected to make up any work
missed as a result of absence, whether or not the absence was justified.
Excessive absences will reduce the final grade for the course.
ASSIGNMENT
DUE DATES:
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the date indicated
when the assignment is given. After the assignment due date, work will be
accepted up to one week late with a corresponding grade reduction of one letter
grade. Reading assignments are considered preparation for the lecture period.
The student is responsible for all material assigned even if not discussed in
class.
STUDENT
EVALUATION:
There will be two essay examinations during the semester which will each
constitute 25% of the student's grade. Another 25% will be based upon an
original paper written by each student analyzing media presentations of
politics in America. The research paper is optional for undergraduate students.
The range of topics could focus on the coverage of the different types of media
and should include supplemental materials from other sources supporting the
conclusions of the students. Papers should be approximately 12-20
double-spaced, typewritten pages and documented with footnotes and bibliography
regarding the source of all information. They are due on April 23. The last 25%
of the course will be based on oral reports from assigned readings/articles.
Each oral presentation should include a detailed outline of
the article to be distributed to the class. On average graduate students will
present more oral reports. If undergraduate students choose not to write a
research paper then the remaining 3 assignment areas will be worth 1/3 of your
grade.
All student work
for this course (papers, presentations, graphic design, artwork, etc.) should
be original and unique to this course. This means that work turned in for this
course should not be turned in for other courses. This also means that work
produced in earlier semesters should not be turned in for this course. If
students wish to produce work which is an expansion of or different take on a
previously treated topic, they must show the instructor the earlier work and
secure permission for the new treatment before proceeding.
Grading
A straight scale will determine your final grade:
*A research paper is mandatory for graduate students and optional for
undergraduate students.
|
% |
Grade |
Assignment |
With Paper* |
w/o Paper |
|
90-100 |
A |
Test One |
25% |
33.3% |
|
80-89 |
B |
Test Two |
25% |
33.3% |
|
70-79 |
C |
Article Reports |
25% |
33.3% |
|
60-69 |
D |
Research Paper |
25% |
* |
|
0-59 |
F |
|
------- |
------- |
|
|
|
Total |
100% |
100% |
ADA COMPLIANCE:
If any member of the
class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations of
any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with you and the University's
Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that
you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class. Please advise the
instructor of such disability and the desired accommodations at the first class
attended.
INCLEMENT
WEATHER / DISASTER POLICY:
The
following are basic premises for the inclement weather policy at Northeastern:
1. Classes are expected to be held if at all possible.
2. It is the student's and faculty's responsibility to receive the information
when weather is questionable.
3. Neither students nor faculty are expected to risk life or limb.
4. Faculty members are obligated to hold classes if the university is not
closed, unless the faculty member is unable to get to the campus.
Policy
Statements
During
times of inclement weather, decisions concerning day classes will be made by
5:00 a.m. in order for the media to be notified and for the students to receive
the announcement before they leave home. Decisions concerning evening/night
classes will be made by 1:00 p.m. if at all possible or feasible.
The
following media will be notified regarding closing of the campus:
KRMG 740 AM Tulsa
KJRH Channel 2 Tulsa
KAYI 107 FM
Tulsa
KOTV Channel 6 Tulsa
KTLQ 1350 AM Tahlequah KTUL Channel 8 Tulsa
KEOK 102 FM Tahlequah
KFSM Channel 5 Fort Smith
KBIX 1490 AM Muskogee
Cable Channel 96 Tahlequah
KMMY 97 FM Muskogee
KVOO 1170 AM Tulsa
Students are also encouraged to check the NSU telephone messaging service, NSU
website and NSU email for updated information.
Teach
Act
In
accordance with the TEACH Act of 2002, you are advised that instructional
material included in this course may be subject to copyright protection. As
such, you must not share, duplicate, transmit, or store the material of this
course beyond the purpose and time frame explicitly stated in the syllabus of
your course. If you are not certain whether a particular piece of material is
covered by copyright protection, you should contact your instructor and obtain
her/his written clarification. Failing to observe copyright protection is a
violation of law and the student code of conduct.
Release
of Confidential Information
University
policies regarding family educational and privacy rights are governed by the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Copies of the act, policies,
and regulations are maintained in the Office of Admissions and Records, NSU
libraries, and the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Requests for release of student data to outside sources, other students, or
other employees who do not have access to such information must have written
approval from the Registrar.
