COMM 100 (GS) The Mass Media and Society (3): Mass communications in the United States: organization, role, content, and effects of newspapers, magazines, television, radio, books, and films.

Overview

The Mass Media and Society provides an overview of the interaction between the mass media and society in the United States. The course draws students’ attention to the organization, role, content, and effects of newspapers, magazines, television, radio, books and film and underscores the influences (e.g., social, economic, political, technological, law and cultural) that shape media messages. Among others, the course examines the nature of media controllers as well as the character of "users" and "consumers" of media products. In the process students are informed about the overall structure and scope of the mass media and are led to understand the power and influences associated with media messages and practices. By the end of the semester, each student should have a better understanding of the dynamic nature of the mass media in an information society.

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Describe the different functions of the mass media
• Describe the process and theory of mass communication
• Explain the basic concepts relevant to the various media forms
• Demonstrate an awareness of the media as social, political and cultural forces
• List the formal and informal controls on the mass media
• Explain current trends and changes in the mass media including those influenced by new technologies
• Explain the practices and processes of media support systems/industries
• Discuss varied issues including those ethical concerns pertinent to media and the public

Required Course Materials

The following text is required and may be purchased from MBS Direct:

• The Media of Mass Communication, Tenth Edition, John Vivian

Supplemental readings and other materials will be added to complement the main text.

For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website.

Library Resources

Technical Requirements

For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:

If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the World Campus Help Desk.

Scope and Structure of the Course

The following components comprise our engagement during each regular week of the semester. Weeks during which the class will write quizzes and exams will run differently as shown on schedule of classes below. Some weekly sessions cover two parts of related topics; others include more in-depth material on one topic.

1. Reading assignments: These are critical in providing the major content material for each lesson. They serve as the basis for completion of assignments and one of the sources of answers that you may provide in quizzes.


2. Instructor’s Note (typically about 2 pages): These represent the instructor’s reaction to the text – the reaction borrows from instructor’s academic exposure to the subject matter and personal experiences with the mass media in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. The Notes should provide additional dimensions to the subject matter that may not be in the assigned reading but that the instructor considers of added value to students’ understanding. Some of the entries in Instructor’s Note should also generate additional conversation (questions/comments) by the class.


3. Reaction reports via a blog: These will be completed in the form of a blog post (minimum 250 words) and follow each reading. These provide a way for each student to process information gathered in the readings and through personal experiences with the mass media. Students are encouraged to develop the habit of writing while reading; in other words trap the mind’s engagement with the reading materials before they disappear. Better blog posts will emerge from individual responses and each will bear the insignia and uniqueness of the author’s experiences. Each student must write weekly blog posts. In addition to posting your own reactions to the content, you are required to read the posts of your fellow classmates and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. You must post by Wednesday to allow your classmates an opportunity to read and respond to your reaction report. Detailed instructions for setting up your blog (it's easy!) and getting started are provided in Lesson 1. The "Blogs" link in the course menu will provide links to the blogs created in the class.


4. Review Questions: Each student will be assigned one review question per lesson (please click the "Review Questions" link in the course menu to find your assigned question). A detailed response to that question (about 75-100 words) should be posted to the appropriate discussion forum. These review questions may appear in the exams, so it is essential that all students take responsibility for accurate responses in the discussion forum. Students should be engaged with all of the questions by adding to, clarifying or amending the original response, as appropriate.


5. Instructor's Note Response: A detailed response to the Instructors Note (about 150 words) should be posted to the appropriate discussion forum. In addition to posting your own reactions to the content of Instructor's Note, you are also required to read the posts of your fellow classmates and respond to at least 2 of your classmates' comments. This important protocol enables the class to have conversations pertinent to the readings from the perspectives of all course participants.
   

Study Suggestions

You must complete readings, write your reaction report (in your blog) and answer the assigned review question for each lesson in the sequence in which they are presented in the course outline. You should begin each lesson by reviewing the objectives, completing the assigned readings and Instructor's Note as thoughtfully and thoroughly as possible. To review material you have learned, review the Chapter Wrap Up, complete the Review Questions (check your own answers) and review the Concepts, Terms and People references in the text.

You will be completing activities and submitting work assigned per lesson per week. You should completely finish one lesson before proceeding to the next. You are required to complete the course within the time-frame of one semester.

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Course Schedule

Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success. Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.

Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.

Grading

Your final grade in this course will be based on a combination of the following:

Your final grade will be determined based on the scoring explained above, and will conform to the following:

Course Policies

Policies to note:

1. The course assigned readings and syllabus are all subject to periodic revision as the professor may deem fit.
2. If, for any reason, you miss participation in group work/group report, you may be required to write a short paper to cover the material missed. This will depend on your ability to convince the professor that your absence is excusable. Although you will be notified of the gap in your grade, you are not obligated to complete a make-up assignment.
3. Late work will be accepted without penalty in cases of documented illness or emergency of which the professor, teaching assistant, or group leader is notified as soon as possible. Work that is late for any other reason must be submitted with a written explanation; if explanation os accepted, such work will be penalized on a pro-rated basis. However, class participation grades (individual/group) cannot be made up under any circumstances.
4. All out-of-class assignments must be typed, double-spaced, with a minimum of 1-inch margins on all sides. Please provide your name, course number and e-mail address on all work handed in. Always prepare a back-up copy of all your work for your own record.
5. If you are unable to complete this course because of unforeseen circumstances, you have the option of requesting a deferred grade from your instructor. For more information, please see "Deferred Grades" on the World Campus Student Policies Web Site.
6. Academic Integrity is the pursuit of scholarly and creative activity in an open, honest and responsible manner, free from fraud and deception, and is an educational objective of the College of Communications and of the university. Cheating, including plagiarism, falsification of research data, using the same assignment for more than one class, turning in someone else's work, or possibly allowing others to copy your work, will result in academic penalties at the discretion of the instructor, and may result in the grade of "XF" (failed for academic dishonesty being put on your permanent transcript, in serious cases it could also result in suspension or dismissal from the university).

Academic Integrity

As students studying communication, you should understand and avoid plagiarism (presenting the work of others as your own). A discussion of plagiarism, with examples, can be found at: http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/cyberplag/cyberplagstudent.html.

Accommodating Disabilities

Additional Policies