Mass Media and Politics
POLS 3386 (crn 23805)
3.0 credits
Spring 2009
Dr. Joseph Corrado
Office: A&S 110S
Clayton State University voicemail: 678-466-4803
Webpage: go to http://www.clayton.edu, click search, type in "Joe Corrado", click on the first link.
Spring Office Hours: Tuesday 12:45-1:45 p.m., Wednesday 12:30-2:30 p.m., and Thursday 12:45-1:45 p.m.
Course Description:
Mass Media and Politics examines the role of the mass
media in society. Emphasis is placed on the media's role in
the social, legal, and political processes in the United
States, as well as other democratic and non-democratic
countries.
Pre-requisite: POLS 1101 with a minimum grade of a D.
Required Texts:
Bennett, W. Lance. 2007 (8th edition). News: The Politics of Illusion. New York: Pearson Longman. ISBN: 13 978-0-205-64984
Media Power in Politics edited by Doris Graber. 2007 (5th Edition). Washington D.C.: CQ Press.
ISBN: 1-933116-77-3.
Baker, C. Edwin. 2007. Media Concentration and Democracy: Why Ownership Matters. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Course Requirement:
The major form of communication between the instructor and the students outside of the classroom will be by CSU email. Go to: http://thehub.clayton.edu and click "service" for information on configuring your laptop computer to comply with IT requirements. It is necessary for you have your computer configured to access CSU email. You will need to take your computer to the HUB, which is located on the ground level of the University Center. Please have your computer configured and set up for CSU email as soon as possible. You can also contact the HUB at 678-466-4357.
Course computer policy: Computers should never be on during class. You will use your computer to communicate with the instructor, conduct research, and to communicate with other and the instructor on Epsilen. You will receive an email instructing you how to log in to Epsilen.
Email/Epsilen etiquette: For issues that are personal (grades, etc.) email me directly at joecorrado@clayton.edu Epsilen (http://www.epsilen.com) will be used for the groups to communicate on their discussion questions and may be used for students to ask questions of prominent individuals. Epsilen will be used by the instructor to post important announcements, grades on assignments and course content. You will need to start using Epsilen during the first of class. Post your picture so that we get to know each other quickly. Check it frequently and communicate with your group about your common assignments.
Students must abide by policies in the CSU Catalog & Student Handbook.
Click on this link to read the Clayton State University
Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities Statement
Disabilities: For information about Disability Services or to obtain this document in an alternative format, contact the Disabilities Coordinator, Student Center, Room 255 - ADA/504 Compliance Officer at.678-466-5445 or disabilityservices@clayton.edu
Semi-Daily Brief: Current events will often be discussed at the beginning of class. Read a major daily newspaper, or NEWSWEEK, TIME or U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT. Watch a daily national network news program on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS or CNN, and/or listen to NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (6:00 - 9:00 a.m., and 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.) on WABE FM 90.1. You can subscribe to the New York Times online for free by going to http://www.nytimes.com and creating a password for yourself. You can and should pick up the New York Times in the hallways of the A&S building or in the University Center (Baker center).
CSU Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades. The purpose of this policy is to increase retention. Students who have poor class attendance records often do poorly in our courses. The new policy is designed in order to emphasize to students that attending class is important and expected.
Course Attendance policy: Attendance will be taken each class session. Attendance counts as a part of your participation grade. You are expected to come to each class prepared to discuss the readings. During each class session any student may be randomly called upon to comment upon the readings. If you are unprepared one time you are given a break. If you are unprepared two times ten points will be taken from your overall grade.
Academic Dishonesty
Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Judicial procedures are described at
http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/
University Handbook is now at: http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentaffairs/StudentHandbook/foreword.htm
Disruption of the Learning Environment
Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.
The classroom is a learning space. Avoid all behaviors that disrupt others.
Here are some things to avoid: use of computers, use of cell phones, use of blackberries, having headphones in your ears, and having a Bluetooth in your ear.
If you are late to class take the first seat in the back of the room closest to the door. Don’t leave class early!
A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at:
http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm
Regents Testing: The University System of Georgia requires that each student receiving a degree must have successfully demonstrated competence in reading comprehension and writing by passing two courses: Regents Writing Skills RGTE 0199 and Regents’ Reading Skills RGTE 0198. Students satisfy these course requirements through examination. The University System of Georgia Regents Tests are administered each semester by the CSU Testing Center. Testing dates and registration procedures are listed each semester in the Class Schedule on the DUCK. Please contact your academic advisor or the Testing Center for more information.
Midterm Grades: A course midterm grade will be posted on the DUCK by midterm each semester. The midterm grade will only reflect work completed to the middle of the semester. More than half of the scored work in this course is completed after the midterm date. If you have questions, please contact the instructor.
The Fall deadline for you to withdraw from this course without academic accountability is March 6.
Political Science Degree Program Outcomes and Assessments:
Graduating political science majors should
Apply concepts related to the structures and principles of the U.S. Constitution to historical and current politics.
Explain and criticize U.S. political institutions and processes.
Define and distinguish how aspects of the Georgia Constitution and government differ from the U.S. Constitution and government.
Assess and compare how other national political systems and international political organizations differ from the U.S. political system and recognize the importance of political geography.
Research and compose a project report in a subfield of political science.
Successfully complete a political science related internship.
Assessments:
POLS 1101 pre and post assessment surveys & geography tests
POLS 4490/POLS 4491 Internship/Practicum Site Supervisor Evaluation
POLS 4500 Senior Seminar research paper
POLS 4500 Senior Political Science Program Exit Survey
ETS Political Science Field Test taken by graduating seniors
Course Outcomes:
To be able to define the news and how it is made.
To be able to identify media conglomerates and to critically analyze how they harm and/or help democracy in the United States.
To be able to critically assess the value of a free press and the circumstances in which it is timid rather than adversarial.
To apply Bennett’s framework to real world issues.
To explain and evaluate theories of media power.
To conduct guided research and present your findings to the class.
To exhibit comprehension of how the U.S. media compares to other countries.
To identify and evaluate the level of freedom of the press in Russia compared to the Middle East
Assessments:
Research Papers:
The goal of this project is to develop independent empirical research and analysis skills and deepen understanding of media coverage of political objects.
Paper on Framing (125 points): How do different media outlets frame the same issue in different ways? A frame is the way in which a story is presented. What factors are highlighted and what factors aren’t? Describe and compare the frames used by different media outlets covering the same object of analysis. Are the frames the same? What are the implications for media power? Are the frames different? What are the implications for media power?
The first step is to pick a political object of coverage. It can be an issue, a political actor, an institution, or some other political object. An important criterion is that the object chosen should be interesting to the person doing the analysis. This will give some zest to the project. Topics must be emailed to me for approval by February 24th. All students will be called upon to announce their topics on that day.
The second step is to examine how your object/issue/institution etc. is covered on the following media outlets. These are the outlets that you are to choose from. 1) The O’Reilly factor (8 p.m. Fox News) and Sean Hannity (9 p.m. Fox News). 2)Countdown with Keith Olberman (8 p.m.) and the Rachel Maddow (9 p.m) show on MSNC news. 3) The News Hour with Jim Lehrer on PBS. (check your local PBS station for times). If you do not have access to cable you can examine the following radio shows. 1) Rush Limbaugh 12-3 pm WGST-A 640 a.m. Atlanta, Sean Hannity (WSB-a.m. Atlanta) 2) Democracy now with Amy Goodman on WRFG 89.3 f.m./internet stream or radio from 5-6 p.m. and 3) News Hour with Jim Lehrer or if don’t have a TV at all NPR news programming on 90.1 fm
Make sure that you keep a log of what program, day and time you watched each program. Take notes on what the show is emphasizing about the object of analysis. Watch an equal amount for each of the 3 different styles (1-3 above). Make sure that you actively consume at least 2 programs of each of the 3 styles of media above that focus on your object of analysis.
Paper on Media Bias (125 points)
1) The first step is to pick a political object of coverage. It can be an issue, a political actor, an institution, or some other political object. An important criterion is that the object chosen should be interesting to the person doing the analysis. This will give some zest to the project. Topics must be emailed to me for approval by March 19th. All students will be called upon to discuss their topics on that day.
(2) The second step is to pick the newspapers in which coverage of the student’s chosen object will be examined. Each student will be required to examine coverage in the New York Times and the Washington Post. These are the two most important political news outlets in the US and will serve as benchmarks for coverage. In addition each student is to select two more newspapers for coverage of the object of choice. Some considerations here could be comparison or contrast with the Time's or Post's coverage or a hypothesis that the student would like to test (e.g., regional differences, market location, ideology, etc.). In any case the two additional papers of the student's choice must be listed in the LexisNexis resource available on the CSU library site. This will greatly facilitate one's search for coverage and obviate the necessity of paying a fee for articles that have been archived by a newspaper of the student's choice. Some class time will be devoted to the use of LexisNexis and for research questions.
Specific paper formatting requirements for both papers:
Begin your paper by introducing your chosen issue. Include comments on why you are interested in it.
Discuss your analysis strategy (i.e., what you are going to do and how you are going to do it). For the bias paper, discuss why you choose your other newspapers.
Present your results in tables.
Discuss the results in the tables.
Finish with a conclusion. Here, discuss any matters you feel relevant to your methods and findings.
The papers should be double-spaced in 12 point type with 1" margins
Staple the papers in the upper left corner; please do not present the papers in a binder.
E-mailed papers will not be accepted.
Exams (200 points): There will be two exams this semester.
Midterm: (100 points)
This will be an in-class exam with a combination of short answers and an essay based on the readings and notes.
Final (100 points): This will be an essay exam administered on the date scheduled for our course on the CSU website. http://adminservices.clayton.edu/registrar/finals.htm
Reaction papers: 25 points. Summarize the articles and/or film and give your view based upon what was presented. Make sure that your argument is based upon the evidence presented. Format 1.5-2 typed pages.
Reaction paper 1: "Outfoxed" and the ‘Misperceptions’ (no citations needed) (10 points)
Due before 3:35 p.m. on 1/29.
Reaction paper 2: Comparing British and U.S. coverage of Powell’s U.N. speech (provide citations in proper MLA style) (15 points)
Due Before 3:35 p.m. on 2/19.
Attendance/Participation: (100 points) : Groups of 2-3 will be assigned during the first week of classes. Each group will be responsible for coming up with discussion questions and for being extra-prepared to discuss the readings. (30 points) Presentations on research (20 points). Individual attendance/participation (50 points).
Breakdown of total possible points:
Research papers=250 points
Exams=200 points
Attendance/participation=100 points
Reaction paper= 25 points
Grading: 575 total points
517.5-575=A
460-517.4=B
402.5-459=C
345-458=D
0-457=F
Missed/Late Work policy
Research papers: Must be received before the beginning of class on the day they are due for full credit. If received by 5 p.m. on the day of the class the late penalty will be 15 points. Papers will be penalized 25 points for each late day until a hard copy is received by me.
Mid-term: Make-ups may be taken early if advance notice and a good reason are given. In order to take an exam after it is scheduled I need at least 24 hours advance notice and a very good (preferably documented reason).
Reaction paper=no late papers accepted for credit. All papers must be handed in prior to the start time of class on the day they are due.
Final: There are no make-ups for the final.
This syllabus is subject to revision at the instructor’s discretion to facilitate the educational process.
Week one: Jan 13-15
1/13: Introduction to course, Group assignments
1/15: Media and Democracy
Bennett chapter one, Graber #3, Sample Discussion questions
Week two: Jan 20-22
1/20: Media and Public opinion/ Discussion of Obama inauguration
Bennett chapter 3, Group 1
1/22: Media and Pubic Opinion
Graber #8,9,10,& 12 Group 2
Week three: Jan. 27 &29
1/27: Film on Fox News
1/29: Reaction paper due and discussion on Graber 9 and film
Week four: Feb 3 & 5
2/3: Guest Speaker: CNN assignment editor Chris Friedman: "inner workings of the news"
2/5: Ideology of Journalists/
Bennett chapters 5 &6 Group 3
Week 5: Feb 10 &12
2/10: Class will meet in the CSU library: "Research skills" : Lexis/Nexus/MLA
2/12: No Class "Independent Research day": Examining the coverage of Colin Powell’s February 5, 2003 presentation to the United Nations about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Look at 2 U.S. articles in either the Washington Post or the New York Times and compare the U.S. coverage to that of the British paper the
Guardian. What are the similarities and differences? Would Americans benefit or be harmed if our news was more like that of Great Britain? Cite your articles in MLA style, papers due: 2/19 by the beginning of class.
Week 6: Feb 17 &19
2/17: Content of News/ Is the New York Times biased? Bring a copy of the New York Times with class to you
Bennett chapter 2
2/19: Discussion of Powell papers/Media conglomeration, diversity, and democracy
Bennett chapter 7, Baker chapter 1 Group 4
Week 7: Feb 24 & 26
2/24: Conglomeration and Democracy continued/Framing paper topics due & discussed in class
2/26: Mid-term exams
Week 8: March 2 & 4
3/3: Market model vs. Baker’s analysis
Baker Chapter 2, Group 5
3/5: 2008 campaign & Obama’s honeymoon
March 10-12 No class spring break
Week 9: March 17-19
3/17: Media Abroad: Film Control Room
3/19: Film Control room and discussion
Graber #35/Bias paper topics due
Week 10: March 24-26
3/24: Framing Paper due: Presentations
3/26: Presentations continued
Week 11: March 31-April 2
3/31: Presentations completed
4/2: Bullying the Media?
Graber #5, 20, & 33 Group 6
Week 12: April 7-9
4/7: Guest Speaker Polly McKinney: "Political Advertisements"
Graber #13
4/9: Media and Election Outcomes
Graber #14-18 Group 7
Week 13: April 14-16
4/14: Bias Papers Due/Presentations
4/16: Presentations
Week 14: April 21-23
4/21: Presentations
4/23: Political actors and the press
Graber # 19, 21, 22, &23 Group 8
Week 15: April 28-30
4/28: Reforming the Media
Bennett Chapter 8, Baker chapter 5
Group 9
4/30: Conclude reforms/political humor shows
Week 16: May 5-11
Final Exam during the time/date scheduled by the university.
http://adminservices.clayton.edu/registrar/finals.htm