Communications Studies (COMS 335 L29)

Mass Communications and Canadian Society

 Spring 2008
Saturday: 8:00 A.M to 12:30 p.m.

Class dates:  May 3, 10, 24, 31; June 7, 14, 21, 28

NB:  No class May 17

 

Instructor:	Catherine Ford
E-Mail:	cford@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	By appointment if necessary

Additional Information

Contact instructor with questions by e-mail. Confirmation of assignments and/or readings will be sent out by group e-mail. Changes to the course outline will also be made by e-mail

Course Description

The course will offer a broad introduction to English-language mass media, both new and old, and will examine the roles they play in Canadian society and how they affect Canadian values.  Some of the theoretical research will be included, but the emphasis will be on understanding what exposure to the media does to society, community and the individual.  Media are carriers of social and cultural values and influence public opinion.  Class discussion will include ownership, content, bias (real or perceived), audiences and whether the media supports or undermines the status quo.

Objectives of the Course

Students should become aware of the different forms of media and how competing views of Canadian society shape our communities.  The course should develop and understanding of the relationship between different forms of communication and the audiences they serve and how essential it is to a democratic society to encourage of thriving media climate of differing opinions and attitudes.

Textbooks and Readings:

Mediascapes:  New Patterns in Canadian Communication edited by Paul Attalah and Leslie Regan Shade (Second edition 2006; Thomson Nelson)

 

Selected readings for COMS 335 L29 bound by U of C bookstore.

Assignments and Evaluation

           A term paper (the terms of which will be outlined during the first class) will be due June 7 and will account for 40 percent of your final mark. 

           The final exam will be two hours long (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) June 28 and will account for 40 percent of your final mark.

           Two multiple-choice quizzes will each be worth 10 percent of the final mark and will be held May 31 and June 14. 

           It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

           Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  Yes

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: http://www.efwr.ucalgary.ca/

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Research Ethics site: http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics

or the University of Calgary Research Ethics site: http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

NB:  May be changed, but students will be notified by e-mail if lectures and/or readings are substituted for what follows.

 

Class 1:  May 3

 

TOPICS:   Introductions and expectations

                 Objectives and term work 

                Discussion of readings:  Rutherford and Vipond

                Film on Marshall McLuhan and his work

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

             Answer questions at end of  Chapters 1 and 2

              Part II of textbook:  Audiences and Markets - Introduction and Chapter 3, The Audience

              Answer questions at end of chapter 3

               Prepare for discussion on public vs. private radio by listening to both; prepare for discussion on public vs. private television by watching both.     

 Class 2:  May 10

 TOPICS: Review/questions from readings Rutherford and Vipond

         Textbook Chapters 1 and 2 questions

         Part II of textbook:  Introduction and Chapter 3:  The Audience

         Audiences and Markets

         Whom do you trust?

         Radio and television in Canada: Private vs. public

         Is there bias in reporting among different outlets?

         Film:  The Politics Of Truth

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

         Textbook: Chapter 7 (p. 114) Women and The Media

         Chapter 18 (p. 302) Race(ing) The Nation: Media and Minorities

         Chapter 4: (p 62) Sipping Starbucks

         Chapter 5:  Good Kids/Bad Kids:  What's a Culture To Do?

         Chapter 6:  Youth Violence, Moral Panic and the Canadian Media

         Answer questions at end of chapters.

 

CLASS 3:  May 24     

TOPICS: Audiences and Markets

         Whom do you trust?

         Radio and television in Canada Access vs. PBS similarities and differences

         Private vs. public CBC-Radio vs. CHQR similarities and differences

         Is there bias in reporting among different outlets?

         Discussion: Chapter 5:  Good Kids/Bad Kids:  What's a Culture To Do?

         Chapter 6:  Youth Violence, Moral Panic and the Canadian Media: News Coverage of School Shootings in the United States and Canada

         Questions from Chapter 4: Sipping Starbucks

         Why coffee?

         Questions from Chapter 7 : Women and The Media

         Gender bias:  Does it exist?

         How are women and men treated differently in mass media?

         Questions from Chapter 18:  Race(ing) The Nation

         What about minorities?

         FILM: Voice of Women:  First Thirty Years

          

ASSIGNMENTS:

         Chapter 10 (p. 163) "Pirates," Peers and Popular Music

         Chapter 9 The Film Industry In Canada (p 148);

         Answer questions at end of chapters

         Read Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun, compare and contrast

         Read National Post and Globe and Mail, compare and contrast

         Readings: The End of News (2 parts) pages 113 to 128 Part III:

          

Class 4:  May 31

TOPICS: Quiz on work to date

         Compare and contrast newspapers

         Discuss newspapers as old media and the status quo

         Questions from Chapter 9:  The Film Industry in Canada

         Questions from Chapter 10:  Pirates, Peers & Popular Music

         Film: Game Over:  Gender, Race and Violence in Video Games

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

         Readings pages 77 to 90 Bill Hilf       

         Textbook Part III:  Communication Industries

         Chapter 8:  Radio in Canada; An industry In Transition

         Chapter 11:  Television in Canada

         Chapter 19 First People's Television in Canada's North

         Answer questions at end of chapters

 

Class 5:  June 7    TERM PAPERS DUE TODAY

TOPICS:

         Television as communication.

         Does television actually reflect our society?

         Does appearance triumph over brains?

         Is it possible to tackle the tough questions on television? If not, why not. If yes, how?

         Questions from Chapter 8:  Radio in Canada

         Questions from Chapter 11:  Television in Canada

         Questions from Chapter 19:  First People's Television

         What are the stereotypes confirmed by television and do other media reinforce or seek to shatter the stereotypes?

         Guest: David Gray, anchor CBC  Newsworld News Today and former anchor of CBC Calgary News

ASSIGNMENTS:

         Chapter 12:  Advertising in Canada

          Textbook Part IV New Media Introduction

         Chapter 13:  Alternative Media

         Chapter 14 New Media

         Chapter 15 Privacy and New Media

         Chapter 16 Intellectual Property

         Readings:  Pages 73 to 90

         Readings: Dean Jobb pages 21 to 42

         Review Need To Know questions

        

Class 6:  June 14

         Second quiz on work to date

         Law and the media

         Culture of punishment

         Do media outlets tell the truth?

         Can you say/write whatever you please?     

         Review questions at end of Chapter 13:  Alternative Media

         Part IV:  New Media with introduction by Leslie Shade

         Chapters 14:  New Media

         Chapter 15:  Privacy and New Media

         Chapter 12:  Advertising in Canada

         Chapter 16:  Intellectual Property Rights and Copyright Issues in the Global Economy

         GUEST:  Dr.  Tom Keenan, Faculty of Environmental Design

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

         Part V -Social and Policy Issues Introduction

         Chapter 17: Globalization, Transnational Communication and Diaspora

         Chapter 20:  Boundaries Blurred:  The Mass Media and Politics in a Hyper-Media Age

         Chapter 21:  O Canada:  Media (De) Convergence, Concentration and Culture

 

Class 7:  June 21

TOPICS:

         Media and communications

         How well do we understand "communication?"

         How do you think you are perceived in our society?

         What message do you communicate to friends/family/co-         workers/employers?

         Questions at end of Chapter 20:  Boundaries Blurred:  The Mass Media and Politics in a Hyper-Media Age

         Chapter 21:  O Canada:  Media (De)Convergence, Concentration and Culture

         Film:  Media and society:  Cultural Sovereignty/ Shaping information

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

         Review Need To Know Questions

         NB:  You must bring your student ID to be admitted to the final exam.  The exam, Saturday June 28 in PF 118, will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 10 a.m.