Communication Studies (COMS) 40303 - Lecture 01
Special Topics in Media Studies
Terrorism and the News Media
Fall 2007
Wednesday 16:00 - 18:50

Instructor:	Dr. Robert Bergen
Office Location:	MLT 701J
Office Phone:	220-8838
E-Mail:	rbergen@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	N/A
Office Hours:	Wednesday 13:30 - 15:30

Course Description

This is a survey course in news media theory concentrating on selected theories pertaining to news media coverage of terrorism and terrorist events.  Its intention is to introduce students to competing theories, approaches and specific issues in the field and to encourage critical thinking about terrorism as reported in the news media. 

Objectives of the Course

You should leave the course with an advanced appreciation of the broad epistemological, theoretical and methodological issues involved in understanding the news media's reporting of terrorism and should be able to discuss them readily.

Textbooks and Readings

The course is composed largely of readings drawn from a variety of sources: texts, edited texts and collections, journals, on-line publications, Canadian government documents and Internet resources. The collection of reading materials is available in the COMS section of the University bookstore.  These are intended primarily as background readings.  Students will be expected to read outside the background material on.  (Helpful hint:  Many of the assigned readings have substantial bibliographies.)

The Canadian Journal of Communication online has several of articles with significant theme issues on the news media and terrorism, also with substantial bibliographies. Among them is:

Cohen-Almagor, Raphael. "The Terrorists' Best Ally: The FLQ Media Coverage of the FLQ Crisis in October 1970." The Canadian Journal of Communication. Vol. 25, No. 2 (2000).

NB. Many journals are now available online and, in the future, some will only be available online.  Suggested additional readings are found at the end of this document

Assignments and Evaluation

Research paper proposal *

Research paper **                                                                40 per cent

Group Presentation and critique ***                                    35 per cent

Class participation                                                                  5 per cent

Final Exam (take home) ****                                                20 per cent

* Due: Oct. 3.

** Due: Nov. 21.

*** Weekly, beginning Oct. 3: Group members by sign up on Blackboard by Sept. 19.

**** Handed out Dec. 5: due Dec. 19.

Group Presentation and Critiques:

The group presentations require a 20-minute presentation on specific terrorism events and issues as reported in the news media that illustrates a consensual theoretical approach or approaches to selected terrorist incidents acts which have received extensive news media coverage.  The presentations should be based on a collaborative written text of 10 to 12 pages (double-spaced, not including bibliography) copies of which will made available one week in advance to each student in the critique group as set out below in the schedule of lectures and readings.  The text should explain the topic, its significance, the theoretical approach taken and what we should make of its findings.  Each student involved in the creation of the paper ought to take part in some part of its presentation. 

Each student who has received an advance copy of the presentation will write an original, not collaborative, critique of three (3) to five (5) pages on the text provided in advance of the presentation.  Copies of the written critique will be provided to the instructor and the presentation group the day of the associated presentation.  Each student who has prepared a critique will be required to present it after the group presentation.  The intent is not for the critique to find fault with the presentations or attempt to demonstrate superior knowledge, but, rather, to advance or elaborate upon the presentation or present alternate ways of thinking.  The aim is to inspire mature and sophisticated classroom discussion and debate in a civilized and enlightened atmosphere. (Hint: These discussions will provide excellent opportunities to boost class-participation grades).

The group presentation will be worth 30 per cent of the final grade, and the critiques five (5) per cent.

Research Paper:

Appropriate subjects can include the relevance or irrelevance of a theoretical approach or the merits of competing theoretical approaches to the news media's coverage of a specific terrorist event or multiple events.  For example, one theoretical approach may provide a more appropriate way to understand or critique the news media's coverage of a terrorist event than another.  Students are also encouraged to develop other relevant topics of their own, but general topics of the research papers should be discussed with and approved by the instructor.  To that end: A two-page written research proposal will be required.  In the interest of encouraging original thinking, students should be aware there are many theories of news media coverage which are not examined extensively in this survey course, but which are found in the course's additional sources. 

It is expected that students will incorporate an original examination of news media coverage of an event or events.  The examination need not be an empirical study; a qualitative examination will suffice.  The event(s) may have been one that was or will be involved in one of the group presentations, but MAY NOT involve the one in your group presentation.  Given the nature of the data bases available and the university's library resources, this study will necessarily be limited to print news media coverage.  The research paper should be not less than 12-typed double-spaced pages and normally not more than fifteen 15-typed double-spaced pages in length, exclusive of endnotes (not footnotes) and bibliography.  Like the group presentation papers, the research paper's text should explain its topic, its significance, the theoretical approach taken and what we should make of its findings. 

The research paper is worth 40 per cent of the final grade.

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:  No

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: 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 U of C Research Ethics "Information for Applicants," sections 3.0 to 9.0, inclusive: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/research/html/ethics/info_undergrad.html

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

The course begins with a focus on issues arising in broad epistemological and methodological approaches found in the literature on terrorism and the news media.  It turns to several schools of thought about the news media its coverage of terrorism with readings examining the competing theories of news media coverage.  While it is the intention to proceed in a logical manner, students should anticipate the extent to which material in any particular week may refer backward or forward, as well.

SEPTEMBER 12: Introduction

            This is purely an introductory and organizational meeting.  No readings are required.

SEPTEMBER 19: Terrorism and its Modern Origins

Wohlstetter, Albert. "The Delicate Balance of Terror." P-1472 Rand Corporation. Revised December 1958.

Movie: Dr. Strangelove

SEPTEMBER 26: News media theory and its critics

Herman, Edward S. and Chomsky, Noam. Manufacturing Consent: the Political Economy of the Mass Media (New York; Pantheon Books, 2002) "A Propaganda Model" pp. 1 - 35.

Winter, James. Lies the Media tell Us (Montreal: Black Rose Books, 2007) "How it works." pp. 1 - 59.

Movie: October

Group paper for Oct. 3 due.  Dec. 5 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

OCTOBER 3: War; Just War; Terrorism and the News Media - Welcome to October

Walzer, Michael.  Just and Unjust Wars (New York: Basic Books, 1977) "The Crime of War" pp. 21 - 47; "Terrorism" pp. 197 - 206.

Conflict, Terrorism and the Media in Asia.  Cole, Benjamin, ed. (London: Routledge, 2006) pp. 5 - 22.

Student Group Presentations begin: The October Crisis - 1970 (Canada). Dec. 5 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Oct. 10 due. October 3 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

OCTOBER 10: A Working Journalist's Perspective

Canada. Department of National Defence. OP ATHENA - MEDIA EMBED PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONS. February 2007.

Guest speaker: Bill Graveland - Broadcast News, the Canadian Press

Student Group Presentation: Daniel Pearl's kidnapping, Feb. 1, 2002.  Oct. 3 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Oct. 17 due. Oct. 10 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

OCTOBER 17: Epistemology of the News and Canada's worst terrorist event

Johnson-Cartee, Karen S. News Narratives and News Framing (Lanham: Rowman & Littefield Publishers, Inc.; 2005) "The Social Construction of Reality" pp. 1 - 41.

Wolfsfeld, Gadi.  Media and Political Conflict (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997) "Introduction" pp. 1 -5; "The structural dimension: the struggle over access" pp. 13 - 30; "The cultural dimension: the struggle over meaning" pp. 31 -55. 

Student Group Presentation: Air India Flight 182, June 23, 1985. Oct. 10 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Oct. 24 due.  Oct. 17 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

OCTOBER 24: Terrorism, the News Media and Oklahoma City

Juergensmeyer, Mark.  Terror in the Mind of God (Berkeley: University of California Press. 2003) "Theatre of Terror" pp. 121 - 147. 

Gutman, Stephanie.  The other War (San Francisco: Encounter Books, 2005) "Al-Dura - A case Study." pp. 39 - 83. 

Student Group Presentation: Okalahoma City bombing - April 19, 1995.  Oct. 17 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Oct. 31 due.  Oct. 24 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

OCTOBER 31: The Balkan Powder Keg

Carruthers, Susan L.  The Media at War (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000) "Media and Terrorism" pp. 163 - 195. 

Hachten, William A. and Scotton, James F. The World News Prism: Global Media in an Era of Terrorism, 6^th ed. (Ames: Iowa State Press, 2002) "War on Terrorism Challenges News Media" pp. 15 - 27.

Student Group Presentation: The Srebrenica Massacre -July 12-18, 1995. Oct. 17 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Nov. 7 due.  Oct. 31 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

NOVEMBER 7: Osama bin Laden Who?

Nacos, Bridgette L.  Terrorism and the Media (New York: Columbia University Press: 1994) "Terrorism, the Media and Foreign Policy" pp. 16 - 47.

Nacos, Brigette L. Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding Threats and Responses in the Post-9/11 World (New York: Pearson Longman, 2006. "Terror and Hate in Cyberspace" pp. 226 - 243.

Student Group Presentation: U.S. Embassy bombings, August 7, 1998. Oct. 17 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Nov. 14 due.  Nov. 7 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

NOVEMBER 14: Osama again?

Media, War and Terrorism: Responses from the Middle East and Asia. Peter van der Veer and Munshi, Shoma eds. (London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004) "Television in the United States from 9/11 and the US's continuing ‘War on Terror' pp. 46 - 60.

Nacos, Brigette L. Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding Threats and Responses in the Post-9/11 World (New York: Pearson Longman, 2006. "Terrorist Propaganda and the Media."  pp. 206 - 223; "Publicity universal terrorist goal or not; "Anti- and Counter-Terrorism in the News" pp. 244 - 258.

Student Group Presentation: USS Cole Bombing - Oct. 12, 1998.  Nov. 7 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Nov. 21 due.  Nov. 14 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

NOVEMBER 21: Sept. 11 (Part 1) - So much more than Bob Bergen's birthday

Kuypers, Jim. A. Bush's War: Media Bias and Justifications for War in a Terrorist Age (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006) "President Bush Speaks to the United Nations, November 2001" pp. 35 - 49.

Framing American Politics. Callaghan, Karen and Schnell, Frauke eds. (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2005) "Terrorism, Media Frames, and Framing Effects: A macro- and Microlevel Analysis." pp. 123 - 147

Student Group Presentation: 9/11. Nov. 14 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Nov. 28 due.  Nov. 21 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

NOVEMBER 28: (Sept. 11 Part II) - bin Laden just keeps on giving

Wilkinson, Paul. "The Media and Terrorism: A Reassessment." Terrorism and Political Violence. Frank Cass, London. Vol. 9. No. 2. (Summer, 1997), pp. 51 - 64.

Lockyear, Adam. "The Relationship between the Media and Terrorism" The Australian National University, 2003. pp. 1 - 6.

Group presentation: Bin Laden targets Canada - November 15, 2002.  Nov. 21 presentation group critiques.

Group paper for Dec. 5 due.  Nov. 28 presentation group and instructor receive copies.

DECEMBER 5: What? Wohlstetter again? Should we laugh or cry?

United States Institute of Peace. Special Report. "http://www.terror.net/  How Modern Terrorism Uses the Internet." March 2004.  

Student Group Presentation: Iran's nuclear weapons.  Nov. 21 presentation group critiques.

Take Home Exam distributed.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

Bain, George. Gotcha. (Toronto: Key Porter Books Limited, 1994)

Bennett, Lance W. and Paletz, David L., eds. Taken By Storm: The Media, Public Opinion and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Gulf War. Bennett, W. Lance and Paletz, David L., eds. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994)

 

---, "Toward a Theory of Press-State Relations in the United States." Journal of

       Communications. Vol. 40. No. 2. Spring 1990. pp. 103-126.

 

---, and Manheim, Jarol. B. "Taking the Public by Storm: Information, Cuing, and the

       Democratic Process in the Gulf Conflict." Political Communication. Vol. 10.

       Number 4, 1993. pp. 331-351.

 

Cohen, Bernard in In Shaw, Donald L. and McCombs, Maxwell E. The Emergence of American Political Issues: The Agenda-Setting Function of the Press (St. Paul: West Publishing Co., 1977)

 

Edelman, Murray.  Constructing the Political Spectacle (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1988)

 

---, Political Language: Words that Succeed and Policies that Fail (New York:

       Academic Press, 1977)

 

---, Politics as Symbolic Action (Chicago: Markham Publishing Company, 1971).

 

Erickson, Richard V. et. al. Visualizing Deviance: A Study of News Organization (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1987)

 

Fialka, John J. Hotel Warriors: covering the Gulf War (Washington: The Woodrow Wilson Centre Press, 1992)

 

Hackett, Robert. News and Dissent: the Press and the Politics of Peace in Canada (Norwood: Ablex Publishing Corporation, 1995)

 

Hackett, Robert A. and Gruneau, Richard et. al. The Missing News: Filters and Blind Spots in Canada's Press (Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2000)

 

Hackett, Robert; Pinet, Richard and Ruggles, Myles. "News for Whom. Hegemony and Monopoly versus Democracy in Canadian Media." In Seeing Ourselves: Media Power and Policy in Canada. 2^nd ed. Holmes, Helen and Taras, David, eds. (Toronto: Harcourt Brace & Company, Canada, 1996)

 

Hallin, Daniel C. The "Uncensored War" The Media and Vietnam (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989)

 

---, and Gitlin, Todd. "Agon and Ritual: The Gulf War as Popular Culture and as

      Television Drama." Political Communication. Vol. 10. 1993. pp. 411-424.

 

Keshen, Jeffrey A. Propaganda and Censorship during Canada's Great War (Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 1996)

 

Kirton, John. "National Mythology and Media Coverage: Mobilizing Consent for Canada's War in the Gulf" Political Communication. Vol. 10. Number 4. 1993. pp. 425-441.

 

Kitfield, James. "Lessons from Kosovo: Bad things happen when the media and the military butt heads yet again." Media Studies Journal. Summer 2001. Vol. 15, No. 1.pp. 34-39.

 

Lang, Kurt and Lang, Gladys Engel. "The Mass Media and Voting." In Janowitz, Morris and Hirsch, Paul, M. eds. Reader in Public Opinion and Mass Communication, 3^rd ed. (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1981)

 

McCombs, Maxwell E. "Newspapers vs Television: Mass Communication Effects Across Time." In Shaw, Donald L. and McCombs, Maxwell E. The Emergence of American Political Issues: The Agenda-Setting Function of the Press (St. Paul: West Publishing Co., 1977)

 

---, Einsiedel, Edna and Weaver, David. Contemporary Public Opinion (Hillsdale,

       Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1991)

 

Miller, John.  Yesterday's News:  Why Canada's Daily Newspapers are Failing Us (Halifax: Fernwood Publishing, 1998)

 

Morrison, David E. and Tumber, Howard. Journalists at War: the Dynamics of News Reporting during the Falklands Conflict (London: Sage Publications Ltd., 1988)

 

Norris, Pippa, et. al. eds. Framing Terrorism: The News Media, the Government and the Public (New York: Routledge, 2003)

 

Paletz, David L. and Schmid, Alex P. eds. Terrorism and the Media (Newbury Park: Sage Publications Inc; 1992)

 

Rosen, Jay. What are journalists for? (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999)

 

Winter, James. Democracy's Oxygen: How Corporations Control the News (Montreal: Black Rose Books, 1997)

 

Wolfsfeld, Gadi. Media and political conflict: News from the Middle East (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997)