COMM494 F13 CALENDAR
This calendar is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Changes will be announced
in class and posted by LHUP email.
It is the student’s responsibility to check LHUP frequently, and to get assignments from
classmates for any missed classes.
WEEK 1: INTROS
Tuesday (8-27)
In class:
-- Student intros
-- Course intro
Next assignment:
--- Read course syllabus on my blog (wheato.wordpress.com)
-- Set up your personal blog and email the URL to me
(See “Blogging” on wheato.wordpress.com)
-- Log into turnitin.com and set up your account
(Class ID number TBA)
-- Blog 400 to 500 words on “What the First Amendment Means to Me”
(Due on your blog AND on turnitin.com by 8 a.m. Thursday, 8-29)
Thursday (8-29)
In class:
-- Blog due by 8 a.m.
-- Get group assignments and exchange contact info
-- Discuss syllabus
-- Show & tell: Truthiness / Wikiality
-- Group exercise
Next assignment:
-- Blog: Comment on your group mates’ blogs
(Due on their blog and (collected together) on turnitin.com by 8 a.m. Tuesday, 9-2)
-- Read Chapter 2: The First Amendment
-- Prepare for quiz on The First Amendment
WEEK 2: THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Tuesday (9-3)
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 2: The First Amendment
-- Discuss The First Amendment
-- Next assignment:
-- Revise, rewrite and re-post your last blog
(Due on your blog and on turnitin.com by 8 a.m. Thursday, 9-5)
-- Read Chapter 6: Privacy
-- Prepare for quiz on Chapter 6
Thursday (9-5)
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 6
-- Discuss Chapter 6
-- Discuss blogs
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 3: Disruptive Speech
-- Prepare for Quiz on Disruptive Speech
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WEEK 3: DISRUPTIVE SPEECH
Tuesday (9-10)
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 3
-- Discuss Chapter 3
(Focus on Patriot Act)
Next assignment:
-- Review links on NSA leaks/Eric Snowden on my blog
Thursday (9-12)
In class:
-- Discuss NSA Leaks/Eric Snowden case
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 4: Libel (The Plaintiff’s Case)
-- Prepare for Quiz on Libel (The Plaintiff’s Case)
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WEEK 4: LIBEL
Tuesday (9-17)
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 4
-- Discuss Chapter 4
(Focus on meaning of libel, slander, defamation)
-- Discuss NY Times v. Sullivan
Next assignment:
-- Study Boston Bombing coverage on my blog
Thursday (9-19)
In class:
– Discuss Boston Bombing coverage by New & Old Media\
-- Get specs for first analytical paper
(Due 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 on your blog and on turnitin)
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 5: Libel (Defenses and Privileges)
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WEEK 5: LIBEL DEFENSES and PRIVILEGES
Tuesday (9-24)
In class:
-- Quiz on Defenses and Privileges
-- Discuss Defenses and Privileges
Next assignment:
-- Review 60 Minutes/Jeffrey Wigand links on my blog
Thursday (9-26)
In class:
-- Discuss -- 60 Minutes/Jeffrey Wigand
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 8: Newsgathering
-- Prepare for quiz on Newsgathering
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WEEK 6
Tuesday (10-1)
In class:
-- Quiz on Newsgathering
-- Discuss Newsgathering
Next assignment:
-- Continue working on analytical paper
Thursday (10-3)
In class:
-- Discuss Newsgathering
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 9: Reporter’s Privilege
-- Prepare for quiz on Privilege
-- Finish analytical paper
Due by 8 a.m. Tuesday (10-8) on your blog and on turnitin
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WEEK 7
***** Tuesday (10-8) NO CLASS/ HAPPY FALL DAY! *****
Thursday (10-10)
In class:
-- Analytical paper due by 8 a.m. on your blog and on turnitin
-- Quiz on Privilege
-- Discuss Privilege
-- Get specs for second analytical paper
Next assignment:
-- Start on second analytical paper
Due by 8 a.m. Tuesday, 10-29, on your blog and on turnitin.com
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WEEK 8
Tuesday (10-15): (End mid-semester)
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 9
-- Discuss Privilege
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 11: Electronic Media
-- Prepare for quiz on Chapter 11
Thursday (10-17)
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 14 Electronic Media
-- Discuss Electronic Media
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 13: Intellectual Property
-- Prepare for quiz on Intellectual Property
WEEK 9: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/ADVERTISING
Tuesday (10-22)
In class:
-- Quiz on Intellectual Property
-- Discuss Intellectual Property
Next Assignment:
-- Read Chapter 14: Advertising
-- Prepare for Quiz on Chapter 14
Thursday (10-24)
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 14 Advertising
-- Discuss Advertising
-- Show & Tell: Madmen
Next assignment:
-- Read The Elements of Journalism Chapter 1 (What is Journalism for?)
-- Finish second analytical paper
Due by 8 a.m. Tuesday, 10-29, on your blog and on turnitin.com
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WEEK 10: JOURNALISM and ETHICS
Tuesday (10-29)
In class:
-- Second analytical paper due by 8 a.m. on your blog and on turnitin.com
-- Discuss What is Journalism for?
-- Get specs for final project
-- Group presentations run on Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 5, Dec. 12
-- In-class workshops run Nov. 14 and Nov. 21
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 2 (The Truth: The First and Most Confusing Principle)
-- Prepare for quiz on Chapter 2
-- Start work on final project
Thursday (10-31)
Nothing but the Truth?
In Class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 2 Truth: The First and Most Confusing Principle
-- Discuss Truth: The First and Most Confusing Principle
Next assignment:
-- Read Chapter 4 (Journalism of Verification)
-- Watch "All The President's Men"
-- Prepare for quiz prep on Chapter 4 and All The President’s Men
Study cast of Watergate characters on my blog
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WEEK 11: JOURNALISM of VERIFICATION
Tuesday (11-5): Woodstein's investigative tactics
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 4 and All The President’s Men
-- Discuss “All The President’s Men”
-- Discuss Journalism of Verification
Next assignment:
-- Work on final project
Thursday (11-7) Anonymous Sources
In class:
-- Discuss Deep Throat and grand-jury gaffe
-- Final project workshop
Next assignments:
-- Read Chapter 6 (Monitor Power and Offer Voice to the Powerless)
-- Watch “Good Night and Good Luck” (93 min.)
-- Prep for quiz on Chapter 6 and “Good Night and Good Luck”
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WEEK 12: MONITOR POWER / GIVE VOICE to the VOICELESS
Tuesday (11-12) “Good Night and Good Luck”
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 6 and “Good Night and Good Luck”
-- Discus “Good Night and Good Luck”
Next assignments:
-- Continue work on final projects
Thursday (11-14) Final Project Workshop
In class:
-- Final project workshop
Next assignments:
-- Read Chapter 7 (Journalism as a Public Forum)
-- Watch "Absence of Malice"
-- Prep for Quiz on Chapter 7 and "Absence of Malice" (133 min.)
-- Continue work on final project
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WEEK 13: JOURNALISM AS A PUBLIC FORUM
Tuesday (11-19) “Absence of Malice”
In class:
-- Quiz on Chapter 7 and "Absence of Malice"
-- Discuss “Absence of Malice”
Next assignments:
-- Continue work on final project
Thursday (11-21) Final Project Workshop
In class:
-- Final project workshop
Next assignment:
-- Continue work on final project
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WEEK 14 FINAL PROJECTS BEGIN
Tuesday (11-26)
In class:
-- Two groups present final projects
Next assignment:
-- Finish final projects
***** Thursday (11-28) NO CLASS / HAPPY THANKSGIVING! *****
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WEEK 15: FINAL PROJECTS CONTINUE
Tuesday (12-3)
In class:
-- Two groups present final projects
Next assignment:
-- Finish final projects
Thursday (12-5)
In class:
-- Two groups present final projects
Next assignment:
-- Remaining group finish final projects
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WEEK 16: FINAL EXAM PERIOD
Thursday Dec. 12
8:00 to 9:50 a.m.
Room 606 Robinson
-- Present remaining final projects
-- Semester wrap-up
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