I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
VI- Historical and Cultural Studies
Dept/Program
Journalism
Course #
100
Course Title
Prerequisite
3
Media History and Literacy
none
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Phone / Email
Date
9-09-09
Ray Fanning
4747
ray.fanning@umontana.edu
Program Chair
Carol Van Valkenburg
Dean
Peggy Kuhr
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory and
foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course content to students’
future lives: See Preamble: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
Jour 100 is an introduction to the history, development and cultural impact of the eight mass media. It also
emphasizes the importance of the First Amendment and journalism in a democratic society. The course
examines content and how the delivery of that content has shaped our world. And, it includes a look at law,
ethics and politics as they relate to media. The course encourages students to become smart consumers of
media, and to understand and analyze their effects on different cultures in the United States and around the
world.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Courses teach students how to: present
ideas and information with a view to
understanding the causes, development,
and consequences of historical events;
evaluate texts or artifacts within their
historical and/or cultural contexts; and
analyze human behavior, ideas, and
institutions within their respective
historical and/or cultural contexts.
Students learn how history has shaped and developed the
media and in turn how the media have helped shape history
across centuries and across cultures. The class surveys the
development of mass communication from the printing press
in 15th Century to the Internet and social media in the 21st
Century. And, it analyzes how culture and society are
intimately linked to methods of communication. That
communication ranges from journalism, to advertising, to
entertainment, to propaganda.
The historical development of the eight mass media makes
The course justification should explain
up the foundation of the class. It also focuses on how the
the approach and focus with respect to its evolution of communication has affected the development of
chronological, geographical, and/or
world cultures.
topical content. A methodological
component (e.g. historiography or
ethnography) must be apparent.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning goals.
See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
1. Synthesize ideas and information with Students come away from the class with an understanding of
how and why the eight mass media developed, and the roles
a view to understanding the causes and
consequences of historical developments they have played, and continue to play, in world history,
culture and democracy.
and events;
2. Evaluate texts or artifacts within their
historical and/or cultural contexts;
3. Analyze human behavior, ideas, and
institutions within their respective
historical and/or cultural contexts
The class exposes students to numerous examples of mass
media, including extensive readings, and audio, video and
film clips. It also requires them to analyze these works in
their historical, cultural and political contexts.
Students improve their media literacy and learn how to think
critically about mass communication.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus should clearly
describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation see:
http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
The University of Montana
School of Journalism
Missoula, MT 59812
JOUR 100 –
Media History and Literacy
Syllabus - Fall 2010 (subject to change)
Scope: This is a survey course of the eight mass media—newspapers, magazines, books, television, radio,
movies, audio recordings, and the World Wide Web. It also includes an introduction to media literacy and the
profession of journalism. The course traces the historical development of mass media from the invention of the
printing press in 15th century Germany to the explosion of the Internet around the world in the 21st century. It
also examines how media have helped shape history, culture and government in the United States and other
countries. Students will learn basic critical thinking and media literacy skills to help them become smart media
consumers.
Grading options: This course must be taken for a traditional letter-grade. No credit grading is not permitted.
The Montana University System’s plus/minus grading system will be used in this class.
Class meets Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:10-4:30 p.m., in GBB 106.
Frequency of Offering: This course is offered autumn and spring semesters.
Instructor: Ray Fanning, Assistant Professor, School of Journalism, Radio-Television Department.
Teaching Assistant: Melissa Jensen, Journalism School graduate student.
Office: Don Anderson Hall 409
Office hours are 8:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’m also available at other times by appointment.
Office phone: 243-4747.
My regular e-mail: ray.fanning@umontana.edu. Melissa’s e-mail melissa1.jensen@umontana.edu.
Required textbook: The Media of Mass Communication, 9th Edition, by Prof. John Vivian of Winona State
University in Minnesota. The UC Bookstore has this book. Read the assigned chapters before class.
Examinations occur on February 25, March 25, and May 11. Midterm 1 covers the course up to that date.
Midterm 2 covers the course since Midterm 1. The final covers the remainder of the course. Exams cover
lecture material, including main points from the video clips shown in class, plus corresponding textbook
chapters. Exams are machine-graded multiple-choice.
Successful Jour 100 students will:




Demonstrate an understanding of how and why the eight mass media developed, and the roles
they have played in global history, culture and democracy.
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of journalism in a free society.
Analyze the historical, cultural and political impact of selected readings, photographs and audio,
video and film clips.
Develop media literacy through critical thinking.
Course Grading
Attendance
First Midterm exam
Second Midterm exam
Final exam
Final essay
A/AB+/B/BC+/C/CD
F
10%
25%
25%
25%
15%
90-100
80-90
70-80
60-70
Below 70
No student may pass the course without taking all three exams.
Attendance and participation: Come to class and stay for the entire class period. We cover vast amounts
of material. A good portion of each lecture is video material that cannot be repeated. Most video clips shown in
class are not available in the library. Several times during the semester I will give you short,
topical writing assignments that will count toward your attendance grade. I will not
announce the dates of these assignments in advance. You will have about ten minutes to
complete the assignment. Be sure to write legibly and put your name on each assignment.
you have questions, talk to me after class, visit during office hours, or email or telephone me personally.
Cell phones must be off or on vibrate while you are in class and must be off and totally out of your sight during
examinations. Do not answer a call during class.
Academic Honesty
I expect your honesty in presenting your own work for this course. Academic misconduct at The University of
Montana is subject to an academic penalty ranging from failing the assignment to expulsion from the
university. Students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code.
http://www.umt.edu/SA/VPSA/index.cfm/page/1321
Class-by-Class Topics and Assignments
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Tuesday
Thursday
Aug 31 - Course Overview: Class requirements and general
goals of the course. Buy your textbook and read Ch 1 and 2.
Sept 2 – Introduction to Media: The mass media and their
power.
Sept 7 – Books: Read Ch. 3. How the invention of moveable
type in Germany in 1440 led to a revolution in
communication. How books and publishing have developed
from Gutenberg’s Bible to e-books.
Sept 14 - Newspaper History: From England’s “Oxford
Gazette” in the 17th Century, to America’s “Penny Press”
and “Yellow Journalism” in the 19th Century, to the pressure
the Internet has put on newspapers in the 21st Century.
Sept 9 - Journalism and the First Amendment: Read Ch
11 & 4. History and traditions of journalism from licensing
of printing presses in England to the First Amendment in
the United States.
Sept 16- Photojournalism: From the emergence of
photography in journalism during the Civil War to the
influence of photographers like Ansel Adams, Alfred
Eisenstaedt, Margaret Bourke-White and others. Also a
look at the role of photographers in covering news around
the world, especially in combat areas.
Sept 23- Recording Industry: Read Ch 14 & 6. From
piano rolls and the invention of the phonograph in the 19th
Century, to records, juke boxes and the digital transition to
CDs in the 20th Century, to MP3s ipods and other digital
developments in the 21st Century.
Sept 30- MIDTERM EXAM #1:
Bring a No. 2 pencil. We provide the answer card.
Sept 21- Magazines: Read Ch 5. From the emergence of
magazines in the 18th Century, to the general-interest
magazines of the 19th Century, to muckraking and
demassification in the 20th Century.
Sept 28- Oct 7 - Motion Picture Industry: Read Ch 7.
From the beginnings of film in the 18th Century, to the
invention of movie cameras in the 19th Century, to silent
pictures, sound, color and the studio system in the 20th
Century, to digitalization in the 21st Century.
Oct 5 - Radio: Read Ch 8. From Marconi’s work in
Germany and England in the 19th Century, to commercial
AM and FM radio and its regulation and deregulation in the
20th Century, to satellite radio in the 21st Century.
Oct 12 - Television continued: Power of pictures. The
legacy of Edward R. Murrow. Murrow vs. McCarthy.
Harvest of Shame. Line between entertainment and news
(infotainment). Problems of 24-hour news channels. Bias
charges
Begin showing “Goodnight and Good Luck” a film about
Edward R. Murrow
Oct 19 - World Wide Web: Read Ch 10. The development
of the Internet beginning with ARPAnet in the United States
in 1960s, to the Tim Berners-Lee’s work in Switzerland that
created the World Wide Web in 1989. Fiber optics.
Protocols that make the Web work. The Internet’s “killer
application.” Browsers. Emergence of social media in the
21st Century.
Oct 26 - Global Media, Politics/Governance: Read Ch 17
and18. Cultural imperialism. How Hollywood plays in the
Oct 7- Television: Read Ch 9. The battle over who
invented television between American Philo Farnsworth
and Russian Vladimir Zworykin in the early 20th Century
through the first broadcasts, the developments of networks,
cable and satellite television, and the digital transition in the
21st Century.
Oct 14 - Finish “Goodnight and Good Luck”
Oct 21 – Web News, Information, Blogs and Issues: The
Web as a commercially viable news distributor. Blogging
as “citizen journalism.” Impact of blogging on current
events around the world- Iran elections and Twitter.
Oct 28 - Media Law and Ethics: Read Ch 19 and 20.
Camera in the court arguments. Prior restraint. Libel
Muslim world. Al Jazeera, China etc. Worldwide media
empires. Censorship and media control around the world.
Nov 2- No Class- Election Day
definition and defenses. Historic ethics traditions.
Objectivity vs. fairness, photo manipulation.
Nov 9 – News
Nov 11 –No Class- Veterans Day
Literacy 1: Evaluating news stories
and sources, the difference between opinion and
news, VNRs, news bias and audience bias
Nov 16- News Literacy 2
Start showing “Control Room”- a film about Al
Nov 4 - MIDTERM EXAM #2:
Bring a No. 2 pencil. We provide the answer card
Nov 18 . Finish “Control Room”
Jazeera and the media during the early days of Gulf War 2.
Media bias during war.
Nov 23 - Media Literacy
Media messages, source, audience, the language of
persuasion, texts and subtexts etc. Analysis of media
messages.
Nov 25 – Thanksgiving- NO CLASS
Nov 30 - Web
Dec 2- Media Case Studies
Literacy
Dec 7- Media Scandals
Janet Cook, Jayson Blair, Stephen Glass etc.
Start showing “Shattered Glass”
Richard Jewell, The Duke Rape Case, etc
Dec 9 – Finish “Shattered Glass”
Take-home Essay of Final Examination passed out
in class.
Monday, Dec 13 , 3:20 to 5:20 p.m. PART A OF FINAL EXAM Bring a No.
2 pencil. We will provide the answer card.
TURN IN TAKE-HOME ESSAY OF FINAL EXAM [printed, not e-mailed].
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide sample assessment
items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.