Course Form (revised 7-2008)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Journalism
Course Title
Media History & Literacy
Course #
Jour 100
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Media History & Literacy
Summarize the change(s) proposed
Name and course description change
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Ray Fanning
Phone/ email :
4747 ray.fanning@umontana.edu
Program Chair/Director:
Carol Van Valkenburg
Other affected programs:
Dean:
Date
9/9/09
Peggy Kuhr
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into section
V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits, repeatability
(if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
Complete for UG courses. (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment (Reference guidelines:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/gradIncrement.aspx )
Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions determined by the Board
of Regents. Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title X
Course Number Change
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
X
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
U 100S Introduction to Mass Media 3 cr. Offered
autumn and spring. A survey of the history,
Level U, UG, G
YES
NO
Old title: Introduction to
Mass Media
New Title: Media History
and Literacy
From:
To:
Repeatability
Cross Listing
(primary program
initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
U 100H Media History and Literacy 3 cr.
Offered autumn and spring. A survey of the
development and current status of the mass media in
society, including newspapers, magazines, radio,
television, books, movies, recordings and the World
Wide Web. Includes ethical, political, financial and
other issues that face today’s mass media industry.
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to UG.
Reference guidelines at:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/committees
/grad_council/procedures/gradIncrement.aspx
(syllabus required in section V)
5. Other programs affected by the change
6. Justification for proposed change
history, development and role of the media
in society, including newspapers,
magazines, radio, television, books, movies,
recordings and the World Wide Web.
The course examines ethical, political
financial and other issues related to mass
media. Also included is an introduction to
media literacy and critical thinking about
the media and their messages.
Have you reviewed the graduate increment
guidelines? Please check (X) space provided.
The school wants to add a media literacy
component to the class and make that change
apparent in the course title and catalog
description.
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
School of Journalism
Missoula, MT 59812
JOUR 100
Media History and Literacy
Syllabus - Fall 2010
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. If 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 the rise of
specialized niche publications 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
Muslim world. Al Jazeera, China etc. Worldwide media
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
definition and defenses. Historic ethics traditions.
empires. Censorship and media control around the world.
Nov 2- No Class- Election Day
Nov 9 – News Literacy 1: Evaluating news stories and
Objectivity vs. fairness, photo manipulation.
Nov 4 - MIDTERM EXAM #2:
Bring a No. 2 pencil. We provide the answer card
Nov 11 –No Class- Veterans Day
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 Jazeera
and the media during the early days of Gulf War 2. Media
bias during war.
Nov 18 -
Nov 23 - Media Literacy
Media messages, source, audience, the language of
persuasion, texts and subtexts etc. Analysis of media
messages.
Nov 30 - Web Literacy
Nov 25 – Thanksgiving- NO CLASS
Dec 7- Media Scandals
Janet Cook, Jayson Blair, Stephen Glass etc.
Start showing “Shattered Glass”
. Finish “Control Room”
Dec 2- Media Case Studies
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].