MCOM 316 - Telecommunications Management
Fall 2005 Syllabus
Monday & Wednesday 3:00 – 4:15
Course Description: Study of the problems of organization and management of radio and television stations
with attention to problems of programming, sales, public relations, governmental agencies, and audiences. Also
consideration of regulatory, station, personnel, and affiliation restraints upon decision-making in management.
Instructor:
Dr. Tyra C. Phipps
Telephone: x4782
Administrative Asst: x3049
E-mail: tphipps@frostburg.edu
Office: Guild Center 109-2
Office Hours: MW 1:15-2:45 p.m.
TR 2:00-3:00 p.m.
and by appointment
Text: Albarran, Alan B. Management of Electronic Media, 2nd ed., Belmont, CA, Wadsworth, 2002.
Additional Requirement: You will need to obtain all materials for this course from the departmental website.
Log onto http://faculty.frostburg.edu/mcom/tphipps/CourseList.htm.
Attendance/Tardy: Strive for perfect attendance and punctuality. Attendance is essential for acquiring
content information and for participating in the management of classroom activities. The class is run as a station
and you are expected to be on time for work each class meeting. Attendance is taken promptly at the beginning of
class. If you are tardy, it is your responsibility to see me after class to correct any recorded absence. Any tardy
or missed portions of class will be recorded as a 10-point per class deduction from the final grade.
There are no excused absences – on the job, it matters that you are there. THREE PERSONAL DAYS are
allowed. Any additional absences will result in a 25-point per absence deduction from the final grade. While
there is no penalty for University-sanctioned attendance at co/extracurricular activities, all course assignments
must be completed prior to participation in such activities. It is essential that you meet with me during office
hours at least two days prior to the activity to discuss your class standing. Please stay within the three-day
limit.
Inclement Weather: Please check the voicemail at ext. 4782 for an update on class meeting and assignments.
Academic Dishonesty: In accordance with the policy of Frostburg State University, see the statement on
Academic Dishonesty in the Pathfinder supplement.
Submissions: There are no circumstances in which work previously submitted in another course will be
accepted. Any resubmitted work will result in an automatic “0” for the project. No electronic submissions of
assignments are accepted under ANY circumstances.
Student Behavior: Please be courteous at all times and do not disrupt the learning environment of the class. A
young manager found responsible for disruptive behavior in the office may be administratively withdrawn from
the job (Student Code of Conduct). Please discuss personal matters with me privately during office hours, not
during class time.
Daily Work: Current events play a major role in station management. It is expected that each manager will be
informed regarding current events in business and management. Be prepared to actively participate in class
discussions, reviews of case studies, and role-playing positions in an office. No electronic submissions of
assignments are accepted under ANY circumstances. Bring your textbook. Do not bring food or drinks to class.
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Please turn off ALL electronic devices when you arrive to class. Any noisy interruption will result in a tenpoint deduction from your final grade.
Class Activities: There are problem-solving discussions, case studies, surveys, practice interviews, and
exercises in business etiquette. Proper attire and resume (also VHS tape) are required for job interview.
Exams: There are two exams – a mid-semester exam and a final exam.
Case Studies: There is a case study involving an assessment of your own Meyers Briggs temperament and
management style. Each student will summarize, in depth, a personality case study in writing and agree or
disagree with the current research on the temperament style. Life examples will provide the basis for your
decision regarding your temperament decision.
Late Assignments: “Late” means work turned in beyond the time it is collected in class. Late work is
“yesterday’s news” and not good for the station management. Only in cases of an extreme emergency will late
work be accepted. Individual cases must be discussed with me privately prior to the anticipated late assignment.
Otherwise, 25 points per day will be deducted for late work. No make-up exams.
Grading:
Mid-Semester Exam =
Final Exam =
Self Analysis =
Group Survey Exercise =
Problem-Solving Discussion =
Resume =
Job Interview =
TOTAL
Scale:
A=600-540
B=539-480
100 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
50 points
50 points
100 points
600 points
C=479-420
D=419-360
F=359-0 points
Syllabus: Subject to change. Criticisms and suggestions are welcome.
Course Objectives: The manager will:
1. Undergo an assessment of his/her managerial style.
2. Demonstrate an ability to conduct market research and analyze the results.
3. Define demo, psycho, and synchrographics and describe how they affect sales management.
4. Identify major management functions to include department planning, budgeting, program planning and
acquisition, pricing of inventory, human resource management, community relations, and general
administration.
5. Describe responsibilities of key personnel to include General Manager, Sales Manager, Program
Manager, News Director, Business Affairs Manager, Promotion Manager, and Chief Engineer.
6. List at least 20 stress factors and devise ways of dealing with stress management and job burnout.
7. Practice participation management skills and decision-making by consensus.
8. Participate in role-playing managerial situations.
9. Design a resume and participate in a job interview.
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MCOM 316 - Telecommunications Management
Fall 2005 Course Schedule
Date
Chapter
Class Work
Aug. 29
Aug. 31
Orientation
Self Assessment
Review Syllabus & Schedule; Myers-Briggs Assessment
Outline and Format, Citing Sources
Sept. 7
1: Managing
Overview of Electronic Media in society
Sept. 12
Sept. 14
2: Strategic
Management Skills - a Memo
Global and social forces, implications
Sept. 19
Sept. 21
3: Ethics
4: Theories
Ethical issues and decision making
Management as a process
Sept. 26
Sept. 28
Case Discussion
5: Financial
Just what kind of a manager are you? pg. 91
Budgeting and financial goals
SELF-ASSESSMENT DUE, NO E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS
Oct. 3
Oct. 5
Ch. 1-5
Ch. 1-5
Chapter review
MID-SEMESTER EXAM
Oct. 10
Oct. 12
Group assignments, review exam
Problem-Solving Group Discussions
Oct. 17
Oct. 19
6: Personnel
Problem Solving Group Discussions
Hiring, terminating, legal issues
Oct. 24
Oct. 26
7: Markets…
8: Programming
Defining the market, demo & psychographic research
Radio, TV, Cable programming
Oct. 31
Nov. 2
9: Marketing
10: News
Marketing Strategies
Issues in news management, importance of news
Nov. 7
Nov. 9
RESUME
11: Regulatory
Interview assignment; Mirroring, Carson video
Regulatory influences, FCC
Nov. 14
Nov. 16
12: Internet
Web department, revenue streams, management issues
RESUMES DUE, NO E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS;
In-Class Interviews
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Date
Chapter
Class Work
Nov. 21
Nov. 23
SURVEYS
Project explained
Group work day
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Nov. 28
Nov. 30
Dec. 5
Dec. 7
Survey group work day, e-mail check-in
Survey Group Presentations, Course Evaluation
Ch. 1-12
Dec. 16 (F) Ch. 1-12
2:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Survey Group Presentations
Survey Group Presentations, Review for Exam
FINAL EXAM
*Schedule subject to change.
Dilbert
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