The George Washington University
Spring Semester, 2015
Wednesdays 6:10pm: Phillips Hall B-152
School of Media and Public Affairs
Short-term Study Abroad Program
SMPA 3195-60 and 3195-61
Globalization and the Media: An International Communications Seminar
1. COURSE OVERVIEW:
This three credit course will include a Spring Break trip to Paris—featuring panels, speakers, and field trips–
with journalists, executives, government officials, scholars and others who bring a unique international
perspective to major media issues. There will also be time each day during the trip for social and cultural
events and for seeing Paris. Because most of the classroom hours will take place in Paris, the class will
meet only once every two weeks before and after the trip to discuss readings and related issues. There will
be no examination but a final paper will be due by the end of the semester. Students taking the course for
graduate credit will have expanded reading and writing assignments.
The media have played a central role in creating the phenomenon of globalization—and globalization has
also been reshaping the media in all parts of the world. A new category of media has emerged which is truly
global in scope, but national and regional media have also retained their own distinctive characteristics.
These developments will provide some of the central themes for the class.
2. INSTRUCTOR:
Professor Lee W. Huebner, huebner@gwu.edu Phone: 202-994-0046. Office Hours: Wednesdays from
3:15 to 5:10 pm & by appointment. Room 511, SMPA Building
3. READING:
Sven Steinmo and Jeffrey Kopstein (editors), Growing Apart? America & Europe in the 21st Century (2008)
Philip Seib, Al Jazeera English. Global News in a Changing World (2012)
Dominique Moisi, The Geopolitics of Emotion (2009)
Adam Gopnik, Paris to the Moon (2001)
Other relevant reading materials will be distributed as the class proceeds.
Rick Steve’s guide is a comprehensive, readable guidebook to Paris and the nearby region (Optional).
4. CLASS MEETINGS AND PROJECTS:
A. The class will meet on designated Wednesdays. Regular class attendance and active participation in
class discussions–both in Washington and Paris --will be an important part of the course and grade.
Students who must be absent, in either venue, should inform the instructor in advance if at all possible. Note
that laptops, tablets, and cell phones should not be used during class discussions. To facilitate interactive
discussion, two sections of the class will be created—each meeting on alternate Wednesdays.
B. Each student will be asked to prepare a short discussion and reaction paper (to be submitted on-line in
advance of the class) about each of the reading assignments that precede the spring break trip—just a page
or so (double-spaced), listing any brief personal reactions to the assigned reading and raising interesting
questions to be taken up in the class discussions.
C. Each student will write a final “ Reflections” paper of 6 to 8 pages (double-spaced) which will be due no
later than Monday, April 21. This paper (also to be submitted on line) should grow out of the Paris
experience, highlighting personal reactions in the seminar itself and during non-seminar hours and
integrating larger themes, including those touched upon in the class readings. Graduate students should
write longer, research papers, having discussed their proposed topics with the instructor on or before April 1.
5. GRADING Three elements will comprise the final grade. They are: class discussion and participation (in
Washington and in Paris), 30%; the short discussion papers, 30%; and the final paper (40%).6.
1
6. TOPIC AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
The class will meet in Washington on designated Wednesdays before and after the Paris trip. The first date
listed for each assignment below will be for Section A of the class; the second date is for Section B. Class
meetings in Paris will begin on Sunday afternoon, March 8 and end on Saturday morning, March 14.
Note: Section A meets: Jan.21, Feb. 4 & 18, Ap. 1 & 15.
Section B meets: Jan.28, Feb.11 & 25, Ap. 8 & 22.
Both sections meet together on Jan. 14, March 4 & 18.
January 14: Course Overview
January 21 and 28: Read Seib book
February 4 and 11: Read Moisi book
February 18 and 25: Read Intro, plus Chapters 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8) of Steinmo and Kopstein.
March 4: Read Gopnik, chapters 1,3, 6-7, 12-13, 17-23. (Paper can be submitted after Paris trip.)
March 8-14: Seminar sessions in Paris.
March 18: Discussion of Paris trip—sections meet together.
April 1 and 8: Discussion of Paris trip in sections.
April 15 and 22: Presentation of Final Papers (papers to be submitted on or before April 24).
7. LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to: (1) Summarize major trends which have changed the nature
of world media in recent years, both the growing category of cross-border media and the changing nature of local and
national media; (2) Describe varying ways of interpreting the relationship between media and society in Europe and the
US; (3) Compare and contrast differing approaches to professional media careers in an international context; (4) Evaluate
the impact of technological change as both a fragmenting and a connecting force.
8. OTHER UNIVERSITY AND CLASS POLICIES
University Policy on Religious Holidays: 1. Students should notify the instructor during the first week of the semester of
their intention to be absent from class on their day(s) of religious observance; 2. The instructor will extend to these
students the courtesy of absence without penalty on such occasions, including permission to make up examinations.
Academic Integrity: The instructor supports and will enforce the GW Code of Academic Integrity, including this provision:
“Academic dishonesty is defined as cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's own work, taking credit for the
work of others without crediting them and without appropriate authorization, and the fabrication of information.” For the
remainder of the code, see: http://www.gwu.edu/~ntegrity/code.html
Disability support services: Any student who may need an accommodation related to a disability should contact the
Disability Support Services office at 202-994-8250 in the Marvin Center, Suite 242, to establish eligibility and to coordinate
reasonable accommodations. For additional information please refer to: http://gwired.gwu.edu/dss/
The University Counseling Center (UCC): 202-994-5300—UCC offers 24/7 assistance and referral to
address students' personal, social, career, and study skills problems. Services for students include: crisis and emergency
mental health consultations, as well as confidential assessment, counseling services (individual and small group), and
referrals. http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/CounselingServices/AcademicSupportServices
Security: In case of an emergency, if possible, the class should shelter in place. If the class building is affected, follow
the posted evacuation procedures for the building. After evacuation, seek shelter at a predetermined rendezvous location.
2
3