University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Curriculum Proposal Form #3
New Course
Effective Term:
2121 (Spring 2012)
Subject Area - Course Number: JOURNLSM 212
Cross-listing:
(See Note #1 below)
Course Title: (Limited to 65 characters)
Revolutions in Journalism
25-Character Abbreviation:
Revolutions in Journalism
Sponsor(s):
James Kates
Department(s):
Communication
College(s):
Arts and Communication
Consultation took place:
Programs Affected:
NA
Yes (list departments and attach consultation sheet)
Departments:
Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism; International Journalism
Is paperwork complete for those programs? (Use "Form 2" for Catalog & Academic Report updates)
NA
Yes
will be at future meeting
Prerequisites:
Grade Basis:
Conventional Letter
S/NC or Pass/Fail
Course will be offered:
Part of Load
On Campus
Above Load
Off Campus - Location
College:
Arts and Communication
Instructor:
James Kates
Dept/Area(s): Communication
Note: If the course is dual-listed, instructor must be a member of Grad Faculty.
Check if the Course is to Meet Any of the Following:
Technological Literacy Requirement
Diversity
Writing Requirement
General Education Option: None
Note: For the Gen Ed option, the proposal should address how this course relates to specific core courses, meets the goals of General Education in
providing breadth, and incorporates scholarship in the appropriate field relating to women and gender.
Credit/Contact Hours: (per semester)
Total lab hours:
Number of credits:
0
3
Total lecture hours:
Total contact hours:
Can course be taken more than once for credit? (Repeatability)
No
Yes
If "Yes", answer the following questions:
No of times in major:
No of times in degree:
Revised 10/02
No of credits in major:
No of credits in degree:
1 of 9
48
48
Proposal Information: (Procedures for form #3)
Course justification:
This new course is an element of the Communication Department’s revised journalism curriculum. It
reflects the combining of the department’s print and broadcast journalism sequences into a single program,
Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism. The class combines elements of two courses, Foundations of Print
Journalism and Foundations of Electronic Media, which are being deleted from the Journalism major. It
recognizes the industry trend toward media “convergence,” as lines between media (print, broadcast,
Internet) are blurred and journalists are expected to tell stories across multiple platforms (text, photos,
video, audio, blogs, etc.).
In a broader sense, this course addresses one of the fundamental challenges of a democratic society:
Providing citizens with the information they need for self-governance. Journalism traditionally has been a
“one size fits all” proposition: Audiences received an advertiser-supported package (exemplified by the
daily newspaper) that contained everything from serious reporting to simple entertainment and diversion.
The diversionary material in effect “subsidized” the serious work of journalism. Beginning with cable
television about 1980, media have fragmented to serve niche audiences. The invention of the World Wide
Web in the 1990s compounded this trend toward specialization. The entertainment and diversion industries
are doing fine, but who now will pay for serious journalism? How can journalists in this fragmented world
fulfill their Constitutionally mandated role to observe, report on, and criticize government? In a time of
great upheaval for media, this course will address the pressing issue of journalism’s role in a free society.
Relationship to program assessment objectives:
This is a required course in the Journalism sequence. It is aimed toward the Communication Department’s
dual goals of fostering career success and encouraging participation in a democratic society. It promotes
the LEAP initiative’s Essential Learning Outcome of imparting “Intellectual and Practical Skills.” It is, in
part, a hard-knocks survey of the journalism business across all media. But it also will encourage students
to examine the bigger role of media in a democratic society. The latter encompasses what LEAP calls the
“Big Questions” of how a changing economy will affect American and global society. Although this is not
a “technology course” per se, it will support the Journalism major’s Subject Matter Objective of
identifying “ways in which information technology is altering the nature, scope, function and format” of
mass media.
Budgetary impact:
None beyond existing levels. Course will be taught by current faculty. Resources from deleted course
requirements will be reallocated to the new course.
Course description: (50 word limit)
An introduction to the nature and issues of the print, broadcast and Internet news industries and their roles
in American society. Particular attention will be paid to the impact of new technology and its effect on
media profitability, business models and social function.
If dual listed, list graduate level requirements for the following:
1. Content (e.g., What are additional presentation/project requirements?)
Revised 10/02
2 of 9
2. Intensity (e.g., How are the processes and standards of evaluation different for graduates and
undergraduates? )
3. Self-Directed (e.g., How are research expectations differ for graduates and undergraduates?)
Course objectives and tentative course syllabus:
Upon completion of this course, students should:
 Be familiar with the terminology and basic operating practices of the print, broadcast and Internet
news industries in the United States.
 Be familiar with the role of advertising, demographics and market research in shaping news
publications and their target audiences.
 Recognize the challenges and opportunities presented by new technology, particularly the Internet,
in relation to the news business.
 Be conversant in the unique dual role of news media as business entities and social institutions,
especially their Constitutionally mandated role to scrutinize, report on, and criticize government.
Bibliography: (Key or essential references only. Normally the bibliography should be no more than one or two
pages in length.)
Baym, Geoffrey. From Cronkite to Colbert: The Evolution of Broadcast News. Boulder, Colo.: Paradigm
Publishers, 2009.
Doctor Ken. Newsonomics: Twelve New Trends That Will Shape the News You Get. New York: St.
Martin’s Press, 2010.
Friedland, Lewis. Public Journalism: Past and Future. Dayton, Ohio: Kettering Foundation Press, 2003.
Gill, Rosalind. Gender and the Media. Cambridge, England: Polity, 2007.
Gillmor, Dan. Mediactive. Lulu.com, 2010.
Gillmor, Dan. We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People. Sebastopol, Calif.:
O'Reilly Media, 2004.
Haas, Tanni. The Pursuit of Public Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism. New York: Routledge,
2007.
McChesney, Robert W., and John Nichols. The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media
Revolution That Will Begin the World Again. New York: Nation Books, 2010.
Meyer, Philip. The Vanishing Newspaper: Saving Journalism in the Information Age. Columbia:
University of Missouri Press, 2009.
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. State of the News Media 2010. Online at
www.stateofthemedia.org/2010.
Rosenberry, Jack and Burton St. John III, eds. Public Journalism 2.0: The Promise and Reality of a
Citizen-Engaged Press. New York: Routledge, 2010.
Tremayne, Mark. Blogging, Citizenship, and the Future of Media. New York: Routledge, 2007.
Revised 10/02
3 of 9
Whitt, Jan. Women in American Journalism: A New History. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2008.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning
environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with
University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Academic Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation,
Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored Events (for details please refer to the Schedule of Classes; the
“Rights and Responsibilities” section of the Undergraduate Catalog; the Academic Requirements and Policies and
the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Catalog; and the “Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures
(UWS Chapter 14); and the “Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" (UWS Chapter 17).
Course Objectives and tentative course syllabus with mandatory information (paste syllabus below):
Revised 10/02
4 of 9
Journalism 212
Revolutions in Journalism
Instructor: Dr. James Kates
Office: 2230 Andersen Library
Phone and e-mail: 472-5034; katesj@uww.edu
Office hours:
Course hours:
Location:
Course description: An introduction to the nature and issues of the print, broadcast and Internet
news industries and their roles in American society. Particular attention will be paid to the impact
of new technology and its effect on media profitability, business models and social function.
Course objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should:
 Be familiar with the terminology and basic operating practices of the print, broadcast and
Internet news industries in the United States.
 Be familiar with the role of advertising, demographics and market research in shaping
news publications and their target audiences.
 Recognize the challenges and opportunities presented by new technology, particularly the
Internet, in relation to the news business.
 Be conversant in the unique dual role of news media as business entities and social
institutions, especially their Constitutionally mandated role to scrutinize, report on, and
criticize government.
Required text (rental at UWW bookstore): Ken Doctor, Newsonomics: Twelve New Trends
That Will Shape the News You Get (St. Martin’s, 2010).
Articles about the media business will be made available in electronic form. Students should save
these to disk or print them out, as they will be covered in quizzes and exams.
Course Attendance and Grading Policy
Attendance: Attendance will be taken at every class, and along with participation will
count for 10 percent of your grade. Each student will be allowed two excused absences, no
questions asked. Beyond that, there will be no excused absences without a note from a medical
doctor, a police officer, a funeral director or a UWW faculty member. I suggest you save your
excused absences for times when you really need them.
Grade calculation:
Based on the total 1,000 points available, the grade calculation will break down like this:
930 to 1,000 points = A
900 to 929 points = A870 to 899 points = B+
830 to 869 points = B
800 to 829 points = B770 to 799 points = C+
730 to 769 points = C
Revised 10/02
5 of 9
700 to 729 points = C670 to 699 points = D+
630 to 669 points = D
600 to 629 points = DBelow 600 points = F
Policy on tardy assignments: Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the
class period in which they are due. Late assignments will be penalized 10 percent of possible
points for each day they are late. Computer problems are not an acceptable excuse for late work.
Please back up your work and print it out periodically.
Assignments
Each student will complete two papers of 4 to 5 pages each. The first will be a summary
of the operations of a newspaper or broadcast news operation of the student’s choice, including
an interview with an employee. The second will focus on a magazine or Web site, also including
an interview with an employee. Further guidelines on the papers will be distributed as the
semester progresses.
We will be doing occasional group assignments in which students will collaborate on a
task, then do a brief presentation or lead class discussions. These assignments will count toward
your attendance / participation grade.
Tests / Quizzes
We will have 10 quizzes worth 10 points apiece, based on the readings and lectures.
Quizzes must be taken in class; there will be no make-up quizzes.
There will be a midterm and a final exam. The tests will consist of multiple-choice/fill-in
questions and short answers.
Academic misconduct
Plagiarism on papers will result in an automatic grade of 0 (zero points) for the paper, and
possibly additional penalties as determined by the instructor. We will be discussing plagiarism
and how to avoid it.
Revised 10/02
6 of 9
Grade components
Quizzes (10 @ 10 points each): 100 points
Paper 1: 200 points
Paper 2: 200 points
Midterm exam: 200 points
Final exam: 200 points
Attendance / class participation: 100 points
Electronic devices
Please turn off cell phones and pagers in class. Notebook computers should be used only
for class purposes (e.g., note-taking).
Communication Department Web address
http://academics.uww.edu/cac/communication
Weather policy
If the weather is crummy (snow, tornado, hurricane, plague of locusts, 500-year flood),
check the university Web site to see if classes are canceled. If not, you can assume that we will
have class unless I send you an e-mail stating otherwise. I will not respond to individual e-mails
asking whether class is canceled. If you would be risking your safety by coming to campus, stay
home, and your absence will be excused.
Administrative Statement
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and nondiscriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate
students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations,
Academic Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for
University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the Schedule of Classes; the “Rights
and Responsibilities” section of the Undergraduate Catalog; the Academic Requirements and
Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Catalog; and the “Student
Academic and Disciplinary Procedures” [UWS Chapter 14]; and the “Student Nonacademic
Disciplinary Procedures” [UWS Chapter 17].)
Revised 10/02
7 of 9
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE (hypothetical for MW, Spring 2011)
Week Dates
Topic
1
Jan 19
Course intro: Media in disarray
2
Jan 24
Jan 26
Blowup and convergence
The newspaper meltdown
KD Ch. 1
3
Jan 31
Feb 2
The Digital Dozen
Will newspapers survive?
KD Ch. 2
4
Feb 7
Feb 9
Remaking local news
Television news: Local
KD Ch. 3
5
Feb 14
Feb 16
Revolutions: Readers and advertisers
Television news: Network
KD Ch. 4
6
Feb 21
Feb 23
From editors to content curators
Television news: Cable
KD Ch. 5
7
Feb 28
Mar 2
The Pro-Am world online
SEO and Web metrics
KD Ch. 6
8
Mar 7
Mar 9
Midterm exam review
MIDTERM EXAM
9
Mar 14
Mar 16
Reporters and bloggers
Radio news and the NPR model
Mar 21-25
Spring break
10
Mar 28
Mar 30
Niche news and information
Magazines: The personal medium
KD Ch. 8
11
Apr 4
Apr 6
The technology of news
Magazines: The demographic edge
KD Ch. 9
12
Apr 11
Apr 13
Marketing the news product
Revolution in social media
KD Ch. 10
13
Apr 18
Apr 20
Journalism jobs of the future
A role for entrepreneurs
KD Ch. 11
14
Apr 25
Apr 27
A journalism renaissance?
Journalism and democracy
KD Ch. 12
Paper #2 due
Revised 10/02
Readings, etc.
8 of 9
KD Ch. 7
Paper #1 due
15
May 2
May 4
Journalism and democracy
Final exam review
Final exam date and time:
Revised 10/02
9 of 9