1
California State University, Long Beach
JOUR 412 (6740)
Mass Communication Theories
Fall 2012
Monday/Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
SS/PA 029C
Professor: Dr. Heloiza G. Herscovitz
http://www.csulb.edu/colleges/cla/departments/journalism/people/herscovitz.htm
Office: SS/PA 00
Office hours: Wednesdays, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Check my advising hours for other times
E-mail: hherscov@csulb.edu
(please, include Jour 312I (01) and your full name in the subject line)
Phone: (562) 985-5667 (e-mail is better!)
Course Description:
This course will give you a basic understanding of the nature of mass communication by
examining the most salient theories that try to explain mass media production and mass
media processes and models. These theories will help you to understand the implications
of your work as a mass media practitioner and as a mass media consumer. We will pay
special attention to areas such as pressures and demands faced by media organizations,
power and media ownership, production of media culture, new media, media effects,
audience analysis and political communication and public opinion. Popular theories
discussed in this course include stereotyping, gatekeeping, agenda-setting, framing and
priming, uses and gratifications, spiral of silence, propaganda and persuasion.
Course Goals/Outcomes:




Discover that mass communication is often at the center of how we perceive “truth”
and “reality.”
Apply different theories and analytical tools to explain how the news media operate
and help to shape people’s perceptions of “truth” and “reality.”
Gain awareness of the primary research results applicable to the field.
Explore news media interactions with economic, political, social and cultural trends.
2





Acknowledge cultural diversity and the multiple, sometimes conflicting perspectives
that involve understanding and evaluating mass communication theories.
Develop a deeper understanding of how new technologies affect mass
communications and how they are changing your future careers in the field.
Learn to relate the content material from readings and class discussions to specific
examples of news media practices in order to produce informed analyses of those
institutions.
Master critical thinking skills about mass communication and the news media.
Improve your academic writing skills.
Specific assignments will help to measure course outcomes such as short essays on
specific topics, video and film analysis, tests, class presentations, and a final paper.
Modes of Instruction:
The course combines lectures, small and large group discussions, group assignments and
class presentations, written assignments on topics, video and film presentations. Above
all, it involves class participation!
Course Readings:
Textbook: McQuail’s Mass Communication Theory, 6 edition, by Denis McQuail,
edited by Sage.
Supporting articles and studies posted on Beachboard.
Assignments, Grading and Class Participation:
You work will be judged on your ability to understand, apply, analyze, synthesize, and
evaluate evidence and conclusions. Originality, quality of writing, creativity, adherence
to journalistic principles, grammar, punctuation and style also count. “Because students
operate on different levels and will not all catch on at the same time” as explained by Ken
Bain, p. 44, in “What the Best Colleges Teachers Do”, I take a developmental view of
learning and challenge your knowledge and curiosity through different assignments. You
grade will be based on your overall performance and the sum of your points on the
assignments below.
Short essays (2)
Midterm
Final Exam
Group Presentation
Final Paper
Class Participation*
100 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
200 points
50 points
*I keep a record of your class participation in class and at Beachboard. Class
participation is unrelated to attendance. See attendance policy below.
3
Calculate your grade based on the total points (650).
A=
B=
C=
D=
F=
+ 585 points (outstanding performance)
520 –584 points (superior performance)
455- 519 points (adequate performance)
390 – 454 points (marginal performance)
- 389 points (unacceptable performance)
If, at the end of the semester, you miss the cutoff by one point, I will automatically move
your grade up.
This course does not offer extra credit.
Course Requirements
Please, read CSULB policy on attendance, late assignments and missed exams:
http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/grad_undergrad/senate/documents/policy/2001/01/
Attendance is mandatory. After two unexcused absences during this semester, each
additional absence will lead to a 5-point penalty for each one. I will excuse only
legitimate absences as defined by the Journalism Department and CSULB (see the
syllabus addendum) and only with adequate supporting documents and my consent.
Perpetual tardiness is disruptive and will be affect your grade. After the second one,
every tardy one will lead to a 2–point penalty.
Therefore, missed points related to absences and tardies will lower your final grade.
Please, leave all electronic devices in your backpack, including your laptop, IPad, IPod and
cell phone (with the ringer turned off, please). We use traditional notetaking in class. Bring
pencils, pens and paper pads. You will use your laptop in class only when required by the
instructor. For your benefit, I will post power point presentations on Beachboard after the classes.
Style: I expect your work to be well-written and well edited. Essays and papers should be
double-spaced, with paragraph indents and without extra spacing between paragraphs.
Use Times New Roman 12 point font. Pay attention to spelling, accuracy, clarity and
grammar. Poorly written assignments will be penalized. Any instance of plagiarism,
fabrication of sources or other information will be grounds for failure in this course.
Do not use Wikepedia as a source.
4
Plagiarism: Any student caught cheating or plagiarizing at any time and on any
type of assignment, exam, quiz or homework risks receiving an “F” for the course or
some component of the course at the instructor’s discretion. Additionally, a copy of
the offense may be forwarded to the Office of Judicial Affairs for review and potentially
action on your permanent school record. Ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism or
cheating is not a valid excuse. For this course, we will be using Turnn for the essay
assignment. Please read the CSULB policy on Turnitin carefully:
Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for
textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers
will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the
purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your paper in such a way
that no identifying information about you is included. Another option is that you may request,
in writing from your instructor, that your papers not be submitted to Turnitin.com. However,
if you choose this option you will be required to provide documentation to substantiate that
the papers are your original work and do not include any plagiarized material.
(http://www.csulb.edu/lats/itss/bb/faculty/turnitin_assignments.html).
☺☺☺ Interacting with students is my passion. My office is always open to you. Feel
free to stop by and/or email me. If you feel confused, bored, unchallenged, or distressed,
please talk to me. If you are facing a problem that affects your class performance, talk to
me. Don’t wait until the end of the semester to tell me something serious. I will go out of
my way to help you and make sure you get back on track and do not drop the course.
Assignments:
They are detailed in a separate document posted on Beachboard.
Other Important Observations:
Grading: The grading policies and practices in this class are explained elsewhere in the
syllabus. It is the student’s responsibility to read them and to seek clarification if
necessary. The student should be fully aware of what is required for success in the
course, such as group participation, writing, speaking, completing assigned.
Seat in Class: An enrolled student may lose his/her seat in class if he/she misses the first
class meeting without notifying the instructor. At the instructor’s discretion, a student
who attends the first class but not subsequent classes may also be dropped from the
course.
Withdrawal from Class: Students may withdraw from a class from the third to the 12th
week for “serious and compelling reasons.” Normally these are defined as anything of
importance that is beyond the control of the student. This includes, but is not necessarily
limited to, death or serious illness in a student’s immediate family or a documented
change in a student’s work schedule. Poor performance, tardiness and unexcused
5
absences are not considered serious or compelling reasons beyond the student’s control
for purposes of withdrawing.
Absences from Class: Grades in a course may be adversely affected by absences, and
students should seek clarification from the instructor regarding the course absence policy.
Make-ups usually are granted in strict accordance with CSULB policy, which defines
excused absences as (1) illness or injury to the student; (2) death, injury or serious illness
of an immediate family member or the like; (3) religious reasons; (4) jury duty or
government obligation; (5) CSULB-sanctioned or approved activities [2002-03 Catalog,
p.75]. These and any other requests for an excused absence must be documented.
CSULB Cheating/Plagiarism/Fabrication Policy: CSULB takes issues of academic
dishonesty very seriously. If you use any deceptive or dishonest method to complete an
assignment, take an exam, or gain credit in a course in any other way, or if you help
someone else to do so, you are guilty of cheating. Making something up constitutes
fabrication. If you use someone else’s ideas or work and represent it as your own without
giving credit to the source, you are guilty of plagiarism. This does not apply if the ideas
are recognized as common knowledge, or if you can show that you honestly developed
the ideas through your own work. Any instructor can show you the correct ways of citing
your sources, and you should use quotation marks, footnotes or endnotes and
bibliographic references to give credit to your sources according to the format
recommended by your instructor. The Department of Journalism has a zero-tolerance
policy in these areas, and any instance of academic dishonesty -- cheating, plagiarism
and/or fabrication -- may result in your failing of the assignment, immediate removal
from class with a failing grade, removal from the College of Liberal Arts, expulsion from
the university and/or other sanctions as the instructor deems appropriate.
Responses, Penalties and Student Rights: Students should consult the appropriate
sections of the Catalog for examples of cheating, fabrication and plagiarism, and
instructor and/or CSULB response options in such circumstances. The Catalog also
outlines student rights.
Students with Disabilities:
Students with disabilities who need assistance or accommodation to participate in the
course should inform the instructor and then contact Disabled Student Services within the
first week of class. In addition, students should establish their eligibility for assistance by
contacting the Disabled Student Services Office (Brotman Hall 270) at 562-985-5401.
Students are to provide the instructor verification of their disability from Disabled
Student Services. If the service offered is insufficient or inadequate, the student should
confer with the instructor and the director of Disabled Student Services. If these efforts
are unsuccessful, students have the option of directing their concerns to the Office of
Equity and Diversity (University Student Union 301) at 562-985-8256. Responsibility
for oversight and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the
Rehabilitation Act has been delegated to the campus director for disability support and
accommodation.
6
Additional Student Learning Assessment
The national accrediting agency for journalism education has established a requirement
that all accredited journalism schools assess student mastery of 11 core values and
competencies that any graduate of a journalism and mass communication program should
possess. According to the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass
Communication, all graduates, irrespective of their particular specialization, should be
able to:
1) Understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to
professional practice.
2) Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and
institutions in shaping communications.
3) Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in
relationship to communications.
4) Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and
information.
5) Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
6) Think critically, creatively and independently.
7) Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the
communications professionals in which they work.
8) Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the
communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
9) Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness,
clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
10) Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
11) Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in
which they work.