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California State University, Long Beach
JOUR 312-I-01 (4734)
GLOBAL NEWS MEDIA
Fall 2012
Monday/Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 p.m.
SS/PA 029C
Professor: Dr. Heloiza G. Herscovitz
http://www.csulb.edu/colleges/cla/departments/journalism/people/herscovitz.htm
Office: SS/PA 009
Office hours: Mondays, 1: 30 pm -2:30 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 focuses on global news media structure and characteristics, media practices and
media roles, journalists’ profiles, international news flow, and the impact of new technologies
and convergence on production and delivery of global news. It explores the economic, political,
social and cultural forces that shape global media content, production and distribution. Particular
attention is devoted to the changing media landscape, profiles of multimedia conglomerates,
diversity, global media ethics, war coverage and press freedom around the world. Major theories
related to globalization such as electronic colonialism and world system theory, gatekeeping,
agenda setting and framing will help to frame and explain trends in global news media. Special
attention is devoted to understanding how the world's leading media houses operate, the
differences and similarities between Western, non-Western media outlets, and journalism values
in different cultures
Course Outcomes:
This is a GE capstone course that also meets your interdisciplinary (I) requirements. As a result,
a lot is expected from you in terms of outcomes at the completion of the course. Here are some
of the intended outcomes:
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• Learn to relate the content material from readings and class discussions to specific examples of
news media practices in different countries in order to produce informed analyses of those
institutions. Measured through class exercises and tests.
• Explain and synthesize news media interactions with economic, political, social and cultural
trends worldwide. Measured through essays.
• Apply different theories, data and analytical tools to explain how the news media operate and
help to shape people’s perceptions in times of peace and conflict. Measured through essays and
class presentations.
• Train critical thinking skills about national and international mass media systems. Measured
through class exercises, essays and class presentations.
• Acknowledge cultural diversity and the multiple, sometimes conflicting perspectives that
involve understanding and evaluating global news media. Measured through class exercises,
essays and class presentations.
• Identify complex problems, relationships and discrepancies in the international communication
arena and formulate solutions to concrete situations that reflect logical reasoning, creativity, and
ingenuity based on compelling evidence. Measured through class exercises, essays and tests.
These outcomes will be measured through class participation, tests, group presentations, essays
and a research project.
Modes of Instruction:
The course combines lectures, small and large group discussions, group assignments and class
presentations, written assignments and film/video/Internet presentations. Above all, it involves
class participation!
Course Readings
Please, purchase the book “Global Communication, Theories, Stakeholders, and Trends”
by Thomas L. McPhail, Third Edition, 2010. Bring it to every class.
Additional required texts are posted on Beachboard.
Follow what’s going on in the world!
You are expected to read/watch frequently the online versions of
The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)
The Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com)
The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/public/us)
The Associated Press breaking news (http://ap.tbo.com/breaking/)
BBC news (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/default.stm)
CNN (www.cnn.com)
NPR (http://www.npr.org/)
Al Jazeera (http://english.aljazeera.net)
The Economist (http://www.economist.com)
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You will be orally quizzed on world events in class!
There will be a class game on world events at the end of the semester.
Grading:
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.
Research Project
Group Presentation
Mid Term
Final Exam
Essay
In-Class Written Exercises (3)
Class Participation*
150 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
50 points
30 points
20 points
*I keep a record of your class participation in class. Class participation is unrelated to
attendance. See attendance policy below.
Total
550 points
Extra Credit (The World News Game)
up to 5 points
Calculate your grade based on the total points (550).
A=
B=
C=
D=
F=
+ 495 points (outstanding performance)
440 –494 points (superior performance)
385- 439 points (adequate performance)
330 – 384 points (marginal performance)
- 329 points (unacceptable performance)
If, at the end of the semester, you miss the cutoff by one point, I will automatically move your
grade up.
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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.
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
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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
Assignments are detailed in a separate document posted on Beachboard.
Rubrics for all assignments are posted elsewhere 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 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) CSULBsanctioned 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
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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.
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.
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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.