Sociology of Mass Media SYO 3460, Sections 1­5 Online ­ Fall 2012 Instructor: Lindsey Lennon, MS Department of Sociology E‐mail: ll10c@my.fsu.edu Mentors: Jesse Klein Anna Jacobs Kathryn Glasgow jrk06e@my.fsu.edu awj10c@my.fsu.edu klg07c@fsu.edu Each student will be assigned an online mentor the first week of class. Students should contact mentors first with questions and concerns related to the course. COURSE OVERVIEW This distance learning course provides an overview and analysis of sociological perspectives regarding the role of mass media in American society. This is an important area of sociological inquiry because mass media shape American culture, politics and social life. During the semester we will examine the political economy of media, the role of news in democratic societies, media effects, and the role of technology in democracy. COURSE OBEJECTIVES 1. To provide you with a foundation in the major theoretical perspectives that guide how sociologists evaluate mass media and their influence on American society. 2. To introduce you to empirical methods in the study of mass media. 3. To strengthen your critical awareness and understanding of contemporary debates involving American media. REQUIRED TEXTS Croteau, David and William Hoynes. 2003. Media Society: Industries, Images, and Audiences (3rd edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. ISBN# 0761987738 This book may be ordered from the Bookstore, or from various online booksellers, but please make sure you get the correct edition of the text. This is particularly important since a new edition was published in June 2011. Other required reading materials, films and PowerPoint lectures will be posted under “course material” in the appropriate week. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING POLICY Graded assignment and total points: Your grade for the course will be based on the total number of points you earn out of 155 possible points. The point breakdown is as follows: Online Bio 5 pts Quizzes ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 6 X 10 pts ‐‐‐‐‐‐> 60 pts Analytical Paper 30 pts 1 Discussion Boards ‐‐‐ 2 X 10 pts ‐‐‐> 20 pts Exams ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 2 X 20 pts ‐‐‐‐‐‐> 40 pts TOTAL 155 points Grading Scale: A 100‐93 B+ 89‐87 C+ 79‐77 D+ 69‐67 F 59 and below A‐ 92‐90 B 86‐83 C 76‐73 D 66‐63 B‐ 82‐80 C‐ 72‐70 D‐ 62‐60 ASSIGNMENTS - Please note that all assignment due dates and times are in Eastern Standard Time
Completion of “Online Bio: Media Consumption Survey” on Blackboard (5 points) You must complete the Online Bio before Midnight on Wednesday, August 29th to satisfy the “first‐day attendance” policy. If you fail to do so, you will be dropped from the course. Your first task after you finish reading this syllabus should be to complete the Online Bio, which is a brief survey posted in “Testing.” You will automatically receive five points for answering several questions that will help me know more about your background and interests. Be advised: the 5 points will NOT show up in the Bb grade book. Instead, you will see a check mark. I note the points in my grade book and they are added into your final score at the end of the semester. Six open­book quizzes, each consisting of 10 questions (60 points) These multiple‐choice quizzes will be posted in “Testing” on Monday at approximately two week intervals throughout the semester. You will be able to find the answers to these quizzes in the assigned readings, online material, and films. In order to help you prepare for these quizzes, I have provided reading, film and PowerPoint questions for each week. These questions will help you identify the important ideas and concepts in the course material, which will help prepare you for the course exams as well. You will have a five‐day window (Monday to Friday) to take each quiz. You may take the quiz as many times as you want while the quiz window is open. The score of the last completed quiz will count for your grade. The quizzes must be completed by Friday at 11pm. Analytical paper (30 points total) ­ DUE 11/28/2012 This paper requires you to conduct research and integrate course material as well as outside scholarly sources into your analysis. For this paper, you will analyze race/ethnicity in three different television programs. It is important that you use sitcoms and/or dramas for this exercise rather than news, sports programs or music videos. Using course material and at least four outside sources, analyze race or ethnicity in each of the programs and evaluate whether or not they constitute a “positive image” of race (a concept from the film, Color Adjustment). Be sure to investigate these programs (the producers, writers and target audience) and integrate this knowledge into your analysis. Your paper must be typed and should be between 5 and 6 pages double spaced in length. Use a 12‐point font and 1 inch margins. 2 NOTE: Do not use blogs, Wikipedia or other online encyclopedia sources such as answer.com in this assignment. These are not reputable scholarly sources. For information on how to find scholarly sources please contact the FSU library or your mentor. You will need to submit your paper to Turnitin by 11pm on the day the paper is due. Students agree that by taking this course the required assignments they hand in will be submitted to Turnitin for review. All submitted papers will be checked for originality, become source documents in the Turnitin database, and used for the purpose of detecting plagiarism in papers submitted in the future. Use of the Turnitin service is subject to the terms of the use agreement posted on the Turnitin website. BE SURE THAT YOUR SOFTWARE IS COMPATIBILE WITH THE Turnitin PROGRAM PRIOR TO THE DUE DATE. You will find the Turnitin link in the Paper Guidelines and Submission folder. Print your confirmation sheet, which verifies that you successfully uploaded your paper. This is very important because I have no way of verifying your attempts to turn in a paper and unsuccessful attempts will result in a late penalty. No exceptions! Be sure to keep copies of your papers and your confirmation sheet for your records. Two group discussions on the Discussion Board (20 points total) At two points in the semester, a discussion topic will be posted on Monday in the discussion folder on Blackboard. The class will be divided into several groups, and you will participate in a discussion with other members of your group. Each student will be expected to post at least a 250 word response to the discussion topic by Wednesday of that week and to post two original 150 word replies to other students’ responses by the following Monday. Based on the quality of your posts, you can earn a possible ten points for your contribution to each group discussion. No credit will be given for late postings on the discussion board or for “flaming” and other inappropriate responses. Please take these discussions and your contribution to them seriously. Since we do not meet in a classroom, these discussions are important for our critical thinking and intellectual growth. You will not receive full credit for simply posting the appropriate number of words. The quality of your posts and grade will be a reflection of careful reading of the course materials, detailed analysis where necessary, thoughtful reflection, and clear and concise writing. It is also important to build on each other’s comments, which means attentive reading of other’s postings. Two 120 minute exams, each consisting short­essay questions (40 points total) The mid‐term and final will cover material from the text, films, PowerPoint lectures, and reading material posted on Blackboard. Each exam will cover half of the course and will include between four and six “open‐ended” (short‐essay) questions. Each exam is worth 20 points. The questions will ask you to write a paragraph or two about important theories, concepts, research findings, criticisms, controversies, or other points discussed in assigned readings and online material. Each exam will be scheduled on a specific day and will be available to students during a seventeen‐hour window, from 5:00 a.m.­10:00 p.m. Once you begin taking an exam, you must complete it within one hour and a half. 3 Extra Credit You will have opportunities to earn extra credit points throughout the semester (3 points each). You have three options: 1) participate in the extra credit discussion boards that are noted in the syllabus; 2) start or contribute to a wiki on the course website; or 3) respond to one of my blog postings on the course website. If you want to start a wiki, you get the topic approved PRIOR to posting. I expect wiki’s to be related to the course (mass media) and to use course concepts or other scholarly ideas to critically analyze the topic under discussion. While you may participate as much as you want in these activities, you may only receive extra credit for three (for a maximum of 9 points total). COURSE POLICIES Work Policy: Students must take exams (and complete other assignments) during the times indicated on the syllabus. Make up quizzes and exams are only permitted in extraordinary circumstances and with the appropriate documentation. Late work may be handed in but will be penalized 25% each day it is late. Note: papers handed in between 11:01pm and 11:59pm are late and will be assessed a 25% late penalty. You are expected to ensure that your computer and internet connection are functioning properly prior to exams or other online exercises. If necessary, please seek technical assistance from ACNS or other online resources listed on the Bulletin Board under “Help with FSU Procedures and Technology.” E­mail Policy: Students must use a FSU e‐mail address for course correspondence. E‐mails should include the following information: 1) the course name, 2) who you are addressing (“Hey” is not an appropriate greeting), 3) the question, and 4) your name. REMEMBER: E‐mail is professional communication and becomes part of your student record. Academic Honor Policy Students are expected to abide by the Academic Honor Policy of The Florida State University. The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University’s expectations for the integrity of students’ academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to their pledge to “be honest and truthful and...[to] strive for personal and institutional integrity at Florida State University” (Florida State University Academic Honor Policy, found at http://dof.fsu.edu/honorpolicy.htm.). Any form of academic dishonesty will result in a "zero" for that particular assignment or an "F" for the course, at the instructor’s discretion, and may be reported to the university administration for further disciplinary action as specified in the Academic Honor Policy. 4 Plagiarism: Using another’s work from print, web, or other sources without acknowledging the source; quoting from a source without citation; using facts, figures, graphs, charts or information without acknowledgement of the source. If you use a string of three or more exact words from another source, you must place the words in quotes and cite the author, year and page number. Be a stickler about citing; cite more rather than less; cite early rather than late. Your paper would be considered as plagiarized in part or entirely if you do any of the following:  Submit a paper that was written by someone other than you.  Submit a paper in which you use the ideas, metaphors or reasoning style of another, but do not cite that source and/or place that source in your list of references.  Submit a paper in which you "cut and paste" or use the exact words of a source and you do not put the words within quotation marks, use footnotes or in‐text citations, and place the source in your list of references.  You commit patchwork plagiarism by overuse of quotations – 25% or more of your paper Cheating: Copying from another student’s paper or receiving unauthorized assistance during a quiz, test or examination; procuring without authorization a copy of or information about an examination before the scheduled exercise; unauthorized collaboration on exams. Unauthorized Group Work: Working with another person or persons on any activity that is intended to be individual work, where such collaboration has not been specifically authorized by the instructor. Multiple Submission: Submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without instructor permission; making minor revisions in a credited paper or report (including oral presentations) and submitting it again as if it were new work. It is each instructor’s responsibility to make expectations regarding incorporation of existing academic work into new assignments clear to the student in writing by the time assignments are given. Copyright: Some of the materials in this course are possibly copyrighted. They are intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in this course and only for instructional activities associated with and for the duration of the course. They may not be retained in another medium or disseminated further. They are provided in compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act. Missing Work/Exams/Incompletes: Missing work or incomplete assignments are insufficient reasons for a grade of Incomplete. An incomplete grade will not be given except under extenuating circumstances at the instructor’s discretion. College of Social Sciences guidelines require that students seeking and “I” must be passing the course. Courtesy in the Virtual Classroom: During the semester we will discuss a range of topics as they relate to media and they may stimulate strong feelings and heated debate. While I encourage diverse opinions, all papers and postings need to be scholarly in their content. Scholarly comments are: Respectful of diverse opinions and open to follow up questions and/or disagreement; related to the class and course material; advance the discussion/thinking about issues related to the course and/or course material rather than 5 personal beliefs; are delivered in normal “tones” and a non‐aggressive manner. Failure to abide by these principles can result in academic penalties ranging from a lowered grade, temporary removal from discussion boards, to failing the course. Syllabus Change Policy Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice. Americans with Disability Act Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1)Register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class. This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request. FSU students with disabilities, contact the: Student Disability Resource Center 874 Traditions Way 108 Student Services Building Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306‐4167 (850) 644‐9566 (voice) (850) 644‐8504 (TDD) sdrc@admin.fsu.edu http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/ FSU Help Desk If you are having difficulty with Blackboard, contact the help desk. Be advised that Apple users tend to have more difficulty accessing course videos. All of the videos for the class EXCEPT Color Adjustment are available online. Help Desk Hours & Contact Information: Monday‐ Friday, 8am ‐ 9:30pm (EST) Saturdays 9am ‐ 7:00 pm (EST) Sundays 12‐9pm (EST)2 Email: help@fsu.edu (this generates a ticket) Phone: 850‐644‐HELP (4357) Enjoy the course! 6 COURSE CALENDAR All times are Eastern Standard Time. Updates to this calendar will be indicated in red. Readings Quizzes and Exams Discussion Boards and Papers Week One: Introduction ­ The Role of Mass Media in American Society Online Bio: Media Consumption  Media Society: Chapter 1 Survey ‐‐ Complete by Wednesday  PowerPoint Presentation 1: August 31st at 11pm to verify first Our Changing Media day attendance. Week Two: Structural Constraints and Media Content Quiz 1 due at 11pm  Media Society: Chapter 2 9/7  Film: Money for Nothing: Behind the Business of Pop Music Week Three: Institutional Intervention and Media Content  Media Society: Chapter 3  PowerPoint Presentation 2: Regulation and Content  Film: Independent Media in a Time of War Week Four: Looking at the News from the Inside – Organizational Processes Quiz 2 due at 11pm Group Discussion Board 1:  Media Society: Chapter 4 9/21 Do journalistic practices and (pages 121‐135) reporting techniques undermine  Barry Glassner. 2004. journalists’ ability to reasonably “Narrative Techniques of Fear inform us, the audience? Mongering.” Social Research 71(4): 819‐826. The board will be open Monday  Jim Orcutt and J. Blake Turner. 9/17 at 5am. It will remain open (1993). “Constructing a Coke until Monday 9/24 at 11 pm. You Plague.” Social Problems, 40 must have 1 original post and 2 (2): 190‐206. posts that directly respond to the  Film: Outfoxed other posts. Week Five: Looking at the News from the Outside ­­ Economic Pressures and Democracy  Robert McChesney. 1999/2000. “Are the Media Killing Democracy?” Free Inquiry, 7 
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(Winter edition): 45‐47 Senator Paul Wellstone, “Growing Media Consolidation Must Be Examined to Preserve our Democracy.” Federal Communications Law Journal, 52: 551‐554 Sumner Redstone and Mel Karmazin. “Joint Statement of Sumner M. Redstone Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom Inc. and Mel Karmazin President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corp.” Federal Communications Law Journal, 52: 499‐511. Film: Rich Media, Poor Democracy Film Clip: Toxic Sludge is Good for You Week Six: News Effects – Race and Ethnicity in the News Quiz 3 due at 11pm  Jessica Pollak and Charis on 10/5 Kubrin. 2007. “Crime in the News: How Crimes, Offenders and Victims are Portrayed in the Media.” Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture, 14 (1): 59‐83.  PowerPoint Presentation 3: The case of “The Jena 6” Extra credit discussion board: What makes a story “national” rather than “local”? What was it about the “Jena 6” story that made it difficult to cover? The board will be open Monday 10/1 at 5am and close Monday 10/8 at 11pm. You must have 1 original post and 2 posts that directly respond to the other posts. Week Seven: News Effects – Gender, Crime and Violence in the News Exam 1: This is a 120 minute exam  PowerPoint Presentation 4: that consists of short answer Cultivation Theory questions covering Weeks 1‐6. The  Lisa Bond‐Maupin. 1998. “That exam is Online on Monday Wasn’t Even Me They Showed: 10/8/2012 from 5am to 10pm. Women as Criminals on The exam must be completed America’s Most Wanted.” during this time. Violence Against Women, 4(1): 30‐44.  Mia Consalvo. 2003. “The Monsters Next Door: Media 8 Constructions of Boys and Masculinity. Feminist Media Studies. 3(1): 27‐45. Week Eight: Ideology and Media Content  Media Society: Chapter 5  Film: The Persuaders  PowerPoint Presentation 5: Theoretical Perspectives of Media Effects Week Nine: Media as an Economic and Social Structure – The Case Study of Cool Quiz 4 due at 11pm Group Discussion Board 2: Are the  Malcolm Gladwell: The Cool on 10/28. This quiz news media helping or hurting Hunt  Doug Rushkoff: The Pursuit of covers weeks 7 and American society? 8 only. Cool The Board is open at 5am on  Doug Rushkoff: Which One of Monday 10/22. It will remain open These Sneakers is Me? How until Monday 10/29 at 11pm. Marketers Outsmart Our MediaSavvy Children  Film: The Merchants of Cool  PowerPoint Presentation 6: Marketing to Kids Week Ten: Social Inequality and Media Representation  Media Society: Chapter 6  Film: Class Dismissed‐ How TV Frames the Working Class Week Eleven: Social Construction of Race Quiz 5 due at 11pm  PowerPoint Presentation 5: Constructing “Blackness” in the 11/9. This quiz covers weeks 9, 10, U.S. and 11.  Film Clip: Birth of A Nation  Film: Color Adjustment  Jan Whitt. “Coming Home to a Place We’d Never Been Before.”  Journal of Popular Film & Television, 80‐87. Week Twelve: Social Construction of Race Continued Extra credit discussion board:  Ki‐Yong Lee and Sung‐Hee Joo. Are media products like Blackwell’s 2005. “The Portrayal of Asian 9 
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Americans in Mainstream Magazine Ads: An Update,” Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly. 82 (3): 654‐671. Dana Mastro and Elizabeth BehnMorawitz. 2005. “Latino Representation on Primetime Television.” Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 82(1): 110‐120. Film: Reel Bad Arabs Week Thirteen : Globalization and mass media  Media Society: Chapter 10  Globalization debate from the Opposing Viewpoints database Week Fourteen: Active Audiences and Mass Media9 Quiz 6 due at 11pm  Media Society: Chapter 8 on 11/30. This quiz  PowerPoint Presentation 6: covers weeks 12,13 From Alternative Readings to and 14. Resistance  Film: The Black Press Week Fifteen: Power to the People?  Media Society: Chapter 9 Week Sixteen: Finals Week political ad and BET’s “Read a Book” video effective or just offensive? What factors shape your reaction to these products? The board will be open Monday 11/12 at 5am and close Monday 11/19 at 11pm. You must have 1 original post and 2 posts that directly respond to the other posts. Analytical Paper Due at 11pm on Wednesday 11/30. Exam 2. This is a 120 minute exam that consists of short answer questions covering Weeks 7‐15. The exam is Online on Monday 12/10/2012 from 5 am to 10 pm. 10