AS/WRIT/EN 4752.03 M READING THE NEWS
Professor Jan Rehner
S329 Ross (Writing Department)
416-736-5134
e-mail: jrehner@yorku.ca
Office Hours: Tuesday 12:30 and Thursday after class
AS WRIT/EN 4752 3.0 READING THE NEWS
The aim of this course is to engage with key issues of mass media, new/digital media
and alternative media within the context of critical and cultural studies. What is the
news? The professional and organizational culture of journalism has changed
dramatically in recent decades in the wake of the changing technologies of news
gathering, editing and publishing. Yet the old media is embedded in the new,
twisting it, informing it, shaping its future. What are the current trends and
practices from which that future may evolve: An increasingly fragmented audience
of personalized media niches? Comedy and parody as the new journalism? The
prevalence and shrillness of conflict rhetoric? What of the old is culturally valued?
What of the new speaks to hope for an informed, critical citizenry?
Course Learning Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to assist students in developing a critical view of the
goals, common practices, and processes in the production and consumption of the
news across a range of media—newspapers, television and video, photo journalism,
digital and alternative media.
The specific objectives of the course are that students will be able to:
 critically examine various forms of cultural production and reception
 apply theoretical perspectives to various media purposes and processes
 practice comparative analysis and qualitative analysis
 apply sophisticated research skills in the production of the major paper
COURSE MATERIAL
Required books for this course are available in the York Bookstore and will be
placed on reserve in the Scott Library. Several titles are also available in York’s Ebrary.
Required Reading:
Hackett, Robert A., Richard Gruneau, and Donald Gutstein. The Missing News: Filters
and Blind Spots in Canada’s Press. Toronto, ON, CAN: Broadview Press, 2000. Web.
Journalism After September 11. Eds. Taylor and Francis E-books (CRKN) - York
University et al. London; Routledge, 2002. Print.
Kovach, Bill. The Elements of Journalism :What Newspeople should Know and the
Public should Expect. Ed. Tom Rosenstiel. 1st rev. ed., Completely updated and rev.
ed. New York : Three Rivers Press, 2007. Print.
Lievrouw, Leah A. Alternative and Activist New Media . Cambridge, UK ; Polity, 2011.
Print.
Miller, John. Yesterday’s News Why Canada’s Daily Newspapers are Failing Us. Ed.
EBRARY CEL - York University. Halifax, N.S.: Fernwood Pub., c1998. Print.
Mutz, Diana C. “Effects of “in-Your-Face” Television Discourse on Perceptions of a
Legitimate Opposition.” The American Political Science Review 101.4 (2007): 621-35.
Print.
Papacharissi, Zizi. “Democracy Online: Civility, Politeness, and the Democratic
Potential of Online Political Discussion Groups.” New Media & Society 6.2 (2004):
259-83. Print.
Sobieraj, Sarah, and Jeffrey M. Berry. “From Incivility to Outrage: Political Discourse
in Blogs, Talk Radio, and Cable News.” Political Communication 28.1 (2011): 19-41.
Print.
Course Assignments and Grade Breakdown
Newspaper Analysis Paper (based on group activity)
15%
In-Class Presentation of Research Paper
15%
Research Paper
30%
Weekly Seminar Participations
20%
Take Home Exam
20%
Grading: The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system
used in undergraduate programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ - 7, C+ = 5, etc.).
Assignments will bear either a letter grade designation or a corresponding number
grade (e.g. A+ = 90 to 100, A = 80 to 90, B+ = 75 to 79, etc.)
(For a full description of York grading system see the York University
Undergraduate Calendar http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/pdfs/ug2004cal/calug04_5_acadinfo.pdf)
Assignment Submission: Proper academic performance depends on students
doing their work not only well, but on time. Accordingly, assignments for this course
must be received on the due date specified for the assignment.
Lateness Penalty: Assignments received later than the due date will be penalized
one-half letter grade per day that the assignment is late. Exceptions to the lateness
penalty for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be
entertained by the Course Instructor but will require supporting documentation
(e.g., a doctor’s letter).
ACADEMIC HONESTY
You are responsible for knowing and abiding by York’s policy on Academic Honesty.
Academic honesty is central to both academic and journalistic integrity. Do not go
the way of Janet Cooke and Jayson Blair.
http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/calendars/2012-2013/policies/honesty/
WEEK BY WEEK SCHEDULE
JANUARY 10
INTRODUCTORY CLASS
NEWSPEAK/ASSIGNMENT TOPICS
JANUARY 17
NEWS ANALYSIS
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS/QUANTITATIVE
ANALYSIS/QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS/DISCOURSE
ANALYSIS
JANUARY 24
ETHICS AND CHALLENGES OF JOURNALISM
Kovach & Rosenstiel, The Elements of Journalism
JANUARY 31
ALTERNATIVE JOURNALISM
Lievrouw, Alternative and Activist New Media
Chapters 3, 5 and 7
FEBRUARY 7
ALTERNATIVE JOURNALISM
Lievrouw, Alternative and Activist New Media
Chapters 3, 5 and 7
FEBRUARY 14
PHOTO JOURNALISM/VIDEO AND POLITICAL
CARTOONS
Journalism After September 11, Eds. Zelizer et al.
Chapters 3, 4, and 9.
FEBRUARY 21
READING WEEK /NO CLASSES
FEBRUARY 28
CANADIAN FOCUS:
Robert Hackett, The Missing News: Filters and Blind
Spots in Canada’s Press. Chapters 1 and 6.
Miller, John. Yesterday’s News Why Canada’s Daily
Newspapers are Failing Us. Ed. EBRARY CEL - York
University. Halifax, N.S.: Fernwood Pub., c1998. Print.
MARCH 7
CENSORSHIP/ CONFLICT RHETORIC:
Mutz, Diana C. “Effects of “in-Your-Face” Television
Discourse on Perceptions of a Legitimate Opposition.”
The American Political Science Review 101.4 (2007):
621-35. Print.
Papacharissi, Zizi. “Democracy Online: Civility,
Politeness, and the Democratic Potential of Online
Political Discussion Groups.” New Media & Society 6.2
(2004): 259-83. Print.
Sobieraj, Sarah, and Jeffrey M. Berry. “From Incivility to
Outrage: Political Discourse in Blogs, Talk Radio, and
Cable News.” Political Communication 28.1 (2011): 1941. Print.
MARCH 14
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS OF RESEARCH PAPERS
MARCH 21
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS OF RESEARCH PAPERS
MARCH 28
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS OF RESEARCH PAPERS
APRIL 4
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS OF RESEARCH PAPER
TAKE HOME EXAM ASSIGNMENT
APRIL 11
TAKE HOME EXAM DUE