RT393 Electronic Media in Society

RT393 Electronic Media in Society

2:00-3:15 Tues and Thurs

Comm 1046

SYLLABUS

Fall 2013

Instructor: CinziaPadovani, PhD

Office Hours: T and TR: 1:00-2:00; 3:15-4:30; Wednesday: 2:30-3:00; 5:30-6:00, Communications Building, Room 2223. E-mail: (I reply to students’ emails during my office hours).Please, note:As part of cost-cutting measures in the College, faculty telephone lines were taken off a few years ago. Therefore, I do not have a telephone number where you can reach me.

Teaching Assistant (TA): LindaniMemani

Office Hours: T and TR: 10:00-12:00; Wednesday: 10:00-11:00 Communications Building, Room 2231. E-mail: . The TA keeps your grades and uploads all the relevant information on our class D2L platform. She is the person you must first contact if you have any question or problem in this class.

Required Text: Media and Society: Industries, Images, and Audiences, 3rd edition, by David Croteau,WilliamHoynes, and Stefania Milan, Sage Publications. This textbook provides a critical-cultural perspective on the history of media institutions and the relationship between media and society. Additional readings might be added and posted on Desire2Learn. Given that we will frequently discuss current events, it is also very important that you keep yourself up to date with what is happening in the media.

PLEASE NOTE: This class is on Desire2Learn (D2L): information will be posted on the platform on a regular basis, so make sure you check it consistently throughout the semester.

Purpose of the Course:

The main goal of this course is for students to reflect on the relevance of the social, cultural, and political impact of media in our societies. A fundamental aspect of this reflection is to have a broad internationalframework. I believe that an awareness of the global context in which contemporary media operate is crucial to your well-rounded and comprehensive education. Therefore, we will often discuss comparative perspectives and introduce ideas, concepts, and practices from other countries and cultures. In this class you will: 1) develop a critical perspective on media; 2) be aware of the impact of media on our societies; 3) become a betterinformed citizen; 4) develop an appreciation for media differences across the world. In order to promote this kind of critical awareness, I will encourage class discussion through the analysis of current events and weekly readings. You must read assigned material and come to class prepared to offer your intelligent and informed contribution.

Teaching Style:

I implement a variety of teaching styles—from formal lectures to structured discussions—and use a variety of support material (video clips, power points, D2L) in my classroom. My intent is, as much as possible, to create a student-centered learning environment. My teaching philosophy draws heavily on the Socratic method of dialogue, where each student participates in an effort to expand and enrich the learning experience of the whole group. A successful course is one where we all learn and grow. I expect a positive, engaged attitude from each one of you.

The Structure:

The course is structured as follows. First, we focus on the communication process and the cultural industries. We will then talk about Media, Politics, and Ideology, and discuss media representation. As part of our work, we will also learn about the legislative frameworkof media in the U.S. as well as internationally.

An Inclusive Classroom: I believe that students with different abilities enrich the learning environment for all of us and contribute to creating a more inclusive and diverse classroom. Inclusiveness in this classroom is top priority. If you have a learning difference that I need to know about, please do not hesitate to let me or the TA know right at the beginning of the semester, or as soon as you have a diagnosis of LD available.

Evaluation

Your final grade for this course will be assessed as follows:

1. Exams: 85% of final grade. There will be five exams: Exam 1, 2, 3 and4 will each count 15% of final grade. Exam 5 will be cumulativeand count for 25% of final grade. Questions will be taken from the textbook, class presentations (lectures, guest-speakers, PPTs, overheads, videos, etc.), and class discussions.
2. Class participation: 15% of final grade. This category includes:informed and active participation in class discussions based on readings and other class material; occasional class work in the form of work sheets (Pass or Fail); surprise quizzes (also Pass or Fail). PLEASE NOTE: REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS A PRE-REQUISITE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE POINTS FOR CLASS PARTICIPATION. PLEASE, SEE CLASS PARTICIPATION RUBRIC (ON D2L AND DISTRIBUTED IN CLASS) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW I WILL ASSIGN YOUR CLASS PARTICIPATION POINTS.

Dates of Examination WILL NOT be changed to fit individual student needs. If you miss an exam date, you will get a 0 on your exam and you might not be able to make it up. Only documented medical conditions might represent valid justification to make up a missed exam. It will be your responsibility to let the TA know why you missed an exam and provide her with your doctor’s note as soon as possible (no more than one week after the missed exam). We will then review your case and determine whether or not you can make up the exam. Make up exams will have to be taken under the supervision of the TA during her office hours. Basic Rule of thumb: Do not miss an exam. No medical documentation, no excuse. No kidding.

Please note: NO EXTRA CREDITS will be available for this class.

DISCIPLINE:

Cellular Phones and any other technological device (including laptops, unless a student needs Assistive Technologies as stated by Students Services), cannot be used during class. No Texting, no web surfing, no social media, etc.Is allowed during class. Working on homework for other classes is also NOT allowed. I willask you to leave your cell phone with the RTD secretary and/or leave the classroom if I see you texting or web surfing at any time during class. If I ask you to leave, attendance for that day will not be counted (See Attendance Policy below).

Students MUST come to class a few minutes before 2:00 p.m. as class starts promptly at that time. Students cannot leave until the end of class (unless there is an emergency, or if the instructor has released the class earlier). Do NOTstart packing up BEFORE class is dismissed or before 3:15.

Students must be respectful at ALL times when addressing the Instructor, the Teaching Assistant, and fellow classmates.

Get plenty of sleep before you come to class. I will wake you up and WILL ask to leave, if you can’t stay awake.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WEAR HATSin CLASS.

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory and you are responsible for signing in the attendance sheet. The TA will keep all your attendance records. If you miss class more than 3 class times, I will drop your final grade by1 letter grade for each additionalclass.EXAMPLE: if you are absent 4times, I take 1 letter grade offyour final grade; if you miss 5 classes, I take 2 letter grades off; and so on.

TARDINESS: If you are late to class (being tardy to class means that you arriveafter2:00 p.m., SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ARRIVING AT 2:01 MEANS YOU ARE LATE), you CANNOT sign in the attendance sheet and your attendance for that day will not be counted. If you sign in anyway even if you came in late, you will be in breach of class policies and the TA will mark you absent anyway.

You have the first week of the semester to get used to this.

PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING
Plagiarism and cheating are Academic Misconducts and will not be tolerated in this class. Please, check the SIU students code of conduct to find out about the consequences of plagiarism and cheating at If you are caught plagiarizing or cheating on ANY assignment for this class, you will get an F in the course. There are NO exceptions.

PLEASE NOTE:

IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANY OF THESE POLICIES, ASK ME OR THE TA FOR CLARIFICATION.

SCHEDULE

(NOTE: THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Week 1 Part I: The Process & The Industries

•T (8/20): First Day of Class. Orientation.

•R (8/22): The Communication Process.

Week 2

•T (8/27): The Communication Process continues. Read by Tuesday: Chapter 1 of textbook.

•R (8/29): Media in Society: Growing Up On Line.

Week 3 Global Media

•M (9/2) LABOR DAY

•T (9/3): GLOBAL MEDIA, for today READ CHAPTER 10 OF TEXTBOOK

•R (9/5):Global Media Continues.

Week 4

•T (9/10): REVIEW FOR EXAM #1

•R (9/12):Exam 1

Week 5: THE CASE OF Media in JAMAICA

•T (9/17):watch LIFE AND DEBT

•R (9/19):JAMAICAN MEDIA. READINGS ON D2L.

Week 6 Media, Politics, Ideology

•T (9/24): IDEOLOGY AND THE MEDIA.Read CHAPTER 5.

•R (9/26): KILLING US SOFTLY III

Week 7:

•T (10/1):MEDIA LEGISLATION. Read Chapter 3.

•R (10/3):FREE SPEECH FOR SALE

Week 8:

•T (10/8):Review

•R (10/10):Exam #2

Week 9

• 10/15 FALL BREAK

•R (10/17): FREE SPEECH: THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS. the case of WikiLeaks.

Week 10

•T (10/22): Guest speaker to be announced

•R (10/24): Anti-fascist media in Italy

Week 11:

•T (10/29): REVIEW

•R (10/31): Exam #3

Week 12: More on the cultural industries…

•T (11/5): TBA

•R (11/7): Guest Speaker TBA

Week 13:

•T (11/12): TBA

•R (11/14): REVIEW

Week 14:

•T (11/19):Exam #4

•R (11/21): GUEST SPEAKER TBA

Week 15:

•T (11/26): REVIEW

•THANKSGIVING VACATION: 11/27 – 12/01

Week 16:

TBA

Final Exam: 12/13 at 15:10 – 17:10

BERT: Building Emergency Response Protocols:

University’s Emergency Procedure Clause:

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the SIUC Emergency Response Plan and Building Emergency Response Team (BERT) program. Emergency response information is available on posters in buildings on campus, available on BERT’s website at Department of Public Safety’s website (disaster drop down) and in the Emergency Response Guideline pamphlet. Know how to respond to each type of emergency.

Instructors will provide guidance and direction to students in the classroom in the event of an emergency affecting your location. It is important that you follow these instructions and stay with your instructor during an evacuation or sheltering emergency. The Building Emergency Response Team will provide assistance to your instructor in evacuating the building or sheltering within the facility.

Disabled Students:

Instructors and students in the class will work together as a team to assist disabled students out of the building safely. Disabled students will stay with the instructor and communicate with the instructor what is the safest way to assist them.

Tornado: During the spring semester we have a Storm Drill.

Pick up your belongings and your instructor will lead you to a safe area of the basement. No one will be allowed to stay upstairs. Stay away from windows. The drill should not last more than 10 minutes. You must stay with your instructor so he/she can take roll calls. Students need to be quiet in the basement as the BERT members are listening to emergency instructions on handheld radios and cannot hear well in the basement.

Fire: During the fall semester we have a Fire Drill.

Pick up your belongings and your instructor will lead you to either the North or South parking lot depending on what part of the building your class is in. You must stay with your instructor so he/she can take roll calls. As soon as the building is all clear, you will be allowed to return to class.

These drills are to train instructors and the Building Emergency Response Team to get everyone to a safe place during an emergency.

Bomb Threat:If someone calls in a bomb threat, class will be suspended and students will be asked to pick up their belongings, evacuate the building and leave the premises. Do not leave anything that is yours behind. We will not allow anyone back into the building until the police and bomb squad give us an all clear. DO NOT USE YOUR CELL PHONES. Some bombs are triggered by a cell phone signal.

Shooter in the Building: Whenit is safe to leave,move to a safe area farfrom the building where the shooter is located.If you have any information about the shooter,pleasecontactthe police afteryou return home.If you cannot leave, go intoaroom, lock the door, turn out the lights, and if possible, cover the glass on the door. Silence all cell phones after one person in the room you are in calls the police and informs them of your location and how many are in the room. Be quiet and wait for the police to arrive.The police are looking for one or more shooters, and theyhave no way of knowingif the shooter is in the room with you. For that reason, when the police enter theroom,no one should have anything in his/her hands and each person MUST raise his/her hands above his/her head.

Earthquake:In the event of an earthquake you are advised to take cover quickly under heavy furniture or near an interior wall, a corner, to avoid falling debris. Outside the building are trees and power lines and debris from the building itself that you will need to stay away from. In the building, large open areas like auditoriums are the most dangerous. Do not try to escape on a stairway or elevator. Do not hide under a stairway. We do not recommend that you stand in a doorway because the door could shut from the vibrations and crush your fingers trapping you there.

Women’s Self-Defense Class:For interested female students and female faculty and staff, the SIU Public Safety Department sets up free self-defense classes. The SIU Public Safety Department will be teaching this class. They teach a free class in the fall and spring at the Rec Center. In the fall you would register at the Rec Center for the Women’s Self-Defense Class or RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) as it is sometimes called. If you have questions about registering for the class, you can send an email to . LaVon is the contact in the Dean’s Office in the Communications building that will assist you to try to find the class you need.