JMC 600:  Seminar in International and Intercultural Communication

 

Department of Journalism and Mass Communications

Murray State University

Spring 2004

 

Instructor:  Dr. Celia Wall

Office:  210 Wilson Hall

Phone:  762-3171

E-Mail:  celia.wall@murraystate.edu

 

 

Office Hours:              Monday            9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

                                 Tuesday          12 – 12:30 p.m.
                                    Wednesday       8 a.m. - 12 noon                By appointment as needed

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.   

Thursday                    12 – 12:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Class Meets:  8 - 9:15 a.m. Tuesday/Thursday

 

Catalog Description:  Analysis of theories and research in international mass commination.  Focus on transnational information flow and the role of media in facilitating international knowledge and understanding.

 

Prerequisites:  N/A

 

Course Purpose:  To make students aware of 1) the political, economic, social, and technological functions of the mass media throughout the world, 2) how the United States media cover the world, and 3) how media function in the rest of the world.

 

Course Objectives:  At the completion of the course, students should be able to:

 

1)  describe the five theories of the press and explain how those theories relate to the types of media

     systems which have developed round the world;

2)  describe the origins and current status of the mass media in the United States, the developed, the

     developing, and the present and former Communist nations;

3)  compare and contrast the media of the various regions of the world and articulate changes in the

     regions relative to freedom of expression, free flow of information, press freedom, and ownership

4)  discuss how changing technologies have affected the role of media in society;

5)  explain the role of multi-national media conglomerates in the world media arena and discuss the

     ramifications of this new phenomenon on the gathering and dissemination of news as well as on the

     cultures of the world; and

6)  make critical judgements about the way in which media cover international topics.

 

Text and References:  Hachten, William A.  The World News Prism:  Changing Media of International Communication, 5th ed., Ames, Iowa:  Iowa State University Press, 1999.

In addition to textbook readings, students will also be expected to read additional material placed on reserve in Waterfield Library.  Students are expected to do the reading assigned for each class.  Questions from course readings may show up on examinations even though they are not covered in class.

 

Instructional Activities:  Lectures, discussions, readings, handouts, reports, and guest speakers.

 

Field, Clinical, and/or Laboratory Experiences:  N/A

 

Attendance Policy:  Journalism and public relations are deadline-driven fields.  It is critical to your professional success that you learn to meet deadlines. As you would be expected to be punctual and present on a professional job, you are expected to attend all classes and to arrive on time.  A legitimate reason for being absent should be brought to the instructor's attention by notifying the instructor of an absence ahead of time...just as you would notify a professional employer.  For record keeping purposes, it is required that such notification of an absence be in writing, i.e., an e-mail, handwritten note, etc.   While it is acceptable to phone the instructor to let her know you will not be in class, you also need to follow up with something in writing concerning the absence to make sure it does not count against you.

 

Missed work  -- The student will receive NO credit for work turned in late.  Work is late if not submitted on the due date at the beginning of class or at the time assigned  by the instructor.  Work missed due to an excused absence may be made up at the discretion of the instructor, with the exception of unannounced quizzes. These cannot be made up whether the absence is excused or not.  Make-up work will not be accepted more than one class session after the absence. 

 

It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor to make up any missed work resulting from an excused absence. 

 

NOTE:  The complete University-approved Attendance Policy can be found in the latest Undergraduate Bulletin.  Refer to this policy for a discussion of excused absences.

 

Grading Components:  The final grade for the semester will be determined by the following elements:

 

            Exams                                     300 points

            Research Paper                                   250 points

            Presentation of Research             100 points

            Attendance                               100 points                Total = 750 points

 

Below is a brief description of the major assignments for this semester.  Where indicated additional information will be provided to help students complete the assignment.

 

Examinations (300 points):  There will be two examinations given during the semester and a final examination.  The chapters and material to be covered and the exact format of these exams will be discussed prior to the exams.

 

Final Research Paper  (250 points):  Each student will be required to complete a research project designed to expand his/her knowledge of a specific topic concerning some aspect of international mass media.  The end result of this work will be a formal research paper that is.  Details will be provided.

 

Presentation of Research Findings  (100 points):  Each student will be required to present to the class his/her research findings.  This formal presentation will allow the students to share with others in the class what they have found in their research while, at the same time, honing their presentation skills.

 

Attendance (100 points):  This component of the final grade will be determined in the following matter.  At the beginning of the semester a student will be given 100 points for attendance.  Each time the student misses class because of an unexcused absence, 10 points will be deducted from the 100 points.

 

Grading scale for this class will be as follows:

 

                        A = 90% - 100%            C = 70% - 79%                   D = 60% - 69%

                        B = 80% - 89%                                                       E = below 60%

 

Academic Honesty Policy: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty on an assignment in this class could result in a failing grade for the course as well as additional disciplinary action by the university.  For the official university policy, see "Academic Honesty" in the latest Murray State University Undergraduate Bulletin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murray State University provides equal education and employment opportunities and is an M/F/D, AA employer.