GOVT 158: Mass Media and Politics
Fall 2010
Professor: Dr. Kimberly Nalder
Office: Tahoe
3121
e-mail: klnalder@csus.edu
Phone: 278-6693
Office Hours: Friday 1-3, and by appointment
Website: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/n/nalderk
Course Description
In a democratic society,
citizens must rely on the mass media as the primary source of information about
the political system and the behavior of elected officials. Governments,
candidates, and office-holders similarly rely on mass media to communicate
desired messages to the public. As such,
many scholars argue, the media has the capacity to shape political thinking and
frame the issues of the day. Additionally, mass media plays a central role in
developing and passing on culture, shaping attitudes and opinions, and even
creating aspects of individual identity.
This course examines
media from varying perspectives – social, psychological, political, economic,
and cultural – in order to help students develop intellectual tools to engage
and critically interpret and consume mass media. The course will focus on the
role of the modern mass media in limiting, creating, and shaping political
power. We will look at how the media covers politics and political actors, what
determines which events, issues, and individuals get coverage, and how they are
covered. We will explore a number of major criticisms of the media to evaluate
and better understand the capabilities and limitations of the modern media as a
conduit of information for voters. In addition, we will consider how
politicians attempt to utilize the media for their own political gain.
Ultimately, we will discuss how well our system is served by the media, the
limits of media influence, and the extent to which this linkage institution
could be more democratically effective.
Class sessions will make use of news clips, web site browsing, and small
group discussions of controversial case studies, in addition to lectures.
Skills
Objectives
This
course uses teaching methods that help students become more proficient in the
following skills:
1.
To engage in articulate expression through effective speaking and writing
2.
To think critically and creatively
3.
To locate, evaluate, and use information effectively
4.
To integrate different areas of knowledge and view ideas from multiple
perspectives.
Class Policies
Attendance: Mandatory. Should you miss an in-class activity
or be absent more than twice, your grade will suffer. Being in class is
vital to your learning. If you miss 8 or more class session, you will
automatically get an F in the class.
No Make-Up Exams: There will be no make-up
exams offered unless you bring documentation of severe illness or a death in
the family. The same is true of assignments and quizzes. No early exams – you know the schedule from
the first day of the semester – plan accordingly.
No Incompletes: Just finish the coursework on time.
I will not give incompletes for any reason other than a death in the
family or a grave illness.
Cheating and/or
plagiarism:
At the risk of being clichéd, you only cheat yourself when you cheat in
class. Just do the work. The penalties will adhere to University
Policy, but at the minimum will result in an F for the exam or assignment in
question. The relevant university policy can be accessed at: http://library.csus.edu/content2.asp?pageID=353
Turn off Beeping
Things. Please remember to turn off your cell phones, laptop sounds,
etc. No texting or e-mailing during class! If you just MUST chat with someone, please do
it outside of class. Our sessions are
for learning. I reserve the right to ban
laptops in class if a problem develops
Courtesy. Please be respectful
of other’s opinions during discussions. Rest assured that everyone will
get a chance to express themselves. Do be conscious also of the need to
allow a variety of people to speak. In
other words, don’t dominate the conversation. Please sit near the door if you have to leave
early for any reason. Don’t come in late – it’s rude and disruptive. In
short, please show respect and courtesy for everyone in the classroom. Your
participation score can be negatively affected if there are any problems in
this area.
Participate!
This course covers topics that are relevant to all of our lives and our
futures. You are needed to help enliven the course meetings and to
contribute to the learning environment. Come prepared to do just that.
Required
Texts
Graber,
Doris A. Mass Media and American Politics, 8th Edition, 2010 ISBN:
978-1-60426-460-9
McInerny, D.Q. Being Logical: A Guide to
Good Thinking, 2005 (2004 is OK) ISBN: 0812971159
Recommended
The New York Times. Monday-Friday
editions. 1-888-NYT-COLL
Course Web Page: Course syllabi and assignments and links to the
Internet readings are all online at http://www.csus.edu/indiv/n/nalderk. Additional
reading/ watching assignments will be available on SacCT.
Assignments
Participation: It is your responsibility to complete readings/ watchings/ listenings before
class. This means you are expected to
show up every day AND actively participate.
Your attendance and enthusiasm will be rewarded with a strong
participation grade. You are responsible
for all notes, assignments, and course changes missed due to absences. More than 2 absences will negatively impact
your grade. Attendance will be taken every time we meet, and is
a significant portion of your grade.
This course is unique in that a great deal of the skill learning and
content will be delivered in class.
Merely getting notes from someone will not be enough.
Reading/ Listening/
Viewing: Since this is a media
course, you will be assigned much more than simply reading from a text. Most weeks, there will be some sort of
multi-media assignment. It could be
reading something online, watching a television program or youtube
video, or listening to a radio show or podcast.
The content will shift with course content and current events. Plan on setting at least
two hours per week aside for taking in such content in addition to traditional
reading.
Media Analysis Projects: This semester, you will be assigned one research
project and an in-class project. One
involves analyzing the content of news programs, the
other involves analyzing a public speech or debate for logical flaws. We will discuss the details of these projects
in class and formal assignment sheets will be handed out later in the semester. You may want to get started early.
Exams: There will be 1 exam this semester. The exam will test you on readings,
multimedia content, and lecture material. There will be no make-up exams except with a doctor’s
note. If you miss the exam, you will
receive a zero. No early exams. The final exam will be open note, but not
open book. Therefore, you need to keep
careful notes throughout the semester.
Quizzes: Every other week, there will be a quiz on the reading
and multimedia assigned content for the previous 2-week period. Questions from
lectures or in-class sessions are fair game as well. These quizzes will take place on SacCT. You will be
given a limited amount of time to complete the quiz. If you fail to complete the quiz in the time
allotted, you will lose all points for that quiz. The quizzes will be posted each Thursday, and
must be completed by midnight on the following Monday.
In-class/other: There will be a few in-class assignments. We will do group work, dissect campaign ads,
etc. Be sure to attend class, because if
you are absent, you will not get credit for these assignments. There may also be a quick out of class
assignments involving media.
No
Incompletes: I will not give an
incomplete grade for any reason other than a documented serious illness or a death
in the family. Just finish the work on time!
Grading: Points
Participation / attendance 100
In-class projects/ other assignments 100
Media Analysis Projects 250 total , 125 each
(due Oct. 18 and in-class Nov. 8)
Quizzes (7 total)
350
Final Exam
200
-----------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL
1000
YOU
MUST COMPLETE EVERY ASSIGNMENT IN ORDER TO RECIEVE A PASSING GRADE. In other words, you cannot pass this class
without taking the exam and completing every project.
Course Outline / Tentative Reading/Viewing/Listening
Assignments
Week of Aug 30
Introduction – Media and Democracy
Graber, Chapter 1
Week of Sept. 6
The Watchdog Role
Online articles
*Quiz posted Thursday
**No
class on Monday**
Week of Sept. 13 How Journalists Report and Gatekeeping
Graber,
Ch. 4
Online TBA
Week of Sept. 20 Media
Exposure: How much? What types? What consequences?
Online TBA
*Quiz posted Thursday
Week of Sept. 27 Political Socialization
and Cognition and Opinion
Graber, Ch. 7
Online TBA
Week of Oct. 4 Political
Knowledge: Can Citizens Get What They Need?
Online TBA
McInerny
Part 1
*Quiz
posted Thursday
Week of Oct. 11
Logic and Reporting
TBA online
McInerny Parts 2and 4
Week of Oct. 18 Campaign
Coverage
McInerny Part 5
TBA online
*Quiz posted Thursday
Week of Oct. 25
Electoral Effects: early reporting, priming, etc.
Graber, Ch.
8
Online TBA
Online TBA
McInerny
Part 5
*Quiz posted
Thursday
Week of Nov. 8 Soft news, Satire, and Web 2.0
Online TBA
**Logic project in class on Monday**
Week of Nov. 15 Reporting on Crises and Foreign affairs
Graber, Ch. 5
*Quiz
posted Thursday
Week of Nov. 22 How Politicians Make the News
Graber, Ch. 9
Week of Nov. 29
News Business and Regulation
Graber,
Ch. 2
*Quiz
posted Thursday
Week Dec. 6
Summing
it up: The Future of Public Interest Media
Graber,
Ch. 12
Final exam Friday,
December 17th 10:15-12:15