COMM 3350: Telecommunication and Electronic Media
Industries
Tuesday/Thursday
Instructor:
Office: Humanities 151
Department of Mass
Communications and Theatre Arts
State
Office Hours: T/R
W
By Appointment
Telephone: (770) 836-4564
E-mail: byates@westga.edu
My UWG: http://myuwg.westga.edu
Personal web site: http://www.westga.edu/~byates
Important Note:
Read this entire course
syllabus carefully. You are responsible for all the information
contained herein. Ignorance of the
policies of the class will not be an acceptable excuse.
I am available to
address matters of concern during my
office hours. If those hours are not
convenient, please schedule an appointment with me. If you visit my office at other times, I may
not be available because of other duties I must attend to.
If you have
problems in the class, it is YOUR
responsibility to initiate contact with me.
I cannot help you if you do not communicate with me. Let me know of any problems early in the semester. I will
not accept excuses for poor performance or missing exams, especially late
in the semester.
1. Dominick, J. R., Messere, F., &
Sherman, B. L. (2004). Broadcasting,
cable, the Internet, and beyond: An introduction to modern electronic media
(5th ed.).
2. You should purchase a Classroom Performance
System (CPS) Response Pad from the Bookstore.
3. You will be required to subscribe to TVSpy’s
ShopTalk Listserv and read the daily postings in order to participate in class
discussions. There may be pop quizzes
based on the contents of ShopTalk. To subscribe, go to http://www.tvspy.com/admin.cfm?type=4
and follow the directions. You can also read the current day’s posts online at http://www.tvspy.com/shoptalk.cfm.
If you need to read previous posts you can access ShopTalk Archives at http://www.tvspy.com/shoptalk_archive_list.cfm.
4. Additional readings from selected textbooks,
newspapers, magazines, and Web sites will be assigned throughout the semester
as well as the viewing/listening of various television and radio programs.
5. You might find these Web sites interesting:
Television without pity: http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/;
Yahoo! TV: http://tv.yahoo.com/; Jump the
Shark: http://www.jumptheshark.com/;
and News Directory: http://newsdirectory.com/.
*It
is not possible to successfully complete the requirements of COMM 3350 without
reading the textbook and additional materials.
COMM 3350 is a
continuation of COMM 1154-Introduction to Mass Communications and examines
contemporary industry and social issues facing telecommunication and electronic
media. Particular attention will be
given to the analysis of structure and process, revenue sources, programming
and services, audience research, and effects. Furthermore, COMM 3350 is a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)
course and will require writing to learn and writing to communicate assignments
to develop skills in communicating. In addition, this course will utilize the
Classroom Performance System (CPS) in an effort to enhance and facilitate
learning.
Mass Communications Program Learning
Outcomes:
1.
Students
will be able to understand critically the origin, development, and paramount
economic, legal/policy, social, and effects issues of mass media.
2.
Students
will be able to understand critically structure and process of mass media
industries within economic, legal, and ethical considerations.
3.
Students
will develop the ability to write mass media messages with accuracy, clarity,
and brevity on deadline and within varying style, ethical, and legal
considerations.
4.
Students
will develop proficient use of technology to produce visual and audio messages
for mass media within varying aesthetic, style, technical, ethical, and legal
considerations.
5.
Students
will be able to gain practical experiences to apply and test knowledge and
skills, and to network with professionals.
6.
Students
will be encouraged to engage in interdisciplinary scholarship.
7.
Students
will be provided a foundation for graduate study in communication.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1.
Students
will critically understand TEM structure and process.
2.
Students
will critically understand TEM revenue sources, programming, and services.
3.
Students
will critically understand TEM audience and effects research.
You are expected
to analyze and respond to issues through discussions, research, writings, and oral
reports. Assigned readings should be completed prior to class. Informed participation in class discussions
is expected. Lectures will expound on central concepts in readings, introducing
information from sources other than assigned text(s). You are responsible for learning
all material presented in class and assigned text(s). It is also your
responsibility to make use of office hours to discuss lecture and reading
material that is unclear to you.
Grades earned in this class are based
solely on the following:
Exam #1-100 points
Exam #2-100 points
Exam #3-100 points
Applied Research
Reports: (WTL and WTC)
Academic
Abstract (WTL)-20 points
Radio
Station Analysis (WTL)-20 points
Cable
TV Network Analysis (WTL)-20 points
Response
to Cable TV Analysis (WTL)-20 points
Web
Site Analysis (WTC)-50 points
A=450-500
B=400-449
C=350-399
D=300-349
F=299 and below
Here is the
general policy for the course. You need
to attend every scheduled class session.
Please be on time. I’ll take
attendance. If you miss more than
fifteen (15) minutes of a class session or are not present, I’ll need to
consider you “absent.” You have three (3) excused absences, so use them
judiciously and sparingly (i.e., car trouble, minor illness, job interview,
etc.). Ten points will be deducted for
each absence in excess of three. (For
example, you will lose 20 points if you miss 5 total classes for the
semester). You may not use your personal
days on examination days or on days on which you are scheduled for an oral
report. An unexcused absence from an
examination will result in zero credit on the missed exam. Attendance
is required of everyone on oral report days, even if you are not giving
a presentation. Your classmates deserve an audience just like you. An
unexcused absence on an oral report day lowers your attendance grade by 15 points. (Excessive
absences (more than 9) will result in failure of the course).
Note: It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to be aware of
your attendance. You should see me at any point during the semester if you have
any questions whatsoever about this policy or your attendance–the sooner the
better. It is also YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to take notes and take exams as
scheduled, especially if you are a graduating senior.
Excused absences: Absences may be excused when due to
unavoidable situations substantiated with documentation. Acceptable situations include a serious
incapacitating illness or a death in your family, among others. Requests for excused absences will not be
considered unless made in writing prior to the absence in question unless there
are extreme circumstances that did not allow for a prior request. I certainly understand that unforeseen things
can happen to anyone. Please try to work
things out with me in advance if at all possible.
Handouts: You are responsible for collecting all handouts at the time
they are distributed. If you are absent, you have ONE WEEK to collect the
materials. After one week, do not ask me
for copies of handouts. I will not keep
extra copies! Most handouts will be posted on WebCT.
My UWG Campus Pipeline: It will be necessary to keep in contact
with one another via the My UWG Campus Pipeline (i.e., e-mail and WebCT). You
will be responsible for checking the Campus Pipeline (http://myuwg.westga.edu/cp/home/loginf)
on a regular basis for class announcements, assignments, and discussion topics.
Exams: There will be three
(3) exams based on lectures, class discussions, assigned readings, and
listening/viewing assignments. The
format of the exams will be a combination of objective (multiple choice,
true/false, fill-in-the-blank, matching) and possibly subjective (short
answer/essay) questions.
You are expected
to be on time for each exam. No one will be allowed to begin an exam
after one student in the class has completed the exam and left the room unless
you are late due to an unavoidable situation substantiated with documentation. No one is allowed to leave the room for any
reason during an exam unless he or she becomes too ill to complete the
exam. Therefore, all needs (water,
restroom, etc.) should be taken care of before entering the exam room.
Early and make-up
exams are administered ONLY in cases of absence due to unavoidable situations
substantiated with documentation.
Requests for early exams must be made at least one week prior to the
exam, and requests for make-up exams must be made within two hours of the
exam. Contact the professor or leave a
message, including a contact number, at 770-836-4564. Make-up exams must be completed during the
current semester at a time determined by the professor.
You
will have four (4) writing to learn
assignments this semester, each worth 20
points, and one (1) writing to
communicate assignment worth 50 points.
1.
Academic
abstract: Summarize the
contents of a refereed journal article. You must turn in a hard copy of the
article you abstract. Further details will be provided. (300-500 words) (Due
2.
Radio
Station Analysis: You will
be assigned a radio station to research and report on ownership, programming,
ratings, etc. Further details will be provided. (500-700 words) (Due
3.
Cable
TV Network Analysis: You
will be assigned a cable network to research and report on ownership,
programming, ratings, etc. Further details will be provided. (500-7000 words) (Due
4.
Response
to Cable TV Network Analysis:
You will be assigned a classmate’s Cable TV Network Critique to respond to.
Further details will be provided. (300-500 words) (Due
5.
Web
Site Analysis: You will
choose your favorite TV Web site to research and report on its features and
content. Further details will be provided. (700-1,000 words) (Due
ORAL
REPORT
You will be
required to give a 5-minute oral report of the purpose of a selected media
organization or media watchdog or support group. Your presentation should
include use of the Internet and PowerPoint. Your report will be given on one of
the following days: 11/16, 11/23, 11/30,
12/02, or 12/07 and is worth 20
points. Further details will be provided.
Academic
dishonesty is NOT tolerated. It will
result in failure on assignment(s) as well as possible disciplinary sanction(s)
as stipulated by university rules.
Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials,
information or study aids
Fabrication: falsification or unauthorized invention of
any information or citation
Plagiarism: representing the words or ideas of another
as one's own. Direct quotations must be
indicated and ideas of another must be appropriately acknowledged.
Academic
dishonesty in any form compromises your grade and lowers the quality of your
diploma. A fellow student who cheats may
actually lower your grade, sometimes causing unfair and inflated grading
scales. I hope each of you values your
college education enough to protect yourself from dishonest classmates. If you are aware of cheating taking place,
please contact Dr. David Goff, chair of the Department of Mass Communications
and Theatre Arts, or me and proper action will be taken.
I will make
special arrangements for students with special needs. Don’t wait until after
the first exam to talk with me! Don’t
try and “wing it” without telling me about your particular problem or needs. If
you need special accommodations for exams, let me know early, not a few days before the exam. I am here to facilitate
your learning, but I need to be informed to do so.
You do not need me
to tell you how to behave in a classroom environment. However, I want you to know what I expect
from you in order to avoid embarrassing situations.
l
I will
encourage class discussion. Feel free to
speak your mind during class, no matter how outrageous your comments may
be. I expect, however, that you show
respect to your classmates. If you
disagree with their point of view, please express that disagreement in a way
that is not offensive.
l
Turn
off all cell phones and pagers. If a phone rings, I reserve the right to answer
the phone and to ask you to leave class.
l
I will be well aware of the clock during
our class meetings. Therefore, please refrain
from slamming books and closing back packs until the class is over! I will be respectful of your schedules and
will not purposely keep you longer than our allotted time.
(This schedule is subject to change in order to accommodate
guest speakers and maintain some flexibility. Additional reading and
viewing assignments will be made throughout the semester. You are
responsible for all material assigned.)
August
Week One
Tues. 24-Syllabus
Review/Introduction
Thurs. 26-Chapter
1-History of Broadcast Media
Week Two
Tues. 31-Chapter
2-History of Cable, Home Video, and the Internet
September
Thurs. 02-Chapter
3-Audio and Video Technology
Week Three
Tues. 07-Ch.
4-Radio Today
Thurs. 09-Ch.
8-Radio Programming/Academic Abstract
Due
Week Four
Tues. 14-Exam #1 (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 8)
Thurs. 16-Ch. 5-
Broadcast and Cable Television Today
Week Five
Tues. 21-Ch. 9-TV
News Programming (pp. 198-211)
Thurs. 23-Ch. 9-TV
Entertainment Programming (pp. 211-217, 220-226)
Week Six
Tues. 28-Ch.
9-Cable Network Programming/Public Television Programming (p. 217-219)
Thurs. 30-Ch.
2-Alternatives to Cable (pp. 33-37)/Radio
Station Analysis Due
October
Week Seven
Tues. 05-Ch.
2-Internet (pp. 37-46)/
Thurs. 07-Ch.
7-The Business of Broadcasting and Cable
Week Eight
Tues. 12-Ch. 7-The
Business of Broadcasting and Cable/Ch. 12-Ratings and Audience Feedback
Thurs.-14-Ch.
12-Ratings and Audience Feedback/Cable
TV Network Analysis Due/Last Day to Withdraw with a W
Week Nine
Tues. 19-Catch-up/Review
Thurs. 21-Exam #2 (Chapters 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12)
Week Ten
Tues. 26-Chapter
10-Rules and Regulations
Thurs. 28-Chapter
10-Rules and Regulations/Response to
Cable TV Network Analysis Due
November
Week Eleven
Tues. 02-Chapter
11-Self-Regulation and Ethics
Thurs. 04-Ch.
13-Effects Research
Week Twelve
Tues. 09-Ch.
13-Effects Research
Thurs. 11-Catch-up/Review/Web Site Analysis Due/(Yates tentatively
out of town)
Week Thirteen
Tues.-16-Oral Reports
Thurs. 18-Exam #3 (Chapters 10, 11, 13)/(Yates
tentatively out of town)
Week Fourteen
Tues. 23-Oral Reports
Thurs. 25-No Class-Thanksgiving
Week Fifteen
Tues.-30-Oral Reports
December
Thurs. 02-Oral Reports
Week Sixteen
Tues. 07-Oral Reports
Fri. 10 Reading Day
Note: I wish to acknowledge
and thank Dr.