Journalism/Radio TV 151H

Introduction to Mass Communication

Last updated 09/27/00

All course requirements are outlined in this syllabus. Alterations may be made at any time by the instructor. They will be announced in class, and students will be held responsible regardless of whether they were in attendance.

Attendance: This is a lecture course, and, hence, attendance will not be recorded. But beware: The vast majority of test material is drawn exclusively from the lectures. You cannot cut excessively and make a decent grade. You must take accurate, detailed notes and study them exhaustively in order to do well.

Required Reading: Stanley J. Baran and Dennis K. Davis, Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment, and Future. 2nd. ed. (Wadsworth, 2000). This text, though balanced, takes a social science approach to communication theory. Chapters outlined below will account for about 10-20% of each test. Although this may seem like a small amount, it represents the difference between one letter grade and another. You are urged to read the text regularly and attentively; in many cases, material in the text will not be coordinated with lectures but, rather, will cover things that there is no time to cover in class. 

Supplementary Reading: Richard Campbell, Media an Culture: An Introduction to Mss Communication (St. Martin’s Press, 1998). Though optional, this is a useful supplement to Baran and Davis' more empirically oriented work. This text, written by the director of MTSU's Journalism school, centers on understanding mass media from a cultural perspective – emphasizing meaning and shared symbolism. My lectures center on media effects and influence examined form a social science perspective. Any intelligent understanding of current mass media requires both approaches.

Examinations: There will be one 100-point multiple-choice test and one 100-point essay test covering the lectures and readings outlined below . There will also be a comprehensive 200-point multiple-choice final. You must bring a General Purpose NCS Answer Sheet and a No. 2 pencil to each multiple-choice examination to record your answers. No one will be given a make-up examination without an adequate, documented excuse and prior arrangement with the instructor. All make-ups are essay examinations and are generally far more difficult than regular examinations. Exams will be monitored carefully and any person caught cheating may be given an F for the entire course.

Papers: There will be a 100-point two- or three-page review of a commercial book dealing with the mass media, selected from an on-line list. There will be one 200-point 5-page review of research findings concerning a controversial media effects issue. These two papers are due as prescribed below, and no late papers will be accepted without prior arrangement and an adequate excuse. In addition, you must present an 10-minute oral report on your book.

Work on Middle Tennessee Poll: To introduce you to public opinion processes, each student in this course must satisfactorily complete one four-hour session of service as a telephone interviewer for the Fall 1999 Middle Tennessee Poll. This session is worth 50 ponts. Sessions will be scheduled each evening, except Sunday evening, Sept. 13 through Sept. 23. Beginning Sept. 6, you may sign up for the session of your choice. Sign-up sheets will be posted beside the door to COMM 130, the computer lab on the first floor of the Mass Communication Building. First come, first served, so don't delay. All calling sessions will take place in COMM 130. A brief introduction and training session will be conducted during class the week before the poll. If you miss the in-class training session, you'll have to attend a make-up training session before you work on the poll. For more details, visit the poll's web site, http://www.mtsu.edu/~commres.

Final Grades: Final grades will be determined by curving the semester's 750 points to a mean of C+ if the class does not naturally average that high. The curve is my gift of grace. Final grades will calculated by dispassionate mathematical means and are not subject to argument. Those averaging 90% and above after the curve will receive As; those above 80% and below 90% will receive Bs, etc.

Contact with the Instructor: You are invited to talk with me after class about issues that interest or concern you, to walk across campus with me when you see me, or drop by my office for a discussion. But, particularly, you are invited to contact me by e-mail at rwyatt@mtsu.edu; such contact is the only way we can overcome the impersonal nature of the University.

Disability Statement: If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with the lecturer as soon as possible. Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Students Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.

Course Philosophy: This is a course in the social science of mass communication. We will examine communication systems though a critical scrutiny of scientific and interpretive studies of media systems. The perspective will be global, that is, international and intercultural. We will begin with an understanding that communication is both a ritual and a means of information transmission across national boundaries and across sexual, economic, religious and social groups within nations and within cultures.

After reviewing empirical data about the influences, effects, uses and gratifications of communication systems, we will probe a number of philosophical questions about government, society and the media. Throughout, reference will also be made to the cultural approach to media, but we will focus on empirical findings regarding media effects.

Assignments for week of:

Aug 24

I. Models and Theories of Communication (Baran and Davis, chapter 1 2; Campbell, chapters 1, 2, 15)

A. General questions
B. Definitions of communication

Aug. 31

C. General models and communications components (Baran and Davis, chapter 3, 4)

Sept. 7

D. Flow theories of communication (Baran and Davis, chapters 6, 7 8)

Sept. 14

E. Macro theories of communication  (Baran and Davis, chapter 10)

Sept. 21

II. Communication and the Marketing Concept (Baran and Davis, chapters 9, 11; Campbell, chapters 11, 12)

Sept. 28    Test 1

Oct. 5

III. Attitudes and Attitude Change (Baran and Davis, chapter ; Campbell, chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

A. Definitions of attitudes

B. Relation of attitudes to behavior

Oct. 12

C. Dissonance and balance

D. Fishbein's Theory of Reasoned Action

Oct. 19

E. Kelman's theory of the relation to source (Baran and Davis, chapter ; Campbell, chapters 8, 9, 10

F. Petty and Cacioppo's Elaboration Likelihood Model

G. Information processing

Oct. 21    FALL BREAK

Oct. 26

H. Propaganda

Oct. 28    Test 2

Nov. 2

IV. Government and the press (Baran and Davis, chapter chapter 5; Campbell, chapters 14)

A. International communication systems and visions of the desirable society (Siebert, Peterson, Schramm, 1956)

B. The fourth branch of government (Cater, 1968)

Nov. 9

C. The nature of public opinion (Lippmann, Dewey, Key, etc.)

D. Secrecy and the politics of lying

E. Media monopoly and the First Amendment (Text, Chapter 13)

Nov. 11 Book review due. For suggestions about books and content, click here.

Nov. 16    

V. Legal Regulation of Mass Communication (Campbell, 16)

A. "How can they do that?": the Supreme Court

B. Criminal v. civil proceedings

Nov. 23    

C. Libel

D. Obscenity: free speech v. exploitation of women

E. Broadcast regulation

F. Commercial speech

Nov. 26    THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Nov. 30     In-class book reviews (Baran and Davis, chapter 12)

Dec. 7       Review of research findings due. For tips and specifications, click here. 

Dec. 16     Final Examination, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

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