Journalism & Mass Communication 4302/5353
History of the Mass Media

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Students will study the development of mass media, advertising and public relations from 1690 to the present.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

In this class you will study the development of mass media, advertising and public relations. You will read about the people, ideas and events in journalism that have been important in the development of the mass media. The objective of this class is to help you understand the history of the press in its various roles, as part of the political process, as a voice of freedom, as a reformer, as a vehicle of sensationalism and entertainment, as a business, and as a definer and keeper of important national values. This understanding will help you see that the press has always been a part of the cultural, social, political and economic life of the country, and it has both influenced and been influenced by its surroundings.

REQUIREMENTS:

Text:  American Media History by Anthony R. Fellow, Belmont, CA, Wadsworth, 2009.

Students taking this class are required to have access to a computer with high speed Internet access. Computers and Internet access are available on both the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses. You will also be required to use TRACS to access course materials and exams. If you are not adept at using TRACS or downloading the necessary programs that will make it possible for you to review the materials prepared for this course, then this online version of History of the Mass Media may not be advisable for you.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Since this course is designed for ONLINE presentation, you will not be attending class. All of the materials will be e-mailed to you. The e-mails will provide links to the study materials that will complement the assigned textbook chapters.  Although you will not be meeting with the professor, you will be expected to cover the assigned units in a timely fashion. Tests will be available online only on the dates listed below (See Summer I schedule). It is essential for you to cover the material ahead of these assigned test dates.

HOW TO SUCCEED:

The reading assignments and exam dates are scheduled below. Exams will cover textbook chapters, lectures and videos. You should download and listen to the .swf (Shockwave) files, playable using your browser or with a Flash playback program). You should also download and review the notes provided in the .ppt (PowerPoint) files. And you should watch the assigned videos carefully and take notes on them. Some of the test questions will come from the videos.

GRADING:

Four exams will be given during the summer session. The four exams will consist of 25 multiple choice statements and will be available only on TRACS. Once you begin the test on the assigned date, you will have 25 minutes to answer all of the questions. You may submit your response only once. See the schedule below for the dates you may take these tests.

If you are a student with a disability certified by the Office of Disability Services and you require accommodation in my class, it is your responsibility to tell me at the beginning of the semester so that accommodation can be provided promptly.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication commits itself to the preparation of ethical mass media professionals and scholars. Such a mission demands the highest standard of academic honesty and integrity. Violations of academic honesty, including but not limited to plagiarism, collusion, deception, conflict of interest and theft, are not tolerated and can lead to severe penalties. Disciplinary actions for violations of the standards for academic honesty are outlined in the university's honor code. The policy is available at http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-0710-01.html

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