Mass Media Foundations
This introductory course surveys how media influences individuals, cultures, and societies.
Topics include entertainment media, digital media, the Internet, books, newspapers,
magazines, recordings, advertising, and other relevant issues. In addition, media
ethics and responsibility, government regulation, legal issues, politics, and corporate
media will be examined.
Lecture: 3 hours
Textbooks in Use:
Baran, Stanley, Introduction to Mass Communication, 8th ed.
Vivian, John, Media of Mass Communication, 11th ed.
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Differentiate among forms of mass media
- Explain media's role in consumerism
- Explain media's role in citizenship
- Learn how corporations use media to influence
- Learn about the government's role in media
- Identify challenges of new media communications
- Identify ethical and behavioral issues in media
- Class participation
- Chapter tests
- Exams (mid-term and final)
- Written assignments
- Various group presentations
- Create a blog, website, or other social tool
- Definition of mass media
- First Amendment history and application
- Mass communication theory and literacy
- Effects of mass media on society
- Government regulation
- Legal issues
- Topics related to various media (print, radio, film, TV, etc.)