Origins and developments of specific media and media-related institutions will be considered. This course examines the technological developments, regulatory policy, industrial structure and social impact of various media and telecommunications industries, including newspaper, radio, TV, film, computer, telephone and information services. Communication theories and methodologies are also examined.
Primary emphasis is on U.S. media.
The social, economic, and political implications of the role of the U.S. media in international markets and cultural contexts will also be considered. Introduces students to social science approaches to the study of communication phenomena including the logic of inquiry, standards of evidence, and grounds for making claims about communicative behaviors. Explores landmark studies within the discipline by examining such topics as free speech and censorship, journalistic objectivity, new framing, and the construction of public opinion. The role of media in Western and Non-western cultures is discussed as are the philosophies and institutional structures supporting state and private ownership of media. The globalization of media content and media institutions, transborder data flows and cultural imperialism are also discussed.