JCOM 1500

Introduction to Mass
Communication
Tuesday & Thursday 9am-10:15
am
Taggart Auditorium

Textbook
Introduction to Mass
Communication:
Media
Literacy
and Culture,
9th ed.
This course is designed to provide an overview of American mass
media,
incorporating
historical,
J. Baran
social, economic, and political perspectives. More importantly, Stanley
it is intended
to encourage you to
think critically about mass media, their possible effects, the forces that shape them, and your
vulnerability and power as a media consumer.

Your responsibilities, my responsibilities:

First and foremost, you are expected to take responsibility for your own learning. I am a guide and a
resource, here to help you learn as much as you desire. But ultimately, what you take away from this class
is up to you. It is your responsibility to come to class prepared to participate. As part of these
responsibilities, you are responsible for any information on the CANVAS system,
including email. Save all assignments until the end of the semester, just in case you need them for
future reference.
It is my responsibility to come to class prepared to share information, exchange thoughts and opinions,
and basically give you a hard time. I commit to creating a respectful classroom atmosphere. I am
responsible for guiding class discussion in a way that encourages and respects all viewpoints; I will not
tolerate speech that is discriminatory or hateful in any way. In other words, only I get to declare
someones views as fascist. I do not make content accommodations for this class.
As part of these responsibilities, I am responsible for accurate and timely communication
with you, including holding regular office hours. I will respond to texts, phone calls, and emails
within 24 hours, except on weekends.

Course Team
Instructor
Debra JensonAGRS 316
Office hours:
801.710.9155T/W: 11a-12p
Undergraduate Teaching Fellows
Chris Glaittli
801.750.7929
Shelby Ruud
208.705.2282

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ction
Com
on

Course Objectives

The Harry Potter series

spans the mass communication spectrum from the original seven printed books, 8 mo

Course
Assignments
Exams: There will
be two noncumulative exams,
a midterm exam in
class on Tuesday,
October 18th and a
final exam on
Thursday,
December 15th from
9:30 to 11:20. The
midterm will test
on material from
weeks 1-7, while the
final will cover
content from weeks

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Identify the
Understand the
Identify
Group
Individual
forces
that
roleGroup
of mass
consumer
role
assignments
assignments
assignments
shape
mass
media
mass
media
9-15.
Exam time
is limited and no exams
are given outon
once the first examin
has
been turned
inbe on
time. media &
society &
content and its
content.
individuals.
future.
Group Assignments: Three times throughout the semester, groups will complete a Minute Paper
assignment.
This assignment will require group
members to engage with the
topic of the week, think
Quizzes
Exams
Participation
critically about the material, apply it to an area of life, and write an exam question. The Minute Paper
form can be found linked in the CANVAS page.

Individual Assignments: Students will complete two individual assignments, one from Modules
1 or 2, and one from Modules 3, 4 or 5. Module 1 and 2 individual assignments challenge students to
think about the way they approach media and its relationship to their lives; Modules 3, 4, and 5
address the content of mass media and the impact it has on our culture and the way we experience the
world. The assignment forms can be found linked in the CANVAS page.
Quizzes & Participation: During the semester there will be 6 quizzes, given at random times
and without notice. Quizzes will cover material discussed in class as well as readings. At the end of the
semester, the lowest score will be dropped and only five quizzes will count toward your grade. This is
how I measure your participation and attendance, so please be in class!
If you have a documented disability (learning or otherwise),
and you need a reasonable accommodation in this course,
please visit the Disability Resource Center in Room 101 of the
University Inn 435.797.2444. I am happy to work with you, but
must have guidance from the DRC first.

In 2004, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlakes Super Bowl Halftime Show created shock and outrage

Academic Standards and Policies:

The University expects that students andLast
faculty
alike
day
to maintain
add or drop: Grading:
the highest standards of academic honesty.
For the benefit
of
Course
Outline
Monday,
September
19
30%Exams
**This
outline
is
fluid,
and
therefore
subject
to
change
at my whimwith
due notice.**
students
who
may
not
be
aware
of
specific
standards
of
the
Week
30%Group
Assignments
Day
Date
Topic
Reading
Assignment
DUE
University concerning academic honesty, Last
the following
day to withdraw:
30%Individual Assignments
Tues
1
information
is quoted 08/30
from TheCourse
Code Intro
of Policies
and October 31
Monday,
10%Quizzes & Participation
3/4
Procedures for Students at Utah State University (revised
September 2009), Article VI, Section 1.

MediaModule 5: Visual MediaModule 4: Interactive MediaModule 3: Print / Traditional Media ProfessionsModule 2: Media Theoryodule 1:

Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs

09/01
09/06
09/08
09/13
09/15
09/20
09/22

Tues

09/27

Media Professions

Thurs
Tues
Thurs

09/29
10/04
10/06

Journalism
Broadcast

Tues

10/11

Public Relations

Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues

10/13
10/18
10/20
10/25

Books

Thurs

10/27

10

Tues

11/01

11

Thurs
Tues

11/03
11/08

Thurs

11/10

Tues
Thurs
Tues

11/15
11/17
11/22

Thurs

11/24

Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs

11/29
12/01
12/06
12/08

Thurs

12/15

2
3
4

8
9

12
13

14
15

16

Thurs
Tues
Thurs

NO CLASS Shhhhhhh.
Ch. 1 & Ch. 2

Media & Culture

Media Law & Ethics

Ch. 14

Media Theories

Ch. 13

Groups 1-10
Media Journal DUE
Groups 11-20
Groups 21-30
Groups 31-40
Media Deprivation
Study DUE
Groups 41-50
Groups 1-10

Ch. 11 & Ch. 12

Professional Profile
DUE
Groups 11-20
MIDTERM EXAM In class
NO CLASS Fall Break
Ch. 3
New York Times
Analysis DUE
NO CLASS TEDx

Magazines &
Newspapers
Student Panel
Radio / Music /
Podcasts

Ch. 4 & Ch. 5

Groups 21-30

Ch. 7

Groups 31-40
Breaking News
Analysis DUE
Groups 41-50

Internet / Social Media

Ch. 8

Video Games

Film

Groups 1-10
Groups 11-20
Ch. 9
Television Analysis
DUE
NO CLASS Thanksgiving

Ch. 6
Ch. 10

Television

Groups 21-30
Groups 31-40
Film Analysis DUE
Groups 41-50

9:30 11:20 FINAL EXAM In class

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