COMM 150: Schedule of assignments, for the rest of October

[Television] is not a tool by which the networks conspire to dumb us down. TV is a tool by which the networks give us exactly what we want. That's a far more depressing thought. -- "The Vent," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 19, 1999.

Friday, Oct. 8. Instead of an F2F (face-to-face) meeting in Dawson 220, I will post a discussion question to The Mackerel Wrapper. Please check the blog and post your answers in the comments field of that post before the next class meeting. Warning: If you're anything like me, you'll forget all about it if you don't post on Friday.

Monday, Oct. 11. Midterm break. No class meeting.

Wednesday. Oct. 13. Read Chapters 6 (Sound Recording) and 7 (Motion Pictures) in Vivian. Themes to watch for: Concentration of ownership, on the one hand, and niche marketing, on the other. Where do "indie" labels and studios fit in this picture? What are the tensions between artists and bottom-line media people? I will assign your midterm, a take-home essay exam. Here's a link to last semester's midterm for an example of my essay tests.

Friday. Oct. 15. Read Chapter 8 (Radio). Similar themes and questions: Concentration of ownership, niche audiences (e.g. talk radio, different music formats, demographics, etc.), tension between artists and bottom line.

Monday. Oct. 18. Read Chapter 9 (Television). Same themes: Concentration of ownership, niche audiences, etc. A related question: Did television bring us together on 9/11? Ask your parents or grandparents: Were there shows that everybody watched back in the day? Be ready to blog about it.

Wednesday. Oct. 20. Read Chapter 10 (Internet). How has the Internet changed the way the other media do business? What avenues do it offer artists, creators of content?

Friday. Oct. 22. Midterm due.


Monday. Oct. 25. Read Chapter 11 (News) and Chapter 12 (Public Relations). No F2F meeting. I will post a discussion question to The Mackerel Wrapper. Something to think about (especially the last week or two before an election): How do news, public relations and politics intersect?

Wednesday, Oct. 27. No F2F meeting. I will post a discussion question to The Mackerel Wrapper.

Friday, Oct. 29. No F2F meeting. I will post a discussion question to The Mackerel Wrapper.

Monday, Nov. 1. Your first 5- to 8-page documented essay is due.