COMJ 4301 History of Journalism Syllabus

COMJ 4301
History of Journalism
Cousins Hall 121 at TAMUK
Classroom Building Room 8 at TAMUK-SCSA
And on the tamukhistoryofjournalism.blogspot.com
7 – 9:50 p.m. Thursday

Spring 2009
Dr. Manuel Flores, Associate Professor of Journalism
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Tel: 593-3401, or at South Texan Office: 593-3700
Email: kfmcf00@tamuk.edu or manuelf78407@yahoo.com
Office Hours Wednesday 11 a.m.-noon, 2-5 p.m.
SPEE 172, MSUB 212 or 216 and by appointment

TEXT: David Sloan, Media in America: A History (7th or 8th edition 2008), Vision Press. Other materials will be available from the instructor.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Development of the newspaper primarily in the United States with attention to the social, economic and political forces which brought about changes in journalistic techniques and in basic ideas as to newspaper functions. Study of the careers of noted journalists.

COVERAGE OF THE COURSE: This course surveys the history of communication and its impact on the world, the origin and development of journalism in the United States in the context of U.S. political, social, cultural and economic history.

GRADING

Book Review: One book review is required. The assignment will be both written and oral (presentation before the class). The written review must be submitted in MS Word format. The presentation can be a power point, slide or overhead project presentation. A list of approved books will be provided later this semester. The professor must “approve” the book. The book must be a biography or autobiography of a journalist or the history of a newspaper or other journalistic organization or the function of a certain group in journalism and communication (i.e. Hispanics in the media, the Chicano newspapers of the 20th century, the Black press in history, etc.). This is worth 20 percent of your final grade.

Tests: There will be two tests, plus the final test, during the semester on the chapters in the text and on material covered in the lectures. Each is worth 20 percent.

Final Project: Write a biography of a longtime media professional—still working or retired—from one of our area media outlets. You can find some biographical details in city and county records or on website of newspapers or broadcast media outlets. Other information can come from friends, acquaintances, co-workers and relatives. Much of the information will come directly from interviews with your subject or with people who knew your subject. The professor will provide a list of potential subjects. In addition to finding out the details of your subject’s life and professional career, you’re also interested in learning how the business was conducted during the time your subject was working in the profession. What was it like? What experiences did your subject have? How has the profession changed? The biography should be at least 8 pages long, word-processed and double-spaced. By the beginning of class March 3, turn in a word-processed proposal including your subject’s name, the name of the news outlet he or she worked for and the approximate dates of his or her career. You can also include any other information you have learned up to that point about your subject’s career. By April 16, you will give the professor a written update and sample paper. You may submit this electronically. Deadline for final project is April 23. You may or may not be asked to discuss your project with the class, depending on class progress through the semester. This project is worth 20 percent of your final grade.

EXPECTATIONS I expect you to attend class faithfully and complete all assignments as well as prepare for class by reading chapters in advance. In addition, please be ready to participate in class or lead a discussion in class. Keeping up with news by reading print newspapers or online newspapers and watching TV news broadcasts is recommended.

DISABIITY ACCOMODATIONS: All students needing disability accommodations must contact the professor as early as possible. Arrangements will be made for student to visit appropriate TAMUK department so that accommodations can be made for classroom lecture, examinations and other adjustments needed for instruction.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” All students are responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work. In other words, do your own work. Read the Student Code of Conduct for definitions, procedures and rights. Your work may be submitted to Turnitin plagiarism detections service at the discretion of the instructor. Any discovered plagiarism on the part of a student will result in a grade of zero on that assignment and may lead to more consequences.

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES: All SLOs are to be assessed through group discussion and weekly assignments and periodic exams and quizzes. In addition, all SLOs will be assessed through a comprehensive end-of-semester final exam and completion of six writing assignments covering all the issues discussed above.

EXTRA CREDIT:
1. The student will receive extra credit for working on the university’s student publications. (See the professor for more information).

2. The student will receive extra credit by making a scholarly presentation and completing a written report on an issue involving the history of journalism. (i.e. current movies showing and their impact on society, the world of blogs and its impact on youth, etc…}
(NOTE: Students in Texas A&M-Kingsville can pick up extra credit by volunteering to work on the university’s student newspaper – The South Texan or The South Texan Online – or assisting with programming at the campus radio station KTAI-FM 91.1 “The One.” Student in TAMUK-SCSA (System Center San Antonio) can receive extra credit by volunteering to work on the university newspaper the tamuk-StAr. A written letter from the editor, publications director or adviser will be needed at the end of the semester to prove the students efforts during that time. At least three extra points will be added to the student’s final grade.)

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS
(Note: The following schedule is subject to change. It is intended as a guide to help the student keep up with readings and the flow of the class. You are responsible for any reading assignment posted on this syllabus.)
Please note alternate class and blog dates on the top of each scheduled class meeting.

Class Meeting

· Thursday, Jan. 15: Introduction, get to know each other. Assignment: Do we have any cave drawings in South Texas? If so find them and let’s discuss, Thursday. Bring copies of samples of cave drawings to class. Assignment: Read Introduction: Why Study Media History, and Chapter 1: Origins of Mass Communication. View PowerPoint presentation on early communication efforts. Talk about cave drawings. Discuss Chapter 1. Assignment: Read Chapter 2: Printing in America, 1500-1690.

Class Assignment

· Thursday, Jan. 22. - Continue discussion of Chapter 1. View PowerPoint on Advances in Printing. Start discussion of Chapter 2. Continue discussion of Chapter 2. Show movie on Hispanics in Journalism. Assignments: Do an essay on Hispanic journalist in your area. Example: Pick a Hispanic media outlet or Hispanic media personality (i.e. in SA Henry Guerra, David Flores, Carlos Guerra, alumni Efrain Gutiérrez and in Kingsville or South Texas area Rudy Treviño, Marcy Martínez, Nick Jiménez, or any Hispanic alumni etc.)It can also be a radio or TV show like "Henry Guerra's San Antonio" or "Domingo Live" on Channel 3 in Corpus Christi. Essay should be no more than 350 words. Also, Read Chapter 3: The Colonial Press, 1690-1765.

Blog Assignment

·Thursday, Jan. 29 - Start discussion on Chapter 3. Review the work of pioneers like Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Assignment: Read Chapter 4: The Revolutionary Press. Discuss assignment on Hispanic Press. Presentations on Hispanic journalists due. This will be done discussion style but written work must be submitted and students must be ready to answer questions on their subject. Continue discussion on Chapter 3. Review thoughts of the Partisan press. Also, start discussion on Chapter 4. Assignments: Do we have a partisan press in America now? Be prepared to discuss this in next class. This is an oral quiz. You will be given credit for correct answers. Make sure I get you name right. Also, Read Chapter 5: The Party Press. This chapter relates directly to your assignment on the partisan press.

Class Meeting

· Thursday, Feb 5 - Continue discussion on Chapter 4. Discuss papers on the partisan press. Start discussion on Chapter 5. Assignment: Read Chapter 6: Freedom of the Press, 1690-1804. Continue discussion on Chapter 5. Start discussion on Chapter 6. View PowerPoint on Freedom of the Press. Assignment: Read Chapter 7: The Penny Press, 1833-1861.

Blog Assignment

·Thursday, Feb. 12 - Continue discussion on Chapter 6; start discussion on Chapter 7. Handout review for Test 1. Catch up with assignments day.

Class Meeting

·Thursday, Feb. 19 - Test 1 (Chapters 1-7). Assignment: Read Chapter 8: The Antebellum Press, 1820-1861.

Class Meeting

·Thursday, Feb. 26 - Class from San Antonio this day. Possible guest speaker: Gus Gonzalez, Media Consultant for the Associated Press. Discuss Chapter 8. Assignment: Read Chapter 9: The Press and the Civil War: 1861-1865. Also, go online and review the work of Frederick Douglass. Review handout on Spanish newspapers in the United States during the Civil War. Read: Chapter 10: The Frontier Press, 1800-1900. Discus Chapter 9 and Chapter 10. Be ready to talk about Frederick Douglass’ contributions to journalism and something called the development of the alternative press. Review some of the Spanish-language newspapers around during Civil War Era. Chapter 11: The Press and Industrial America. Remind students about Final Project Assignment.

Blog Assignment

· Thursday, March 5 - Discuss Chapter 11. Also, review Final Project assignment. By this date, post Frederick Douglass’ paper on blog. Assignment: Read Chapter 12: The Age of New Journalism. Review for Test 2. Read Chapter 13: American Magazines and Chapter 14: The Development of Advertising.

Blog Assignment

· Thursday, March 12 - Discuss Chapters 13, 14. Assignment: Read Chapter 15: The Emergence of Modern Media. Also, read handout on The Progressive Era and the Muckrakers. Prepare for class discussion on Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle and other work of that era. (TAMUK-SCSA Spring Break).

Blog Assignment

·Thursday, March 19- TAMUK Spring Break. Assignment: Read Chapter 16: Media and Reform. Read Chapter 17: The Media and National Crisis. Be ready to talk about media reaction after 9/11 disaster. Go online and find out about the impact of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats” on the radio. How does our new president Barack Obama measure up in his radio address? Are people listening? Be able to discuss this during a future class.

Class Assignment
Class will be from San Antonio

·Thursday March 26: Discuss Chapter 15, 16. Possible guest speaker Gustavo Gonzalez, consultant for the American Press Institute, based in San Antonio. Be ready to discuss the muckraking era, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. Muckraking PowerPoint. Class discussion on Fireside Chats and 9/11 coverage by collegiate newspapers (pending). Assignment: Read Chapter 17: The Media and National Crisis.

Blog Assignment

· Thursday, April 2 – Take at home test on the blog. Test will be posted early that week. Due Thursday, April 9 via email, fax or delivered to the professor. Discuss Chapter 17 assignment on blog. Assignments: Read Chapter 18: Radio Comes of Age. Also, do you listen to radio? Be ready to discuss. What is “talk radio?” Read Chapter 19: The Entertainment Media.

Class Assignment

· Thursday, April 9 – Discuss Chapter 19. Possible guest speaker, Shane Fitzgerald, editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Class discussion on entertainment media. Assignments: Read Chapter 20: The Age of Mass Magazines. Be ready to talk about your favorite magazine and why. This is an oral discussion assignment. You will be given credit for answering.

Class Assignment

·Thursday, April 16: Discuss Chapter 20, 21. Class discussion on favorite magazines. View PowerPoint on PR. Possible guest speaker, Michelle Peters, director of public relations and communications for the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. Assignments: Read Chapter 21: Modern Advertising. Also, review the ads of the last Super Bowl and others. Review PowerPoint on Ad Slogans. Read Chapter 22: Public Relations 1900-present. Turn in Final Project assignment. Read Chapter 23: The Media in Transition.

Blog Assignment

· Thursday, April 23: Discuss Chapter 22, 23 on blog. Assignments: Turn in Final Project. Read Chapter 24: The News Media, 1974-2000, and Chapter 25: The Contemporary Media, 2000-present.

Class Assignment

· Thursday, April 30: Selected students present book reviews.

Class Assignment

·Thursday, May 7: Selected students present book reviews. Prepare for comprehensive final exam.

· END OF THE COURSE! Final, to be announced.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!