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MEDIA AND SOCIETY: CRITICAL ISSUES

DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA & COMMUNICATION STUDIES
FEMALE CAMPUS, IIUI
INSTRUCTOR: DR. AMRAT HAQ
CONTACT: [email protected]

Description

Media & Society examines mass communication through the media from a theoretical perspective to
explain and predict its function and effects upon society. Conducted as a seminar, the course will
focus on the relationships between the media, its stakeholders, and its audiences across various
disciplines in the communication field.

Using a variety of theoretical perspectives, we will examine the historical, sociological, economic,
technological, and ethical foundations of mediated communication from a social scientific
perspective.

Significant historical developments will be examined to provide a context for current media issues.
Sociological issues related to the mass media will be examined to better understand the human
dynamics that are affected by media use. The economic framework in which media corporations
function will be explored in order to better understand the forces that shape media business practices.

Students in Media & Society will be encouraged to develop critical thinking and media literacy skills
that will make them more responsible consumers and producers of mediated culture.

Course objectives (learning outcomes)

 To achieve a broad understanding of media, its functions, its effects and its role in society, so that
students become scholars of media rather than consumers of media
 To develop critical thinking skills
 To improve the understanding of mass communication theories as the foundation for empirical
learning
 To learn about the culture, history, and influential people and theories in the field for the purpose
of developing a sense of context

Expectations

1. Weekly Debates provide another method to have you learn more deeply about key topics in the
field. They also provide you the opportunity to practice your presentation and leadership skills.
Your written reports about the subjects will not only help improve your writing skills, they also
will communicate the salient information to your colleagues for their benefit.

2. A Critical Analysis requires you to investigate and become familiar with a key concept or theory
in the field from its germination to the present day. You will trace the conversation that other
academicians have had about it. The purpose is to give you a deep understanding of a particular
topic, and to develop your research and writing skills. Essentially, the paper represents a literature
review that could be the foundation for your future research.

3. One midterm and one final exam will require you to respond to a focused question. Their
purpose is to engage you in a topic, to develop your critical thinking, and to improve your written
communication skills.

Deadlines and details for these course requirements are given below, as well as the value of each
assignment. All assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments turned in late are
penalized, depending upon lateness and the nature of the assignment.
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If you have any questions about course requirements or assignments, check with me well before due
date. If anything interferes with your ability to learn, let me know. If you have questions about
anything relating to the course, please do not hesitate to contact me.

CLASSROOM POLICIES:

 Attendance and being late

Coming to class is key in making this course a successful one. As per university policy, you are
allowed to miss 12 hours of classes per semester (i.e. 08x1.5hrs classes or 04x03hrs classes). Any
higher volume of classes missed will result in Prevention. One more thing, please be cooperative
and responsible by arriving to class on time.

 Food and Drink in Class

Drinks are allowed in class, but please no food.

 Technology in class
Make sure to shut-off your cell phones before coming to class. Laptop computers can be used for
taking notes, but you are going to have to ask for permission before using them.

 Make-ups
If for some reason you can’t make it to an exam day, please contact me as soon as possible and
we will try to work something out. However, missing a presentation day without an extremely
valid reason will result in your losing your presentation marks.

 Contact
I can be contacted on the following email: [email protected]

Only the CR will have my cell phone number and is allowed to contact me through that. Please
keep in mind that I do have a life outside the university, and thus will not attend and/or answer
messages, emails sent at random times. Weekends are also a personally busy time, and can lead to
delay in response.

My office hours are written on my cabin door, and should be followed by students if they need
help.

CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION:

Student involvement is vital to the success of this course and you are expected to play an active part in
shaping this course and keeping it focused on its broad objectives. Discussion is critical to the success
of this course. You are expected to read ALL assigned materials BEFORE the class period for which
they are assigned.

One of the purposes of class discussion is to reveal multiple perspectives on and understandings of
course topics. You are expected to show professional courtesy to all other students at all times during
the course. Differences of opinion are not only expected but healthy, and critiques of others'
statements and reasoning may occur and are encouraged. If you cannot gracefully accept having
your opinions thoughtfully challenged, you should not be in this class!

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC HONESTY:

For the communications professional, there hardly exists a graver crime than plagiarizing another
writer’s work. In short, it is YOUR responsibility to make certain you understand what constitutes
plagiarism and to ensure that you give proper credit anytime you draw on someone else’s writing or
works.
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Be aware that if I suspect, for whatever reason, that material in one of your submissions is plagiarized,
I will submit it to a plagiarism checking program. Relatively minor and clearly unintentional instances
of plagiarism will result in your being required to re-write and re-submit your work. More extensive
plagiarism, even if unintended, and ANY instance I believe represents an intentional attempt to pass
off someone else’s work as your own will result in a failing grade for that submission, at the least. If
your plagiarism is severe enough; i.e. over the 19% limit set by HEC and IIUI, you will receive a
Failing Grade for the class.

Another no-no is recycling your own work for this class. Let's make the policy clear and simple: You
will NOT turn in to me ANY work you previously have submitted to another instructor or that you
plan to submit for any other class at IIUI or any other institution. If you want to write on a topic
you've worked on before, that may well be acceptable IF you discuss it with me and get
permission IN ADVANCE.

GRADING:
 Weekly Debates 30%
 Midterm Examination 10%
 Critical Analysis 40%
 Final Examination 20%
 Total 100%

1. WEEKLY DEBATES

A debate is a discussion or structured contest about an issue or a resolution. A formal debate

involves two sides: one supporting a resolution and one opposing it. In a debate ideas and
positions are developed. This development involves description, explanation, and demonstration.

Each week 2 teams will debate topics concerning media and society. The topics will relate
directly to the week’s issue and will be assigned by the instructor (List of topics attached).

Debate Preparation:

 Research the topic and prepare logical arguments.

 Gather supporting evidence and examples for position taken.
 Anticipate counter arguments and prepare rebuttals.
 Team members should plan order and content of speaking in debate.

Conducting the Debate:

Debate opens with the affirmative team (the team that supports the resolution) presenting their
arguments, followed by a member of the opposing team. This pattern is repeated for the second
speaker in each team. Finally, each team gets an opportunity for rebutting the arguments of the
opponent. Speakers should speak slowly and clearly. The judges and members of the audience
should be taking notes as the debate proceeds. A typical sequence for debate, with suggested
timelines, is as follows:

 The first speaker on the affirmative team presents arguments in support of the resolution (5 –
10 minutes). The first speaker on the opposing team presents arguments opposing the
resolution (5 – 10 minutes).
 The second speaker on the affirmative team presents further arguments in support of the
resolution, identifies areas of conflict, and answers questions that may have been raised by the
opposition speaker (5 – 10 minutes).
 The second speaker on the opposing team presents further arguments against the resolution,
identifies further areas of conflict, and answers questions that may have been raised by the
previous affirmative speaker (5 – 10 minutes).
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 A short recess for teams to prepare their rebuttals (5 minutes).

 The opposing team begins with the rebuttal, attempting to defend the opposing arguments and
to defeat the supporting arguments without adding any new information (3 – 5 minutes).
 First rebuttal of the affirmative team (3 – 5 minutes)
 Each team gets a second rebuttal for closing statements with the affirmative team having the
last opportunity to speak (3 – 5 minutes each).
 There cannot be any interruptions. Speakers must wait their turns.

2. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Here is your opportunity to align this course with your current or future research. This paper could
serve as narrowly as a literature review for a paper to be submitted to a journal, or as broadly as a
launching pad for your academic career.

1. Pick a particular and specific social construct from this course that relates to your
interests.

2. Find the seminal or foundation article for that topic of academic study. To find the
seminal article for a subject, search the topic via an online academic database. Peruse several
of the found articles, and examine their references to find the seminal article on which
everyone has based their research.

3. Find 10 to 15 articles between the time that the seminal article was published and today
that trace the conversation between subsequent authors, as they theorize, test, develop,
illuminate and extend the topic.

4. Write a 15-to-20-page paper that explicates how the topic has developed over time.
Consider the following questions:
a. What is its definition or description?
b. What observation or impetus sparked its genesis?
c. What are its antecedents, moderators and effects?
d. How has the topic evolved?
e. Has it been organized into categories or divided into multiple streams of research?
f. How does it relate to the body of knowledge about mass communication?
g. How is it operationalized or measured?
h. Why is it important?
i. What are its implications (theoretically and practically?)
j. What is the main controversy or issue related to its study?
k. What is the state of the construct now? What is the cutting edge?
l. What are its limitations or opposing theories?
m. What is the potential for future research? How could the stream of research be moved
forward?

Suggested outline:
 Introduction
 Objective of the paper
 Key reason why the reader should care about the topic
 Explain social construct
 Trace its development
 Discussion
 Implications
 Limitations
 Future research
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5. Climb to a higher level of analysis. In tracing its development, organize your paper
around the ideas and subtopics. DO NOT organize your paper around authors by writing
“(Author) found…”, “(Author) reported…”, etc. In most cases, unless you are writing about
the seminal author and how he or she came upon the idea, restrict the mention of authors to
citations and references.

6. Use APA-6 style for citations and references. Reference pages do not count toward the
total number of required pages.

7. Include:
a. A cover page with a title, your name, course name, and date
b. An abstract
c. Table of contents.

8. Write a one-page proposal for the paper to sell the topic to your instructor. Due in
Class in the 10th Week of the Semester.
a. Briefly describe the topic
b. How does it relate to your interests?
c. How does it relate to mass communication?
d. Why is it important to study?

9. Set up a meeting with your instructor during the week to discuss your topic and your
progress.

Submission of Critical Analysis Paper & Presentations in the 17th Week of the Semester.

Course Content:

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: Media Today

 Chapter 1 - Understanding Mass Media, Convergence, and the Importance of Media Literacy
(Turrow)

Week 3: Media Institutions

 Chapter 3 - The Business of Media (Turrow)
 Chapter 4 - Financing and Shaping the Media: Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing
Communications (Turrow)

Week 4: Controls & Regulations

 Chapter 5 - Controls on Media Content Government Regulation, Self-Regulation, and Ethics
(Turrow)
 Chapter 15 - Media and Government (Lule)

Week 5: Media Effects

 Chapter 1 – Introduction: Do Media Have Effects? (Perse)
 Chapter 2 – Making Sense of Research on Media Effects and Media Culture (Turrow)

Week 6: The Advertising Industry

 Chapter 9 – Advertising (Burton)
 Chapter 12 – Advertising and Public Relations (Lule)
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Week 7: Media & Violence

 Chapter 7 – Effects of Violent Media Content (Perse)
 Chapter 4 – The Media And Violence (Burton)

Week 8: News, News Media & Society

 Chapter 11 – News (Burton)
 Chapter 4 – Newspapers pp. 93-118 (Straubhaar, LaRose, & Davenport)

Week 9: Mid-Term Exam

Week 10: ‘Representation’

 Chapter 4 – Shaping Public Opinion (Perse)
 Chapter 6 – Socialization Effects (Perse)

Submission of one-page proposal

Week 11: Women & Media

 Chapter 5 – Women’s Magazines (Burton)
 Chapter 8 – Effects of Sexually Explicit Media Content (Perse)

Week 12: ‘Popular’ Music

 Chapter 5 – Recorded Music (Straubhaar, LaRose, & Davenport)
 Chapter 6 – Popular Music (Burton)

Week 13: Cinema & Society

 Chapter 7 – Approaches To Film (Burton)
 Chapter 8 – Movies (Lule)

Week 14: New Media & Society

 Afterword – Social Impacts of New Mass Media Technology (Perse)
 Chapter 11 – The Internet and Social Media (Lule)
 Chapter 8 – The Media and New Technology (Burton)

Week 15: Globalization & the Media

 Chapter 13 – Globalization and the media (Burton)
 Part II – Convergence to Conglomeration (pg. 157-167) (Turrow)

Week 16: Revision and Review

Week 17: Critical Analysis Submission & Presentations

Week 18: Final Exams

Required Texts:
 Burton, G. (2005). Media & Society: Critical perspectives. McGraw-Hill Education.
 Lule, J. (2012). Understanding media and culture: an introduction to mass communication. The
Saylor Foundation.
 Perse, E. M., & Lambe, J. (2008). Media effects and society. London: Routledge.
 Straubhaar, J. D., LaRose, R., & Davenport, L. (2012). Media now: Understanding media,
culture, and technology (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
 Turow, J. (2014). Media Today: Mass Communication in a Converging World. 5th ed. New York:
Routledge.
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WEEKLY DEBATES ISSUES

Week: Topic: Issues

 The ideal of free speech is a fallacy
Controls &
4.  Deregulation leads to deterioration in quality of media
Regulations
content
 Social values in Pakistan are being reshaped by private
television content
5. Media Effects
 New media is leading to poorer interpersonal
communication amongst users
 The advertising in Pakistan lacks creativity
6. Advertising  Online advertising is more dangerous than traditional
advertising in its impact
 Consuming violent content leads to higher levels of violence
7. Media & Violence in society
 Violent video games are a good cathartic pastime
 Private news media are causing political polarization is
News, News Media &
8. society
Society
 Print media has no future
 Socio-cultural stereotypes still dominate our entertainment
media
10. ‘Representation’
 ‘Representation’ on the media determines how we are
treated socially
 Women are most often typecast in Pakistani television
11. Women & Media dramas
 Female representation in the news media is non-serious
 Popular music is no longer a creative expression
12. ‘Popular’ Music
 Music streaming services are revitalising pop music
 Cinema in Pakistan can be used for social change
13. Cinema & Society
 Cinema in Pakistan is a dying industry
 People are better informed in the information society
14. New Media & Society
 Young people are more at risk due to new media
Globalization & the  Is ‘global media’ truly global?
15.
Media  Regional media has greater impact than global media