Global Media Systems – MDIA 367 Syllabus

Global Media Systems – MDIA 367 – Syllabus

Instructor: Cynara M. Medina Office: RTV 015 E-mail: cm380102@ohio.edu Office phone: 740-597-2121 Office Hours: M, W; 11:00 – 12:00

Winter Quarter, 2010 Meeting times: M,W; 9:00 – 11:00 Room: RTV 267

Course Description

Global Media Systems surveys and compares public, private and government broadcasting systems from selected countries. The course emphasizes economic, technological, programmatic, political and regulatory developments that influence the global media environment. Special emphasis will be given to the interaction between global and local/national concerns affecting the operation of mass media in contemporary society.

Objectives:

1. Understand how culture, and values influence the development of media systems around the world.
2. Identify various types of media systems and the changes they are undergoing. You should know the characteristics of such systems, be able to make comparisons and come to informed conclusions about the major issues facing media around the world today.

1. Understand the relationship between “global culture” and “local culture” and the role that mass media, global capitalism and local institutions play in shaping and re-shaping culture. You should be able to identify public policies that bear on the activities of foreign companies in selected countries. You should also develop an understanding of the logic behind local adaptations of foreign programs.

1. Refine the ability to select, retrieve, document and present relevant information from scholarly journals, books, newspaper articles, video sources, personal interviews and the Internet. You should have knowledge of the multiple resources that can be utilized to find basic information on the countries of the world and the means to evaluate such sources critically.
2. Develop critical reading and writing skills. You should be able to recognize and summarize key information, and to present a thoughtful analysis that integrates new and previous knowledge.

Course expectations:

This course stresses critical thinking, so you are expected to be self-critical of own work, and constructively critical and respectful of the work and opinion of your peers. You are also expected to:

1. Complete all assigned readings and written assignments by the date indicated in the course schedule.
2. Participate in class and on-line discussions.
3. Inform yourself about current debates regarding global mass media.

Textbook:

There is no textbook for this course. Readings will be posted on blackboard or handed out in class. It is your responsibility to keep up with readings.

Course Topics

1. Culture, globalization, and media
2. Media in selected countries: Characteristics, policies, and regulations.
3. Genres and Narrative
4. The Global and the Local.

Assessment and Grading:

Your final grade will come from an interview, an online learning portfolio (blog on WordPress.com), a current events presentation, and a country report. The breakdown is as follows:

Interview	60
Online learning portfolio / blog	0
“About” Page	20
Reading responses (8 total)	160
Comments to classmates (4 total)	80
Final reflection (1)	100
Oral presentation	20
Current events presentation	20
Professional Brief	140
Total	600

A   = 600 – 564	B    = 521 – 504	C    = 461 – 444	D    = 401 – 384
A – = 563 – 540	B -  = 503 – 480	C -  = 443 – 420	D -  = 383 – 360
B + = 539 – 522	C + = 479 – 462	D + = 419 – 402	F = 359 – 000

Assignments

Interview:

You will examine the ways broadcast media and communications systems operate in cultures other than your own by interviewing people from those places.  Thus, you are to carefully choose one person from another country who is in a position to help you understand how his/her communications and media environment is similar/dissimilar to yours. Due 1/25/10

Online Portfolio

One of the goals of this course is to develop your abilities to read and write critically. In order to achieve this, you are expected to develop an online portfolio, using a blog that you will create on wordpress.com.

The portfolio has three purposes. First, you will use it to summarize, support or contradict the key ideas you encounter in the course readings; secondly, you will share with the class additional, and more current, information that can expand these ideas; and third, you will use it to comment on your classmates work.

Please keep in mind that this is an on-going project; it is up to you to keep up. However, to keep you on track, I expect you to complete 6 blog entries (the “about” page, plus 4 reading responses, and 2 comments on classmates work) by (date). You can find detailed rubrics for the reading responses, comments, and final reflection on blackboard.

Instructions for setting up your blog:

The course blog for Global Media Systems is @ popcultural.wordpress.com. This site will host resources, and I will be posting summaries and observations periodically. You will need to register your personal blog at WordPress. You can do that by going to wordpress.com, clicking on the “sign up now” link, and following the instructions. Email me the link to your blog as soon as you’re set up so I can add you to the main site.

Your blog is your space. Feel free to configure it however you wish. To begin, the dashboard allows you to set up and administer the blog. In the dashboard, the general settings tab allows you to set the blog’s title, the tagline, language, time zone, date, and time formats. You may want to come up with an interesting title and tagline.

The “Appearance” Box of the dashboard allows you to customize the appearance of the blog. This is also where you will find widgets that can help make easier to navigate. Please make sure to include the “Tag Cloud” widget. The Tag Cloud is usually already available by default. Tag Clouds depicts user-generated tags, or words found on your site. These tags help readers find related posts on your blog, and on other sites. They also help search engines to catalog your site.

By default, the blog usually includes a “Blog Roll” where you can list your favorite web sites. Please take a moment to add links to the blog roll, so we can begin sharing resources about popular culture. You can customize the Blog Roll using the “Links” feature of the Dashboard, but bear in mind that these links are not the same as the links you’ll be including in your individual blog posts.

To post/edit on your blog.

You need to be logged in to WordPress to add or edit posts on your blog. You also need to be logged in to comment on other people’s blogs. Whether adding or editing, the main text box works like any word processing program, and you’ll notice that different buttons on the top side of the text box allow you to perform different functions, such as bold and spell check. When you highlight (select) words in the main text box, you will notice that two additional buttons, one with a chain link, and the other one with a broken chain link, will light up. These buttons allow you to embed links in your posts. To embed a link, highlight the text that you want to use to activate the link. Then click on the chain link box and paste the URL. Make sure to select “open link in a new window” from the target menu. You can also embed images, video, audio and other content into your blog using the upload/insert buttons.

Once you are finished creating and editing your individual posts, make sure that visibility is set to “public”, and that you click on the blue “publish” button. Otherwise you will be the only one able to see what you posted. Also, if you edit your posts, please click on the blue Update Post tab on the edit post feature to save changes. You should keep your posts public until the end of the quarter. After that, it is up to you whether to keep blogging or not.

To comment on other people’s blogs

When you comment on another student’s blog, you need to write the comment as an original post on YOUR blog. Please make sure that you include a link to the post you are referring to specifically. Including the link will set off a pingback, and your comment will appear on the other person’s blog as a link.

Portfolio Presentation:

At the end of the quarter, you will have the opportunity to present your online portfolio to the entire class. You should pick what you consider to be your best work (minimum 1 post). Though the presentation will be graded, it should be kept informal, meaning that you don’t need to put together a power point or do anything beyond what you already have created. Your work should speak for itself, and you should focus on how the portfolio helped you understand the relationship between the popular culture you experience daily and the concepts discussed in the class. A detailed rubric for the presentation will be provided to you at a later date.

Current Events

On Wednesdays, beginning week 3, we will spend part of the first hour of class discussing current issues affecting the media in different countries. These issues can include a change in policy, the introduction of a new network, business news, or the analysis of specific shows, among other ideas.

Each of you will be required to bring to class a copy of a 500+- word article from a reliable source. You will spend about 10 minutes 1) discussing this article in front of the class (be prepared – don’t read it) and 2) preparing three questions about your article to spark discussion in the class. I encourage you to think about several issues when preparing for your presentation: 1) ensuring that everyone understands the basic arguments of your article; 2) trying to draw connections between the article and class readings. There will be a sign up sheet for this assignment.

The article should go into some depth to explain and analyze a current activity, policy, genre, or trend. If you are unsure an article is appropriate, feel free to see me. You should get the article from one sources like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Variety, Broadcasting and Cable, or from international sources.

Professional Brief

In the professional world, we are often tasked with researching, summarizing, and presenting recommendations, which can be used when a company wants to explore a new project, business, or venture. For this assignment, your task is to produce a report, also known as a brief.

Your brief must focus on a specific area that concerns the media in a foreign country of your choice. For example, you can choose to examine a change in policy, the success of foreign program adaptations, or the state of public broadcast funding in that country. Once you have chosen a topic, your goal is to gather information and examples describing the current state of affairs regarding your topic. You will then use this information to recommend a course of action (for example, if your topic is foreign program adaptations, your recommendation should focus on the type of programs that the company should invest in). The brief should be 5 to 7 pages in length, not including sources. Due: 3/3/10

Class Policies

Communication:

Ohio University provides you with an email account (the OAK account), which is the only one used for all university announcements, including those regarding this course. If you have not done so, please activate your OAK account. When emailing me about this class, please use OAK, and be sure to include your first and last name in the email so I know who you are.

Attendance:

You will be permitted one (2) unexplained absences. Unless any additional absences are explained by appropriate documentation, such as significant medical excuse, religious observance, participation in a university-sponsored event, or an event that was clearly beyond your control, each absence will reduce your final grade by five (5) points. It is your responsibility to stay current and find out what you missed.

Late work:

I will only accept late work when there is a significant medical excuse or when circumstances were clearly beyond your control. If you know you will be absent from class on the day that an assignment is due, you must plan ahead so you can meet the deadline.

Learning Disabilities:

Students who have a documented disability are entitled to reasonable accommodations that will allow them to fulfill the goals of this course in an effective and satisfying manner. If you are eligible, please contact me within the first week of the quarter. You may also want to use the resources of Ohio University’s Office of Institutional Equity, which can be found at www.ohio.edu/equity/disabilityservices/studentservices.cfm

Format of Assignments:

All assignments must be typed, double-spaced and use a 12-point size font. Single-spaced work will not be graded. Please use 1-inch page margins, and do not exceed page and/or word count limits given for assignments. I will only accept email copies of assignments if you clear it with me first. I also encourage you to recycle and either print double-sided or use scrap paper for your assignments.

When conducting research, be aware that you must cite and include a reference list with all the sources your use to complete the assignment. Failure to do so will be considered plagiarism, which is a form of Academic Misconduct. Please cite and reference all sources using APA or MLA style (an explanation, examples and assistance will be provided to you in class). Please make sure you proofread all your work before handing it in.

Academic Misconduct:

In this course, academic misconduct – including, but not limited to cheating andplagiarism — will result in an “F” for the assignment or test. A second offense will result in an “F” for the course, and referral to the University Judiciaries. To review Ohio University’s policy regarding academic misconduct, please refer to: www.ohio.edu/judiciaries/academic-misconduct.cfm#academic

Classroom Privacy:

Ohio University recognizes that students and faculty are “entitled to classroom privacy, academic freedom, and professional courtesy” (Faculty Handbook, Section IV.A.9). To ensure our privacy, no one may record classroom activities using electronic means (i.e., videotaping, audio recording, camera phones, etc.) without my permission. Everyone in the class will be informed in the event such permission is granted.

Ohio University also recognizes that classroom observation by other faculty members is sometimes desirable to improve teaching effectiveness, and for the purposes of promotion and tenure. You will be notified beforehand if and when a faculty observer will visit the classroom.

Cell phones and laptops:

Cell phones other electronic devices are not needed nor are they allowed in the classroom.  Please, put these items away during our meeting times. Each time these devices present a distraction to the instructor and/or your classmates, your final grade will be lowered by 10 points. Laptops are only allowed when used in a class-related activity as directed by the instructor.

Amendments:

The instructor retains the right to amend this syllabus during the period of the course. Any changes to the syllabus will be notified in writing.

Course Schedule

Week	Date	Topics and readings.
1	1/4/10	No Class
	1/6/10	Introduction to course.
2	1/11/10	Culture, globalization, and mass media Ferrari, C. (2009). Dubbing The Simpsons: Or how groundskeeper Willie lost his kilt in Sardinia
	1/13/10	Jan, M. (2009). Globalization of Media: Key Issues and Dimensions. European Journal of Scientific Research. 29(1), pp. 66-75.
3	1/18/10	Martin Luther King holiday – No Class.
	1/20/10	Media Systems in Selected Countries The United Kingdom Ward, D. (2008). Broadcasting Regulation in the United Kingdom: Shifting Public Policy Objectives. In D. Ward (Ed.), Television and Public Policy: Change and Continuity in an Era of Global Liberalization. P 245-262. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
4	1/25/10	Italy Hibberd, M. (2004). Italian Democracy Gone Mad? Public service broadcasting in the Berlusconi era. Trends in Communication. 12(1), 15-31. Due: Interview Reports
	1/27/10	Canada Skinner, D. (2008). Television in Canada: Continuity or Change? In D. Ward (Ed.), Television and Public Policy: Change and Continuity in an Era of Global Liberalization. P 3-23. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
5	2/1/10	Brasil Lins da Silva, C.E. (2008). Television in Brazil. In D. Ward (Ed.), Television and Public Policy: Change and Continuity in an Era of Global Liberalization. P 3-23. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
	2/3/10	Venezuela Duffy, R. & Everton, R. (2008). Media, democracy, and the State in Venezuela’s “Bolivarian Revolution”. In P. Chakravartty & Y. Zhao (Eds.), Global Communications: Toward a Transcultural Political Economy. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. First Portfolio Review due by 5 PM.
6	2/8/10	China Zhengrong, H & Li, H. (2008). China’s Television in Transition. In D. Ward (Ed.), Television and Public Policy: Change and Continuity in an Era of Global Liberalization. P 3-23. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
	2/10/10	Iran Khiabany, G. (2008). The Politics of Broadcasting in Iran: Continuity and change, expansion and control. Television and Public Policy: Change and Continuity in an Era of Global Liberalization. P 3-23. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
7	2/15/10	Genres and Narrative Price, S. (2001). Cartoons from Another Planet: Japanese Animation as Cross-Cultural Communication. Journal of American & Comparative Cultures, 24(1/2), 153-169.
	2/17/10	Martinez, I. (2005). Romancing the globe. Foreign Policy. 151. 48-56.
8	2/22/10	Coutas, P. (2006). Fame, Fortune, Fantasi: Indonesian Idol and the New Celebrity. Asian Journal of Communication. 16(4), 371-392.
	2/24/10	The Global and the Local Waisbord, S. (2004). McTV: Understanding the Global Popularity of Television Formats. Television & New Media, 5(4), 359-383
9	3/1/10	Fung, A. (2006). Think globally, act locally: China’s rendezvous with MTV. Global Media and Communication, 2(1), 71-88
	3/3/10	Lippert, B. (2008). The Bettyier way to success. Due: Professional Brief
10	3/8/10	Presentations
	3/10/10	Presentations
	3/17/10	Portfolio Due date.