Introduction to Mass Communication - COMM 100

Class Meets: Tuesday & Thursday

Your learning is my top priority - so I may
Tentative Course Schedule adjust this schedule based on the needs of
the class.
Note: All reading needs to be completed PRIOR to the next class period so that you can actively participate in class discusssions.
Week Dates Topics Read for next class & Assignments Due
Introduction to course / Ch 1 Living in a Media World: Levels of
t 22-Aug Communication; Elements of Mass Communication; Evolution of buy your textbook
1 the Media; Understanding Media World
th 24-Aug chapter 1 continued read chapter 2

Mass Communication Effects: History of Media Effects Research;

t 29-Aug
Effects of Media in Our Lives; Theories of Media and Society
2
th 31-Aug chapter 2 continued read chapter 3
The Media Business: The Development of the Media Business in the
t 5-Sep United States; Big Media; Media Economics and the Long Tail; Who WA#1: Media Moguls begin
3 Controls the Media?
th 7-Sep chapter 3 continued read chapter 4

Books: The Development of the Book and Mass Communication;

t 12-Sep
Buying and Selling Books; Books and Culture; The Future of Books
4
th 14-Sep chapter 4 continued

Magazines: The Development of a National Culture; The Magazine

t 19-Sep
Business; Magazines and Modern Society; The Future of Magazines
WA#1: Media Moguls DUE/ read chapter 6
5
th 21-Sep chapter 5 continued prepare for exam #1 - chapters 1 - 5

t 26-Sep review for exam #1

6
th 28-Sep exam #1 read chapter 6

Newspapers and the News: Inventing the Modern Press; The News
t 3-Oct
Business; News and Society; The Future of Newspapers
7
th 5-Oct chapter 6 continued read chapter 7

Audio: history of Sound Recording and Transmission; Music, Youth

t 10-Oct
Culture, and Society; the Business of Radio; The Future of Sound
8
th 12-Oct watch Before the Music Dies movie reflection #1 DUE / read chapter 8
t 17-Oct Fall Break - No Class
9 Movies: The Development of Movies; The Movie Business; Movies
th 19-Oct
and Society; The Future of Movies
read chapter 9

Television: Broadcast and Cable/Satellite; From Broadcasting to

t 24-Oct
Narrowcasting; Television and Society; The Future of Television
WA#2: Assessing Television begin
10
th 26-Oct chapter 9 continued read chapter 10

Online Media: The Development of the Internet; Computers as

t 31-Oct Communication Tools; Social Media; New Media and Online
11 Entertainment; The Internet and Society; Media Accounts?

movie reflection #2 DUE / prepare for exam #2 -

th 2-Nov watch Generation Like
chapters 6 - 10

t 7-Nov review for exam #2 WA#2: Assessing Television DUE

12
th 9-Nov exam #2 read chapter 11
Advertising: The Development of the Advertising Industry; The
t 14-Nov Advertising Business; Advertising in Contemporary Culture; The WA#3: Journalistic Decision Making begin
13 Future of Advertising

th 16-Nov watch Killing Us Softly IV movie reflection #3 DUE / read chapter 12

Public Relations: From Press Agentry to Professionalism; The

t 21-Nov
Business of Public Relations; Public Relations and Society
read chapter 13
14
th 23-Nov Happy Thanksgiving - No Class `
Media Law: The Development of a Free Press; Protection of
t 28-Nov
Individuals; Controlling the Press; Regulation of the Media Industry
WA#3: Journalistic Decision Making DUE
15
th 30-Nov watch War on Whistleblowers movie reflection #4 DUE
t 5-Dec Have a great winter break!
16 exam # 3 TBD
th 7-Dec