Essential Skills in Digital Media Literacy
(480.630.51)
Syllabus
Spring 2008

Course Description/Assignments/Grading
Course Outline/Schedule

MEETING 1 (Jan 22, 2008): Introductions Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Go over syllabus and introduce ourselves
2. Lecture: What is Media Literacy?
3. Discussion: The 5 A's of Media literacy applied.
4. Skills: Basic principles of digital graphic design and effective Powerpoint presentations (part 1).
5. Lab: PowerPoint in-class exercise 1.

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Media literacy and news
• What is media literacy:
• http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article111.html
• http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article336.html
• http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2797
• http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/what_is_media_literacy.cfm
• http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/teaching_backgrounders/media_literacy/7_debates.cfm
  
  
  • Understanding how the news media operate:
• http://washpost.com/nielessonplans.nsf/0/0D23C3B24F20563285256C600077C9E2/$File/1-Octb.pdf (pdf)
• http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9906E0D6163EF931A1575BC0A9629C8B63
• http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19845
• Bennett, Lance, W. (2006) News: The Politics of Illusion. Chapters 1 and 2 (optional reading).
  
  
2. Digital Skills Readings: Powerpoint and graphic design
   • Altman, Rick (2007). Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck. Chapters: 6, 7, 8, 16, 18 (optional reading).

Assignments

1. No assignments due next week.

MEETING 2 (Jan. 29, 2008): The News Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Manufacturing News; Newsworthiness, Objectivity and other institutions.
2. Discussion: State of the Union 2005
3. Skills: Basic principles of digital graphic design and effective Powerpoint presentations (part 2).
4. Lab: PowerPoint in-class exercise 2.

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Images and Photography:
   • Sontag, Susan. On Photography (excerpt): http://www.susansontag.com/onphotographyexcrpt.htm
   • Molidor and Harter. Sontag On Photography: Two Views: http://www.mediaandvalues.com/reading_room/article355.html
   • Thoman. Rise of the Image Culture: http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article79.html
   • http://washpost.com/nielessonplans.nsf/0/670B861A5CB54A6185256C98005ACEA9/$File/2-PhotographyFinal3.pdf (PDF)
     
   • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20031001wednesday.html
     
   • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20000428friday.html
     
   • http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/042300cuba-boy-media.html
     
   • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/19990407wednesday.html
     
   • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20040311thursday.html
     
   • http://snopes.com/photos/daschle.asp (Also see other images on this web site. It's FUN!!)
   • Iwo Jima Flag Controversy:
     • http://www.iwojima.com/raising/raisingb.htm
     • http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pulitzer/rosenthal.html
     • http://hnn.us/articles/599.html
       
     
     
     
2. Digital Skills Readings: Photoshop Elements and Digital Photography
   • Adobe Press. (2007). Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and Adobe Premiere Elements 4 Classroom in a Book Collection. Chapters 5 (skim) and 6 (read) (photoshop). (optional reading)
   • Understanding digital image formats (focus on JPG, GIFF and PNG):
     • http://www.elated.com/articles/understanding-image-formats/
     • www.luc.edu/its/pdfs/Ttips-2007-10-26_Image_Formats.pdf (PDF)
   • Understanding Color:
     • http://poynterextra.org/cp/index.html
     • http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm (optional reading)  
       

Assignments

1. Digital Skills Assignment 1 (PowerPoint Assignment) due.
2. Media Literacy Critical Paper 1 due.

MEETING 3 (Feb. 5, 2008): The Image Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: The power of photography.
2. Discussion: From Iwo Jima to 9/11
3. Skills: Digital Photo editing and Photoshop (part 1).
4. Lab: Photoshop Exercise 1.
5. Submit Digital Skills Assignmetn 1 (PowerPoint).
6. Submit Media Literacy Critical Paper 1.

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Media and Business
   • Croteau, David and Hoynes, William (2005). The Business of Media: Corporate Media and the Public Interest. Chapters 3 and 4 (Skim both) and 5 (read).
   • Why the Writers Strike and So Many Actors Picket Beside Them (Watch some videos): http://creativevoices.typepad.com/blog/2007/11/heres-why-the-w.html
   • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/giants/
   • http://www.cjr.org/resources/
   • http://www.thenation.com/special/bigten.html
   • Skim: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/music/
   • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20031219friday.html
   • http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_clearc.html
   • http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6558540/walmart_wants_10_cds
   • http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/03/business/main1176111.shtml
     
     
2. Digital Skills Readings: Photoshop Elements and Digital Photography
   • Adobe Press. (2007). Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and Adobe Premiere Elements 4 Classroom in a Book Collection. Chapters 7 and 8 (photoshop). (optional reading)
     
     

Assignments

1. Media Literacy Critical Paper 2 due.

MEETING 4 (Feb. 12, 2008): Media as Business Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Media conglomeration, concentration, integration and other -ions.
2. Discussion: Balancing profit, news values and the public interest.
3. Skills: Digital Photo editing and Photoshop (part 2).
4. Lab: Photoshop exercise 2.
5. Submit Media Literacy Critical Paper 2.

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Advertising and Branding
   • http://www.adbusters.org/the_magazine/70/Me_Against_the_Media_From_the_Trenches_of_a_Media_Lit_Class.html
   • Watch the entire following PBS show on advertising and marketing—click on the links to watch online: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/
   • http://www.fastcompany.com/online/58/marketing.html
   • Skim: http://www.readingonline.org/articles/langrehr/
   • http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=872031
   • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20031028tuesday.html
   • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20040122thursday.html
   • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20030327thursday.html
   • http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/1998/0598reed.html
   • http://www.socialfunds.com/news/release.cgi/2206.html
     
     
2. Digital Skills Readings: Photoshop Elements and Digital Photography
• Adobe Press. (2007). Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and Adobe Premiere Elements 4 Classroom in a Book Collection. Chapters 10 (photoshop). (optional reading)

Assignments

1. Work on Photoshop Assignment (due the following week). You should at least scan the cover of the magazine (or download it) and find the new substitute image by this week (see instructions for photoshop assignment below).

MEETING 5 (Feb. 19, 2008): Advertising and Branding Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Uncovering the advertising message.
2. Discussion: analyzing ads.
3. Skills: Digital Photo editing and Photoshop (part 3).
4. Lab: Photoshop exercise.

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Web 2.0
   • http://beltwayblogroll.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/01/the_rise_of_blo.php
   • http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/wa_teachers/fact_or_folly_teachers/index.cfm
   • http://www.moviemarketingmadness.com/blog/2008/01/17/movie-marketing-madness-cloverfield/
   • Explore and Skim (watch the videos!): Solo Journalism (Sojo) and alternative media
     • http://hotzone.yahoo.com/
     • http://digitaljournalist.org/
     • http://www.zmag.org/altmediaresources.htm
     • http://www.podcast.net/tag/wgbh
     • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/05/AR2005080501138.html
     • http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/25/arts/television/25will.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1125332820-X87cOfiKdFSUmofwmpYMvQ&oref=slogin
       
       
2. Digital Skills Readings: Wordpress and Blogging
   • Vossen, Gottfried and Hagemann, Stephan (2007). Unleashing Web 2.0: From Concepts to Creativity. Chapters 1 (read) and 2 (skim) and 3 (skim).
   • Stauffer, Todd (2007). How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog.
     • Chapter 1: Skim all.
     • Chapter 2: Read pp. 32-45, Skim 46-52, Skim pp. 53-54, Skim pp. 71-73.
     • Chapter 3: Read pp. 106-134.
     • OPTIONAL: Only if you're interested in using Blogger (read pp. 54-70), using TypePad, (pp. 73-103), using ExpressionEngine (pp. 135-176).
   • http://pages.towson.edu/sbaker/mcom100/design.html

Assignments

1. Digital Skills Assignment 2 (Photoshop) due.

MEETING 6 (Feb. 26, 2008): Web 2.0 Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Online Media.
2. Discussion: Evaluating the Web.
3. Skills: Basic web designing and Wordpress (part 1).
4. Lab: Wordpress Exercise 1.
5. Submit Digital Skills Assignment 2 (PhotoShop).

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Representation of Race, Gender and Sexuality
   • Read ALL the links at the bottom of the following page AND the links at the bottom of each of those pages (e.g. For "Girls and Women" also read the links at the bottom of the page: Beauty and Body Image in the Media, Sex and Relationships in the Media, Media Coverage of Women and Women's Issues...):
     • http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/index.cfm
     • http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/online_hate/index.cfm
   • http://quizzes.gurl.com/gurl/tests/interracial_quiz.htm
   • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/
   • Explore and Skim (watch the videos!):
     • http://www.dove.us/real_beauty/article_library_health_beauty.asp
     • http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/press.asp?id=4562&section=news&target=press
     • http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/flat3.asp?id=2091
     • http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2005-07-07-dove-usat_x.htm
     • http://www.zmag.org/Sustainers/Content/2005-08/20peters.cfm
     • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/
     • http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1019388
       
2. Digital Skills Readings: Wordpress and Blogging
• Vossen, Gottfried and Hagemann, Stephan (2007). Unleashing Web 2.0: From Concepts to Creativity. Chapters 5 (skim) and 6 (read).
• Stauffer, Todd (2007). How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog. Chapters 5, 6 and 7.
• http://pages.towson.edu/sbaker/mcom100/design.html
• http://www.spellboundblog.com/wordpress-customizations/

Assignments

1. Media Literacy Critical Paper 3 due.

MEETING 7 (March 4, 2008): Media, Representation & Diversity Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Race, gender and sexual orientation in the media.
2. Discussion: Case study on representation.
3. Skills: Basic web designing and Wordpress (part 2).
4. Lab: Wordpress exercise.
5. Submit Media Literacy Critical Paper 3.

Homework due on next class meeting:               

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Media and Kids
   • Lamb, Sharon and Brown, Lyn (2007). Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes. Introduciton and Chapters 1, 2 and 3.
   • http://www.aap.org/advocacy/OKeefemediaviolence.htm
   • http://www.aap.org/advocacy/shifrin898.htm
   • http://www.decentfilms.com/sections/articles/2569
   • http://www.cafearabica.com/archive/issue1/sections/action/disney.html
   • http://www.newint.org/issue308/dolls.html
   • http://www.adc.org/index.php?283
   • http://interact.uoregon.edu/medialit/JCP/articles_mlr/walsh/growing.html
   • http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/classroom_exercises/body_image/seventeen_undermines.cfm
   • Check your knowledge about girls:
     • http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2001/5girls/factorfiction/index.php
   • Explore and Skim:
     • http://www.adiosbarbie.com/
     • http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/04/26/more_girls_using_steroids_studies_say/
     • http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/privacy/children_and_privacy.cfm
       

Assignments

1. Digital Skills Assignment 3 (Wordpress/Blog) due.

MEETING 8 (March 11, 2008): Media Aimed at Kids Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Protecting vulnerable populations.
2. Discussion: Kids vs. Barbie and Disney cartoons?
3. Skills: Podcasting (Audacity, PodOMatic).
4. Lab: Podcasting Exercise 1.
5. Submit Digital Skills Assignment 3 (Wordpress/Blog).

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Propaganda, Reality or Fiction
   • http://www.realitytvworld.com/index/articles/story.php?s=1610
   • http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/233932_over26.html
   • Get yourself familiar with the 11 elements of propaganda in this study:
   • http://www.workingpsychology.com/download_folder/Propaganda_And_Fahrenheit.pdf (pdf)
   • http://www.authentic-breathing.com/propaganda_in_a_democracy.htm
   • http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Media/Military.asp
   • http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/chomsky03.htm
     
     
2. Digital Skills Readings: Premiere Elements and Video Editing
   • Adobe Press. (2007). Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and Adobe Premiere Elements 4 Classroom in a Book Collection. Chapters 4 (Premiere). (optional reading)

Assignments

1. Media Literacy Critical Assignment 5 due.

MEETING 9 (March 25, 2008): The Moving Picture: Propaganda, Reality or Fiction Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Television, Documentaries, and Videos.
2. Discussion: Propaganda in Documentaries.
3. Skills: Basic video editing and Adobe Premiere (part 1).
4. Lab: Premiere Exercise 1.
5. Submit Media Literacy Critical Paper 5.

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Propaganda, Reality or Fiction
   • http://www.realitytvw
   • www.frameworksinstitute.org/products/fourhabits.pdf (pdf)
   • http://www.martinstabe.com/journalism/viewarticle.php?story=8
   • Herman, Edward and Chomsky, Noam (2002). Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media. Introduction, Preface, and Chapters 1 and 2.
   • Sites, Kevin (2007). In the Hot Zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars. Parts I, II and III.
     
     
2. Digital Skills Readings: Premiere Elements and Video Editing
   • Adobe Press. (2007). Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and Adobe Premiere Elements 4 Classroom in a Book Collection. Chapters 5 (Premiere). (optional reading)

Assignments

1. Digital Skills Assignment 5 (Podcast) due.

MEETING 10 (April 1, 2008): Media and the World Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Covering the World.
2. Discussion: Case study on international news.
3. Skills: Basic video editing and Adobe Premiere (part 2).
4. Lab: Premiere Exercise 2.
5. Submit Digital Skills Assignment 5 (Podcast).

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Propaganda, Reality or Fiction
   • Sites, Kevin (2007). In the Hot Zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars. Parts V and VI.
   • http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/journalists-protection.html
   • http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/journalists-peril.html
     
   • Explore and Skim:
     • http://www.dartcenter.org/
     • http://www.dartcenter.org/articles/books/tragedies_00.html
     • http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/book.html
2. Digital Skills Readings: Premiere Elements and Video Editing
   • Adobe Press. (2007). Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and Adobe Premiere Elements 4 Classroom in a Book Collection. Chapters 7 (skim) and 11 (Premiere). (optional reading)
3. 
   
   Digital Skills Readings: Wordpress and Blogging
   • Stauffer, Todd (2007). How to Do Everything with Your Web 2.0 Blog. Chapters 8 and 9.

Assignments

1. Media Literacy Assignment 4 due.

MEETING 11 (April 8, 2008): Media, War and Violence Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Lecture: Covering war.
2. Discussion: Coverage of warfare and trauma.
3. Skills: Basic video editing and Premiere (part 3).
4. Lab: Premiere Exercise.
5. Submit Media Literacy Critical Paper 4.
6. NOTE: Take-Home Final Exam is posted HERE after class (due next week in class).

Homework due next class meeting:

Assignments

1. Digital Skills Assignment 4 (Premiere/Video) due.
2. Finish Take-Home Final Exam.

MEETING 12 (April 15, 2008): Final Exam

In-Class Work:

1. Work in class on Final Project and/or Digital Skills Assignment 4 (Premiere/Video).
2. Submit Digital Skills Assignment 4 (Premiere/Video).
3. Submit Take-Home Final Exam in class TODAY (both to turn-it-in and as hard copy).

Homework due next class meeting:

Assignments

1. Work on Final Project.

MEETING 13 (April 22, 2008): Lab Assistance on Final Project

In-Class Work:

1. Lab Assistance on Final Project.

Homework due next class meeting:

Assignments

1. Prepare for presentations.
2. Work on Final Project.

MEETING 14 (April 29, 2008): Final Project Oral Presentations & Project Turn-in

In-Class Work:

1. Put the final touches on the final project and get lab assistance (only on minor issues; if we have time).
2. Present Final Project (5 min per person).
3. Submit Final Project.