Special Topics in Mass Communication:
Essential Skills in Digital Media Literacy
MCOM 672
Syllabus
Spring 2008

Course Description/Assignments/Grading
Course Outline/Schedule

MEETING 1 (Jan 30, 2008): The Image Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Go over syllabus and introduce ourselves
2. Lecture: What is Media Literacy?
3. Lecture: The power of photography.
4. Discussion: Iwo-Jima to 9/11
5. Skills: Digital Photo editing and Photoshop (part 1).
6. Lab: Photoshop exercise.

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

 

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), 6, 7 and 8 (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)  
    
    
1. Assignments

1. Media Literacy Critical Paper 1 due.

MEETING 2 (Feb 6, 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.
5. Submit Media Literacy Critical Paper 1.

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).
2. Media Literacy Critical Paper 2 due.

MEETING 3 (Feb 13, 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.
5. Submit Media Literacy Critical Paper 2.

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
   • 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. Chapters 1, 2 and 3.
   • http://pages.towson.edu/sbaker/mcom100/design.html

Assignments

1. Digital Skills Assignment 2 (Photoshop) due.

MEETING 4 (Feb 20, 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.
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 5 (Feb 27, 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: Representation of Race, Gender and Sexuality
   • 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
       
       
   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. Digital Skills Assignment 3 (Wordpress/Blog) due.

MEETING 6 (March 5, 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.
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 Paper 5 due.

MEETING 7 (March 26, 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.
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 8 (March 2, 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 1.
5. Submit Digital Skills Assignment 5 (Podcast).

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Media Literacy Readings: Covering War
   • 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)

Assignments

1. Media Literacy Assignment 4 due.

MEETING 9 (April 9, 2008): Video Editing Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Skills: Basic video editing and Premiere (part 3).
2. Lab: Premiere Exercise 2.
3. Submit Media Literacy Critical Paper 4.

Homework due next class meeting:

1. 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. Digital Skills Assignment 4 (Premiere/Video) due.

MEETING 10 (April 16, 2008): PowerPoint Class Wiki or Discussion Forum

In-Class Work:

1. Skills: Basic principles of digital graphic design and effective Powerpoint presentations (part 1).
2. Lab: PowerPoint in-class exercise 1.
3. Submit Digital Skills Assignment 4 (Premiere/Video).

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. 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. Digital Skills Assignment 1 (PowerPoint Assignment) due.

MEETING 11 (April 23, 2008): PowerPoint and Presentations

In-Class Work:

1. Skills: Basic principles of digital graphic design and effective Powerpoint presentations (part 2).
2. Submit Digital Skills Assignment 1 (PowerPoint; part of your presentation).

Homework due next class meeting:

Readings

1. Review readings and lectures for exam.

Assignments

1. Final Exam

MEETING 12 (April 30, 2008): Final Exam

In-Class Work:

1. Take Final Exam in class TODAY.

Homework due next class meeting:

Assignments

1. Work on Final Project.

MEETING 14 (May 7, 2008): Final Project Turn-in (attendance optional)

In-Class Work:

1. Submit Final Project.