Communication 3310: Television Studio Production

Communication 382: Theoretical Issues in News Convergence Spring 2015 Room: 162 Fell Hall

Instructor: K. Megan Hopper, Ph.D. Office: 459 Fell Hall Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-3 p.m. Other hours by appointment.

Course Description:

This course concerns both theoretical and practical issues involving the impact of convergence on our news media and, in turn, on society at large. Theoretical Issues in News Convergence will equip students with a firm grasp of the scope and nature of convergence journalism, as well as investigating the effects that this seismic shift in practice is having, not only on journalists and the economic structure of their industry but also on the news we consume.

Course Objectives: . Students will learn the unique capabilities that converged storytelling affords. These include the potential offered by unlimited space and time; immediate publishing independent of press deadlines; the ability to facilitate communication with an audience; the ability to deliver content in multiple media formats (i.e., text, photos, graphics, audio, video and animation); and - most importantly – interactivity, whereby the user has greater control over content. . Students will learn how the concentration of media ownership fuels technological convergence. . Students will learn to apply traditional mass communication theories (i.e., agenda setting, framing, priming, innovation/information diffusion theory, the knowledge gap hypothesis) to convergence initiatives, practices and concerns.

Required Texts:

Grant, A.E., & Wilkinson, J.S. (2008). Understanding Media Convergence. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Briggs, Mark (2007). Journalism 2.0: How to survive and thrive. (PDF text posted on ReggieNet).

Several required readings are also posted on our course site on ReggieNet under the Resources and Materials tab. Each of those readings is noted on the course schedule with RN following the title.

Students will also be responsible for keeping up-to-date on current events via regular reading of both local and national newspapers, blogs and websites and viewing of local and national broadcast news stations. Assignments:

Students will be responsible for several written assignments over the course of the semester. One such assignment entails setting up and maintaining a blog concerning a specific focus. Each student will also be responsible for a 5-6 page critical evaluation of online journalism that will examine the strengths/weaknesses of convergence practices by multiple online news outlets. The group research project requires students to work together to select a certain aspect of convergence and design a research study to investigate the impact on the journalism field as well as our culture. Groups will create a 7-8 page proposal defining their selected concept and describing the proposed research study. Groups will also describe their plans to the rest of the class through an oral presentation at the end of the semester.

In addition to the written assignments, students will also select a partner who they will lead a class discussion with on the assigned readings and relevant and related information. Points will also be earned through various in-class activities, participation in class discussion, and a final exam.

Late work is accepted, but will be penalized.

1. Critical Evaluation of Online Journalism (5-6 pages, 100 points) 2. Partner Discussion Leadership (100 points) 3. Blog (Maintain a functioning blog, 5 entries, 50 points) 4. Group Research Project (7-8 pages, 100 points) 5. In-class activities and Participation (50 points) 6. Final Exam (100 points) TOTAL = 500 points possible

Grading scale: 450-500 = A; 400-449 = B; 350-399= C; 300-349 = D; 0-299= F

Extra Credit Opportunities:

Throughout the semester, there will be several opportunities for you to earn extra credit points. One such opportunity is your participation in one research study available on the School of Communication Research Pool website: https://sites.google.com/site/isucomresearch/ General Notes on Class Policies

Attendance: You are expected to be in class and come prepared to discuss the assigned readings. Three unexcused absences will result in a letter grade reduction in your final grade. Tardiness is also frowned upon.

Respect: Please be kind and courteous to your fellow students and respect diverse viewpoints.

Using Technology in Class: During class, computers should be used for in-class assignments only. This means no checking email, Facebook, Cubs scores, etc. during class. Likewise, texting or other use of mobile phones/devices is prohibited during class. Attempts to use technology in such a manner during class will negatively impact your final grade in the course.

Academic Dishonesty The academic community regards academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences, that range from probation to expulsion. If you are unsure about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quotes or collaborations, ask me. Plagiarism will result in a zero grade for the assignment, and you will be reported to the Office of the Provost. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Any student needing to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability should contact Disability Concerns at 350 Fell Hall, 438-5853 (voice), 438-8620 (TDD) and me immediately. All reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your needs. Policies for Graduate Students: In addition to the course assignments (evaluated using standards appropriate for graduate level work), graduate students will be responsible for leading two class discussions. Graduate students will also be expected to complete a synopsis paper (5-6 pages) that critically evaluates and summarizes the topics discussed throughout the semester as a whole.

Tentative Class Schedule: The schedule may be adjusted on occasions to allow the class to cover the important news topics of the day. WEEK DATE TOPIC READING/ASSIGNMENT

1 TUE. 1/13 Orientation & History of  COURSE SYLLABUS Journalism

TH. 1/15 What is media convergence?  GRANT & WILKINSON INTRO. & CHAP. 2

2 TUE. 1/20 What is convergent/multi-  BRIGGS INTRO. media journalism?  CHALLENGES FOR CONVERGENCE ON RN

TH. 1/22 Introduction to the Social  VISIT SMACC - FELL Media Analytics Command 275 Center (SMACC)

3 TUE. 1/27 Digital storytelling &  BRIGGS CHAP. 1 & 2 The changing face of journalism

TH. 1/29 Convergence in the newsroom  G&W CHAP. 1

4 TUE. 2/3 How to blog: Beyond the  BRIGGS CHAP. 5 basics  BLOG ASSIGNED

TH. 2/5 Web logs: Ethics &  G&W CHAP. 14 democratizing media  BLOGGER CODE OF production ETHICS ON RN

5 TUE. 2/10 Evaluating online journalism  SULLIVAN ON RN outlets  BLOGGING AS JOURNALISM ON RN

TH. 2/12 What can journalists and  WHAT CAN bloggers learn from each JOURNALISTS LEARN other? FROM BLOGGERS ON RN  WHAT CAN BLOGGERS LEARN FROM JOURNALISTS ON RN  BLOG TOPIC PITCH

WEEK DATE TOPIC READING/ASSIGNMENT 6 TUE. 2/17 New reporting methods  BRIGGS CHAP. 4

TH. 2/19 Reporting news for the web  BRIGGS CHAP. 6  BLOG #1 DUE

7 TUE. 2/24 Meaning & influence of  G&W CHAP. 11 convergence

TH. 2/26 Ideas for future research in  G&W CHAP. 13 media convergence  GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT ASSIGNED

8 TUE. 3/3 Applying mass  G&W CHAP. 10 communication theory to  AGENDA SETTING ON media convergence & RN Agenda setting & convergence

TH. 3/5 Innovation/information  INNOVATION diffusion theory DIFFUSION ON RN & convergence  BLOG #2 DUE

9 3/9 – 3/13 SPRING BREAK

10 TUE. 3/17 Framing, priming, &  FRAMING ON RN convergence  PRIMING ON RN

TH. 3/19 Knowledge gap hypothesis  KNOWLEDGE GAP ON & convergence RN  EVALUATION OF ONLINE JOURNALISM DUE

11 TUE. 3/24 Creating convergence theory  JENKINS ON RN

TH. 3/26 Converging communication,  G&W CHAP. 6 colliding cultures  BLOG #3 DUE

12 TUE. 3/31 NO CLASS –  ATTEND A COM WEEK COM WEEK EVENT

TH. 4/2 Culture, conflict, &  G&W CHAP. 7 Convergence  PITCH RESEARCH PROJECT IDEAS WEEK DATE TOPIC READING/ASSIGNMENT 13 TUE. 4/7 Consumer interactions with  G&W CHAP. 3 media

TH. 4/9 The converged audience  G&W CHAP. 4  BLOG #4 DUE

14 TUE. 4/14 Convergence & community  PARTICIPATION (RN) engagement  COMMUNITY COLLABORATION (RN)

TH. 4/16 GROUP MEETING – NO CLASS

15 TUE. 4/21 Feminist perspectives on  G&W CHAP. 9 & 15 convergence and global convergence

TH. 4/23 Where do we go from here?  BRIGGS EPILOGUE The future of media  G&W CHAP. 17 convergence  BLOG #5 DUE

16 TUE. 4/28 RESEARCH PROJECT  RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS PAPERS DUE

TH. 4/30 FINAL EXAM  FINAL EXAM

17 5/4 – 8 FINALS WEEK – NO CLASS