SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION CMNS 230 CULTURAL INDUSTRIES SECOND ASSIGNMENT: THE POLICY CASE STUDY FALL 2006
CHOOSING A POLICY PROBLEM
Select a sector of the cultural industries. What is an important problem facing that sector today which may entail some sort of government policy intervention or a coordinated response from industry or civil society in the form of self-regulation? After outlining the issue, you must develop a number of policy options for the Government. You will advise the Government to proceed with one of the options. Note that you may advise the Government to act or not to act. The problem, thus, must pose a number of policy options, with various pros and cons, from which you must recommend one. You may choose to advise the government at either the Provincial or Federal level in Canada, or a foreign government. You should make it explicit in the Policy Problem section for whom you are writing this for.
STRUCTURING THE PAPER
The paper should cover the following: Policy Problem Background Issues and Implications A Profile of the major Stakeholder Interests and Positions Relevant Experience in Other Regimes Policy Options (at least three, with pros and cons of each) Recommended Option and Reasons
STYLE
You are writing this as a senior policy analyst in government, government relations in the private sector, or for a civil society/public interest group. Make your position clear. Writing is in prose form, in a technical style. Short, clear, assertive sentences. Use the subheads above. No footnotes unless absolutely necessary. Use CJC/APA style manual. You must include all sources. Be sure to recommend an ACTION, to a specific policy ACTOR and outline the CONSEQUENCES.
RESEARCHING
There is a course web site prepared by Sylvia Roberts from the SFU Library. Be sure to get online to consult the Department of Canadian Heritage, the relevant industry associations, and locate web sources from at least one other country on the issue. Primary sources are heavily favoured, but seek out at least three academic sources, with at least one source other than the assigned academic reading (Vivian and Maurin or Hesmondalgh or Lincoln Committee texts).
The best background paper is Participating in Federal Public Policy: A Guide for the Voluntary Sector: see http://www.vsi-isbc.ca/eng/policy/policy_guide/index.cfm. Pages 25-31; and especially pp. 35-36.
LENGTH
1500-2000 words, excluding references. On this assignment you will be penalised for going more than 10% over the length guideline. Clarity and succinctness are critical. Please include your word count on the bottom of the cover page.
DUE DATE
November 20 in tutorial. Late penalties will apply if no alternative arrangements have been agreed upon ahead of the due date.
1 SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION CMNS 230 CULTURAL INDUSTRIES SECOND ASSIGNMENT: THE POLICY CASE STUDY FALL 2006
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POLICY CASE STUDY CHECKLIST (Try this with a partner: exchange drafts to do the checklist or do it yourself) 1) Have I selected a sector of the cultural industries? (Choose from among television, radio, film, publishing, music, computer/video games. Reminder: Advertising is OUT OF THE SCOPE OF CMNS 230). The industry I have chosen ______Why? ( 3 reasons) 2) Have I identified a problem in that industry that might entail some form of government policy intervention? The problem I have identified ______Why is it Top of the Agenda? 3) Have I identified potential forms of intervention, based on policy instruments? Policy instruments______Possible responses from industry______4) Have I identified more than one policy option to address the problem? Possible options__(do nothing, do something for the public/ do something for business or other perspective)______5) Have I taken a position on the best policy option? My recommended option______( Why?) ______6) Have I identified what interests and concerns are addressed by my recommended option? Government’s interests and positions______The Public’s interests and positions ______Industry’s interests and positions ______7) Have I discussed the following? Experience in other regimes (e.g., other industries, other countries) (yes) ___ (no) ___ Pros and Cons of options cited (yes) ___ (no)___ Reasons for recommending my chosen option (yes) ___ (no) ___ 8) Do I make my advisory/value stance clear? (yes)___ (no)___ 9) Have I used a) primary sources (yes) ___ (no) ___ b) at least three academic articles (yes) ___ (no) ___ c) CJC or APA style (yes) ___ (no) ___ d) Proper citations (yes) ___ (no) ___ 10) Is my paper a) Is this my first draft or have I rewritten and polished it? First draft______Rewritten ______b) Proofread for errors/omissions in spelling, punctuation, grammar, pagination and content (yes) ___ (no) ___ c) 1500-2000 words (not including the cover page and references), double-spaced (yes) ___ (no) ___ d) Have I fully addressed all of the sections outlined for the paper structure (yes) _____ (no) ______
CAM/cam 04-10-06
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