Final Study Guide

Final exam study guide

Chapter 16
First Amendment
Prior Restraint
Near vs. Minnesota case
Pentagon Papers
Shield laws
Covering the courts
Privacy Protection Act of 1980
Freedom of Information Act
Libel, slander, actual malice, NY Times v. Sullivan
Copyright and fair use
Food Lion case
Equal Opportunities Rule
Fairness Doctrine
The FCC and Cable/Network TV
Telecommunications Act of 1996
Deceptive Advertising and the FTC

Chapter 17
How journalists make their decisions: Ethical Principles (know basic differences)
Acculturation
Ombudsperson
Jimmy's World by Janet Cooke
Who are Stephen Glass andy Jayson Blair?
Voluntary performance codes for print/broadcast/film
Hayes Code transitioning to MPPA ratings (when? why?)

Chapter 18
Governmental systems and media control (libertarian, social responsibility, etc.)
Theories of media-government relationships and examples
Free Marketplace of Ideas
Global Village - what is it, examples, who said it?
"The World is Flat" -- Thomas Friedman .. what is the main point?
One laptop per child - goals?
Digital divide - .. 4 main areas (economic equality, social mobility, democracy, economic growth)


Chapter 19
Magic bullet theory
Minimalist effects theory (with two-step flow)
Media Research - survey's, experiments, panel studies - pro's and con's of each
Socialization
Narcotizing theory
Spiral of Silence
Third person effect
Cultivation/Gerbner
Stereotypes (with cultivation theory)
Impact of TV on politics
Bandura and Bobo doll research
Different approaches to violence in the mass media
Violence: Catharsis/Stimulation/Catalytic theories
Social effects of the Internet
Agenda setting
Mainstreaming, resonance
Children and Advertising 

3 possible essays (again, I'll pick two for the test, you write one):
1.  You think that The Des Moines Register has written defamatory statements about you!  What do you have to show to win, and what can the paper do to defend itself?

2.  Please describe how a media researcher would describe violence in the media and its effect on viewers according to these theories:  socialization theory, catharsis theory, stimulation theory, and agenda setting theory. 

3.  Ownership of the press can be public (the government) or private (corporations).  Control can be centralized (government controlled) or decentralized (little or no government control).  This gives us four different possible combinations.  As we've talked about, the United States, the U.K., China, and Mexico each have a different combination of these two variables.  Which combination would be best for modern-day Iraq and why?

Reaction Paper #13 due 12-10

This one is worth up to two reaction papers (depending on the quality of your answer!):

A nuclear power plant located in Colorado Springs, CO. provides power to a 400-mile radius.

The plant is notable for being tied to the Defense Department's local network of "in-case-of-disaster" installations (the North American Aerospace Defense Command is located in Colorado Springs).

A journalist receives a tip from a source whose name they know but wishes to remain anonymous in print (or they won't give the journalist information). The tip concerns the lack of security at the plant, including sleeping guards and visibly broken security cameras.

The plant offers a tour to the public once a month. Of course, no cameras are allowed. The journalist goes undercover, posing as a regular citizen, and takes the tour. Once inside the journalist uses a special hidden camera to take still photographs.

The tipster was right. The journalist discovers many faults in the security at the plant.

The newspaper decides to go with it as a multi-part story, spanning five days. Different pictures and detailed notes from inside will be published.

After the first edition is released, the government immediately springs to action. Hit by surprise, the Defense Department launches an injunction against the paper, trying to stop further pictures and details from being published whatsoever and also to reveal the identity of the anonymous source. They also want to charge the journalist.

The court will hear the opening arguments to decide if the paper has a right to publish this information and whether the journalist must reveal their source.

Take one side or the other. The side of the newspaper, arguing for the right to print it (and no trespassing), or the side of the Defense Department, arguing that it should not be allowed to go to print (and the journalist should be charged with trespassing).

Your best bet to win is to cite prior court cases that show that you are right. You can use court cases from your book (Chapter 16) or from the Internet (one idea, try Googling: reporter trespassing). You can use other sources but if you do be sure to cite them.

Reaction paper #12

Here it is, sorry it is a day late. I'll make it due the day after Thanksgiving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjt77lBNjwM&feature=PlayList&p=F35C52CC41B4DC24&index=0&playnext=1

It's a video, called Killing Us Softly. It has to do with how women are portrayed in advertising.

I'd simply like you to summarize the presenter's main points, anything that stuck out for you, and your response to it. It goes back a little to the paper on body image we had a few weeks ago, but makes some different points and has some examples.

YouTube is Crap?

But wait, there's more (video).

Reaction Paper #12

Since we're coming up on the end of a decade, I'd like you to think back on the past 10 years and make a TOP 5 list of what you think are the top 5 mass media events or inventions since 2000. Write a few short paragraphs for each one to try to convince me why they should be in the top 5. Shoot for 600-700 words.

I'll tally the answers and share the top 5 vote getters and a bonus for who has the best reasoning/explanation for their #1. I'll share the results on 11-24, last day before Thanksgiving break.

As incentive to get a lot of responses, If we can get at least 13 people to write this one, the whole class will get 5 points E.C. Whoever writes the best #1 gets 10 points E.C.

You can use this link to help remind you what has happened in the past 10 years:

http://2010.newsweek.com/home.html#

20/10

This is a pretty good retrospective of the last decade. Check out some of the slideshows.

Reaction Paper #11

Here is the article:

http://www.moskalyuk.com/blog/yes-50-scientifically-proven-ways-to-be-persuasive

Discuss a few of these tactics that you have seen work (or not work) in real life.

Which 5 stand out as tactics advertisers should use more?

Are there any that seem unethical to you?

Study Guide Test #3

Test #3 will be in class on Thursday November 12.

In class I mentioned I was thinking of doing it a week from today but I looked at the syllabus again and thought we might as well make it on the same day it is listed as on the syllabus.

So, Tuesday Nov. 10th we'll finish anything we have left over from Chapter 15 and review for the test.

Here is the study guide. It includes topics that will be on the test, but topics won't be limited to what is on this guide.

(I tried to note what we covered in lecture.)


Chapter 13 - News Gathering
Newsworthiness - How to decide what is news?
Hard news vs Soft news: what is the difference
Types of reporters (beat, general assignment)
Print vs Broadcast news - pro's and cons of each
What is the AP?

From book & lecture: news in the digital age
Objectives/ideals of reporters: objectivity, honesty, etc.

From lecture:
Nelly Bly, Ida Tarbell, Joseph Pulitzer, Watergate (Woodward/
Bernstein), Gonzo Journalism, photojournalism, Edward R. Murrow
Infotainment
Herd/Pack journalism


Ch 14 - Public Relations
PR compared to advertising.. what are the differences
What are the various "publics"?
Modes of communication in PR (press release, interview, etc.)
History of PR in the U.S. (American Revolution and beyond)
Ivy Lee and Edward Bernays
Compare: external PR firm vs internal department
Steps in PR campaign

From lecture:
What is crisis communication
Spin
PR blunders and disasters (Ford/Firestone tires)
What is astroturfing
Difference between propaganda and PR


Ch 15 - Advertising
Types of audiences (business & consumer)
Reach, frequency, selectivity, efficiency
Functions of advertising (marketing, education, economics, social)
what changes in society had to happen to lead up to advertising?
primary demand ads
selective demand ads
economics of advertising (how much is spent in what medium?)
effectiveness of ads?
History of advertising (what are the major events?)
Advertising in the digital age
Role of the advertising agency & creative boutiques
Viral advertising

from lecture:
Four P's of marketing (product, price, placement, promotion)
Different eras in the history of advertising
advantages of "brand"
advantages of branding
false advertising
Factual vs emotional appeals


Essay questions (I'll give you two on the test, you pick one)
1. Our book lists many different settings or areas for public
relations work. One would be PR for businesses. Please list four other
areas and a description with example(s) for each.

2. Compare and contrast the presentation of news in both the print
media and broadcast media. Consider the limitations and advantages of
each.

3. Please describe the social and technological evolution that paved
the way for modern day advertisers (starting around the Industrial
Revolution).

4. List and describe two ways the Internet has affected 1. journalism,
2. public relations, and 3. advertising? Which has been affected the
most in your opinion?

Reaction Paper #10 due 11-4

Here is the article.. it goes along with the video we watched today in class.

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-03/ff_free?currentPage=all

1. How has going digital changed the notion of "free"?
2. What does the author say are the main advantages of free?
3. From your own point of view, what are the biggest disadvantages of free?
4. Would you pay $10/year to visit your favorite free website or would you find something else that is free?

Happy B-day, Internet

The first communication on what would be come the Internet marks its 40th anniversary today.

Speaking of PR

Alex Rodriguez's interview about steroids.

Decline of newspapers

Graph of newspaper subscription rates. Ouch.

Box office visualization

A neat visualization of box office profits over the years.

Reaction Paper #9 10-29

Here are the articles:

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9A03E4DC1E3EF933A15756C0A96F958260

http://seedmagazine.com/news/2006/09/the_media_assault_on_male_body.php

And a couple short ones:

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/briefs/childrenshealth/hb050801a.htm

http://www.newsweek.com/id/112714

What is your reaction to these stories (be sure to share specific details from the articles)? (You don't have to share this, but:) do you feel the same pressures from the mass media? What do you think about little kids having their school photos retouched? Why do we value perfection so much in our culture? Will things get worse before they get better? Lastly, is there anything, either with advertisers or the mass media in general (especially those magazines aimed at young women) that can or should be done?

Inside Edition on Super Mario

Reaction Paper #8 due 10-22

For reaction paper 8, I'd like you to write a review. It can be a review for a TV show, movie, album, video game or book.

Pretend you are writing for The Campus Chronicle. Your audience is DMACC students. You want to keep your writing somewhat formal, but it doesn't have to be too stiff. Be sure to proof read. Here are some good tips on how to write it. Please read:

http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html

It will help if you review something that you are passionate about -- whether you love it or hate it.

Here are some readings for inspiration.

Roger Ebert hates the movie "North": http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19940722/REVIEWS/407220302/1023

But he likes Pulp Fiction: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20010610%2FREVIEWS08%2F106100301%2F1023

Indiana Jones: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20000430%2FREVIEWS08%2F4300301%2F1023

This guy goes in-depth with "Armageddon": http://criterioncollection.blogspot.com/2005/09/40-armageddon.html

Mario Kart Wii Review: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185351

Remember to be as specific as possible. Don't just say "it had good acting." What made the acting good? What made the story interesting? What made the action scenes boring?

YouTube $

YouTube revenue ideas (NY Times).

If it makes you subscribe, do a Google search for the headline and click on it (it will let you link to the full article via Google).

Reaction Paper #7 due 10-15

Here's the article:

http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/feature/2002/08/20/jenkins_on_donahue/index.html

Please summarize the author's points when it comes to video games and violence.

Do you agree or disagree and why? Do games like Grand Theft Auto deserve their bad reputation?

8 myths about video games:

http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

Which of these surprised you, and why? Do you have any experiences with video games that provide conflicting evidence to any of these 8 points?

Reaction paper #6 due 10-8

Ok.. nothing to read for this one. Here's the deal:

1. Pick an hour-long show that you'd expect would have product placement. The new Jay Leno one would be a good one. (A nature show probably wouldn't be)
2. Take out a piece of paper and make two columns. One for regular commercials and one for product placement.
3. Keep careful track of each product mention or visual within the show. Keep track of each commercial during the break.
4. List some of the product placements in your paper and how they did it.
5. Analyze the findings. How much product placement was there? Was it identified or not? Did the products overlap with any of the regular commercials? Was the product placement seamless or awkward? Did the target audience for the products seem to make sense for the typical audience who might be watching the show?
6. What are your thoughts on product placement? Are you ok with it? Why would some people not be ok with it? Does it bug you that shows have to integrate the products into their shows? Would it be better if it were kept out of shows? Any other thoughts?

Jay Leno & Product mentions

Not sure if all these are paid for, but I'm sure a lot are (especially Wendy's and Bing).

Research paper - due 12/1/09

Here is some information about your research paper due Tuesday December 1.

Shoot for about 1200 words (4-5 pages double-spaced)

Pick a topic in the mass media that you are interested in.

It could be relating to a TV show, band, album, website, radio show, movie, video game, etc. It could also be a media law or a subject like photojournalism ethics (more examples down below).

Give me a history of your subject. Tell me why it matters. Put it in some historical context -- what came before it, what it compares to now, and what might came after it (or might come after it in in the future). Tell me something I don't know.

For example, you might pick to write about the show 24.

You might start off with a short history of the show and how it came to be. Tell me how many people watch it each week. Why is it so popular? What do critics say about it?
Then you could focus on what the show is known for: its portrayal of torture. How is it portrayed? As something good or bad? Has the way 24 shown torture influenced America's perception of torture? Not just what you think, but use evidence from any studies you can find.
You might wrap it up tying the show to the transition to Obama and how he plans to deal with torture.

There you have it. Try not to put any opinion in, and let research do the talking. Stay away from first person.

Remember, no Wikipedia! You can use it as a starting point and use the sources listed, but not Wikipedia itself.

Finally, remember to cite all the sources you use. You can cite your sources in your papers at the end, but also throughout, like this:

The New York Times states that "24" has 21 million viewers.

or

"24" has 21 million viewers (NY Times, 2005).

Use an APA or MLA style works cited page at the end. If it's not properly formatted, automatic 5 points off, if it's missing altogether, 10 points off (or I might ask you to write one and give it to me if I can't figure out what your sources are). Use this:

http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/citapa.htm

Don't be afraid to venture to the library.

Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help brainstorm ideas for your subject.

It is due Tuesday, December 1st. It is worth 50 points (as much as a test). 5 points off for every day late.

More possible topics:
KCCI vs WHO in Des Moines (compare and contrast news featured during same time slot)
Has "24" affected our views on torture?
How has the mass media changed after 9/11?
Subliminal advertising
Video game addiction
Video game cultures
Rap (or heavy metal or whatever) and its place in our culture
The many methods of advertising in MTV (music videos, commercials, product placement)
YouTube.. will it ever be profitable?
How the Internet has affected the music industry
Pirating music/software online
Colbert Report vs O'Reilly Factor
Can bands bypass record companies and be successful?
Influence of particular film director (or music producer)
Telecommunications Act of 1996
The FCC's influence on radio or broadcast
Philo Farnsworth .. inventor of the TV
How has the media covered the Iraq war?
How the media has changed the way it has covered war (you could compare Vietnam and Iraq)
Propaganda (especially the Nazi's Triumph of the Will)
Advertising and the Internet
History of the Internet
KDKA - the first radio station
Orson Welles
Is there a liberal bias in the media?
Compare MSNBC or CNN to Fox News
Future of home video (Blu-Ray... why is it slow to take off)
How media in another country compares to the U.S.
Apple vs. Microsoft
Analyze a particular advertising campaign
Ethics - photojournalism, news, advertising, etc.
Censorship of the Internet in China
History and affect of YouTube
Blogging... can you make money doing it?
The Daily Show affect
"The Mickey Mouse" copyright extension act of 1998
Cyber-bullying

Reaction Paper #5 due 10-1

Here it is:

This one is a little more complex and involves playing a video game. Here is the page:

http://hcsoftware.sourceforge.net/passage/

Go to the "downloads" and you can get it for Mac or Windows (you might want to try on your computer if you have one, not a campus one).

AFTER you play the game (it takes 5 minutes or so), write a response and reaction of what you think the game means (or what it means to you).

Ok, now wait until you've written it. Now move on..

Read this statement by the maker:

http://hcsoftware.sourceforge.net/passage/statement.html

...how does this compare to what you thought the game was about? Was there an emotional response for you? If so, how can something so simple draw an emotional reaction? Do video games have as much potential for an emotional story as movies? If movies are considered art, what about video games?

LIFE magazine online

You can now browse old issues of LIFE magazine online through Google.

Citizen Kane extra credit

First step: watch the movie Citizen Kane (the DMACC library has a copy)....

Then, write up why the movie is considered one of the best films ever made according to the experts (and if you agree). (you can easily do a Google search for Citizen Kane reviews)

Be sure to back your points up with examples from the movie. Don't just say, "it is considered the best because of the cinematography." Give me examples from the film that show why the cinematography was so great.

You might want to watch it with the commentary by Roger Ebert (but be sure to cite it if you reference it).

Citing sources ( "According Cinematography Today magazine, etc etc," ) will be important. You can cite a website but it must be credible. Books, magazine, film history texts, printed sources will be best.

Alternative: Compare Charles Foster Kane as depicted in the movie to real life William Randolph Hearst.

You can earn up to 20 points. 800-900 words.

In honor of our discussion about books today, Dan Brown's 20 worst lines.

Is cropping unethical?

Reaction Paper #4 due 9-24

This paper will affect anyone who likes to purchase or enjoy movies or music... it's about digital rights management.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6337781.stm

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/
(since this letter iTunes has gone DRM free)

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/09/universal-goes-drmfr.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6516189.stm

and the first letter/response in this link:

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/03/more-on-free-and-suchlike.html

These links are pretty much all anti-DRM. What is your reaction to them? Can you defend the notion of DRM? What do you think about Neil Gaiman's idea of giving away books in hopes of selling them? Do you think it is realistic? Has the traditional model of selling music, movies, and books been destroyed by the Internet? What else can bands do to make money (and is it fair for them to be put in this position?) Can you think of any alternative models for buying digital content, since piracy is such a big concern now?

Since the dawn of the Internet, news organizations have accepted the notion that the only way to survive the onslaught of the Web is to publish everything online, at no cost to readers, and let anyone in the world synopsize it, refer to it, and copy and link to it. You can't charge for your work—that's rule No. 1 on the Internet. And you can't block others from copying or linking to it—that's rule No. 2.

Test #1

Check your email for our first test!

How long will it last?

Our Wikipedia edit is still there.

Reaction Paper #3 due 9-17

Just one article this time:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/magazine/the-marketing-of-no-marketing.html

What is unusual about PBR's situation? How have they tried to adapt? What do you think of PBR's strategy? With regards to the guy with the PBR tatoo, do you think it is unusual for people to have such strong ties to a brand (or even a brand of beer?) Are there any brands that you have such strong feelings for? Can you describe what the brand means to you and how you relate to it?

World of Warcraft

This goes right along with class:

Iowan among first at U.S.'s first Internet addiction center.

Reaction Paper #2

Since we chatted about Facebook today... let's do the next paper on it!

Background on Facebook:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/32261

http://www.newsweek.com/id/207843

Privacy concerns:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122170459104151023.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/13549646.html

http://www.newsweek.com/id/32332

http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/1055.html


Do high school officials have a right to scour Facebook or MySpace pages to find evidence and punish students? What are the arguments here? If the page is set to private and they try to get around (by, say, using one of your friends as a spy), is it any different than trying to go into someone's room and search? Is there anything you do to protect you privacy? In your experience, are your friends concerned about what images go on their Facebook? Have you ever been tagged in a photo you didn't want up? Why do people put photos up that might hurt them later?

Second Skin documentary

Sorry, the Second Skin documentary is no longer on Hulu.. if you can find it elsewhere, I recommend it. Here is the trailer:

Interesting Craigslist article

Ordinarily, a company that showed such complete disdain for the normal rules of business would be vulnerable to competition, but craigslist has no serious rivals.

Widescreen vs pan and scan

Animation from college..

Here's one of our goofy animations. For every minute of video it usually took 2 hours shooting and 2 hours editing.

Reaction Paper #1

Here are the readings:

http://www.slate.com/id/2205121/

http://www.slate.com/id/2187501/

http://www.thebigmoney.com/blogs/feeling-lucky/2008/12/11/hulu-whoop

Here's the topic: I assume most of you have visited YouTube. Maybe less people have heard of Hulu.com. You might want to check it out right now. Ok. Done? Why do you think Hulu is more profitable? Will YouTube start to become profitable for Google? Would you continue to watch YouTube if it had commercials? Would you rather watch TV or Hulu? Will sites like Hulu be the future of TV?

Try to use examples from the reading to make your point. You have about 500-700 words. You can go longer if you want. This isn't as formal as a research paper, but I still expect complete sentences and grammar.

Remember, it's due by midnight on Thursday Sept 3. You can turn it in during class or email it to me before the due date.

The grading of course is subjective, but the more thought and insight you put into your paper the better. If you throw it together with a lot of filler and not much substance, don't expect too high a grade.

Let me know if you have any questions. Remember to think about what the media will be like in 20 years.

Hello

Hello.. this is the class blog for JOU 110, Intro to Mass Media. Stay tuned for assignments, interesting links, and class updates!