Test #4 Due Monday 4/11 (midnight)

Same rules as the previous -- open everything, must be written by you.

Remember to cite your sources!

DUE: Monday, April 11 (midnight)

LENGTH: About three double spaced pages per question.

Questions (pick 2)

1. (Chapter 10) Choose and discuss what you believe are the top four most important or influential events in the history of American journalism. Explain why you believe each event is important and what effect it has had on journalism and our culture.

2. (Chapter 11) Pick two forms of entertainment described in Chapter 11 that have been affected by the Internet is different ways. Describe, in as much detail as possible, how they have been affected by the Internet. Where appropriate, try to find facts that will show how revenue was affected. For example, a quick search for music industry revenue finds this useful link.
You can discuss the economic, social/cultural, and/or technological impact of each.

3. (Chapter 12) Pretend you have to explain to a friend the difference between advertising, public relations, and propaganda. How are they similar and different, why some are important to business, and what techniques are used for each? Examples?

Reaction paper #8 due Monday April 4

Here is the video (it's 4 parts..if it doesn't work in Chrome, try Firefox or Safari... it starts 30 seconds in)

Part 2

Part 3
Part 4


It's called Killing Us Softly. It has to do with how women are portrayed in advertising. (It does have some adult language and images)



I'd simply like you to:



1. Summarize the the problem the presenter identifies. Do you agree with the presenter, or are the problems exaggerated?

2. What are the effects on women & girls (and boys)?

3. Does the speaker bring up any points you hadn't noticed or thought about before? Why do you think this was?

4. What is your response? What should be done, if anything?

Nice piece on the visuals in The Social Network.

Speaking of marketing.. how to market... carrots??

Digital subscriptions visualized.

Pricing should be simple.

The new New York Times digital subscription model... what do you think about it?

Pricing here.

A conversation about it on Metafilter.

If you want to write a page about this and the idea of charging for news online (sample ideas: will it work? how else can news organizations make money? is advertising the only other option? would it work with the Des Moines Register? how much would you pay for your favorite news site?), 10 points E.C.

An open letter to Bon Jovi.

Reaction Paper #7 due 3/25 midnight

For reaction paper 7, 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 proofread. 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"

But he likes Pulp Fiction

Indiana Jones

Mario Kart Wii Review

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?

Ever download a song or movie, um, illegally? Well, it might be a felony soon. See this news piece.

Here's sort of an interesting case where a jury concluded that a blogger had to pay damages because he helped get someone fired. The article could be a little more well-written, though, it doesn't explain very well why it wasn't libel/defamation (like one of the sources claims).

It's relatively rare for me to see a blogger held accountable for defamation and it raises some free speech issues.

Unbelievable photos from the earthquake in Japan.

An interesting note on why Apple has movie trailers on its site. I remember the Phantom Menace trailer being a big deal.

Video from class

Next paper

In case you were wondering we won't have a reaction paper this week.. keep working on the take-home test and we'll start in on reaction papers after spring break!

History of Windows through the years... interesting if you are a geek.

Test #3 (Take-home)

Essay test again... reminder: No Class Friday March 11. It will be a work day for the test (hopefully you can get started before then though), and it will be due (via email this time) by midnight that day.

(I will email you a reply when I get the test... 10 points off if it's late)

You can use your book or any other resource. If you want to use a source besides our book, please cite it at the end of your paper. (MLA Citation examples)

To avoid the appearance of plagiarism, if you use any direct quotes word for word, be sure to put it in quotes and attribute it to the original author.

Here are the questions..... pick two. Write about 2-4 double spaced pages per answer, please.

1. Compare the relationship between television and film in the 1940s and 50s (when TV was still young) to the relationship between television, film, and the Internet today. For example, where is there competition and where is there cooperation, and how do film and/or television try to set themselves apart from the competition (back then and today)?

2. Describe three major milestones (or notable figures) in the history of film and describe some of the impact these milestones had as the film industry evolved.

3. Describe Hollywood's Star System in the golden age of the film industry.

4. Summarize the difference between broadcast, cable, and satellite television. For example, the technology involved, when and how each was introduced, and how each is regulated (or not) by the FCC.

5. Discuss the recent sale of NBC to Comcast. What were some of the stipulations of the sale, and why does the sale itself worry some people?