NEWS RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

 

Overview and objectives of the course: Our task in this seminar is to research patterns in the news agenda, using content analysis and related techniques. Students will work in teams to research one or two hypotheses about the news agenda. The course offers you an exceptional opportunity, within a guided and collegial framework, to develop skills in conducting media research from conceptualization and design to analysis and reporting of results. At the same time, your research contributes to broadening the collective enterprise known as NewsWatch Canada, which investigates blindspots in Canada's national news agenda. This year, we will comparatively analyze press coverage of (1) media corporations vs. other established institutions, and (2) media reformers vs. other advocacy groups. You are asked to grant permission to the Project to publish the results of your research (in a book and /or other format), with appropriate editing and acknowledgment.

Prerequisites:

Permission of the instructor, which is normally granted on the basis of 75 credit hours, including at least one methods course (e.g. CMNS 260, 261, 362, 363) and a CGPA of at least 3.0. CMNS 235, 331 or 335 are recommended. Registration is done via permission of the instructor, and then Lucie will add you into the course -- you do not telephone register yourself.
Students who took CMNS 421, 428 or 486 when these courses were offered as the Project Censored seminar (since 1994-1) may not take this course for further credit.

Format:

A four-hour weekly seminar. Your attendance and participation is essential to the Project's success.

Note:
This is a four-credit course. You can undertake further work for two or three additional credits (CMNS 480-2 or CMNS 481-3 -- Directed Studies). Please talk to Bob.

Required Text:

G. Bailey & R. Hackett, NewsWatchers' Guide to Content Analysis (sold in class).

Recommended:

Robert A. Hackett & Richard Gruneau, et al, The Missing News: Filters and Blind Spots in Canada's Press, (CCPA/Garamond, 2000) ISBN 1-55193-027-7.
John Nichol & Robert W. McChesney, It's The Media, Stupid, (New York: Seven Stories Press, 2000) ISBN 1-58322-029-1.

Assignments and grades: (subject to discussion and confirmation at the first seminar):

Attendance and participation 20%
Written summary and oral briefing about previous research 10%
Written study plan (preliminary & final versions) 20%
Written research report(s) 40%
One-page abstract/summary of your report 10%

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy T10.02 with respect to "Intellectual Honesty," and "Academic Discipline" (see the current Calendar, General Regulations Section).