SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
CMNS 331-4

POLITICAL COMMUNICATION:
News as Socially Constructed Ideological Discourse

Prerequisite:

CMNS 230 or 235

Most of what we know, or think we know, about the political world derives from the news media, usually “mainstream” or mass media, but also, though less often, from a variety of “alternative” or more specialized media outlets. This course concerns influences on, and characteristics of, the news as a socially influenced discourse with important political and ideological implications.

The course first overviews theories about what organizational and social forces influence the news. It then focusses on the ways that news texts might function ideologically. Finally, we ask to what extent, and in what ways, news can be considered a democratic form of communication -- and whether alternatives are desirable or possible.

Required Texts:

(NB: In addition to the required texts, students are asked to purchase a custom courseware package available from the Bookstore.)
- John Hartley, Understanding News. Routledge, 1982.
- Robert Hackett and Yuezhi Zhao, Sustaining Democracy? Journalism and the Politics of Objectivity. Toronto: Garamond, 1998.
- Robert W. McChesney, Corporate Media and the Threat to Democracy NY Seven Stories Press, 1997 ISBN 1-888363-47-9

Supplementary Text:

(For optional purchase).
Tim O’Sullivan, John Hartley, et al., Key Concepts in Communication and Cultural Studies (2nd edition). Routledge, 1994.

Grading Profile:

(subject to change with notice)

20% Tutorial Attendance, participation & presentation
15% First short paper: media theory
20% Mid-Term Quiz (in class).
25% Second short paper: applied analysis of news discourse
20% Third short paper: take-home exam

Weeks Lecture Themes:

(subject to change)

1 Introduction.
2-4 News, democracy; and political communication: competing perspectives.
5-6 Influences on the news: journalists as media workers; media organizations and routines; sources, government, political economy; ideology.
7 Mid-Term quiz (in class).
8-9 News as (ideological) sign-system; news texts.
10 News “objectivity” as ideological.
11 Decoding the news: the question of media effectivity.
12 Media and the crisis of democracy.
13 Democratic alternatives for public communication?

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).