SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

CMNS 130-3

Explorations in Mass Communication

This course is an introduction to the media, popular culture, and society. It examines role of the mass media in public communication and considers the myriad ways that mediated forms of communication are implicated in our knowledge and understanding of the world. We will examine a wide range of media theories, practices, and controversies, as well as specific types of media such as broadcasting, telecommunications, the press and publishing, sound recording, film, and the internet.


Required Text and materials:

R. Lorimer and M. Gasher, Mass Communication in Canada (4th edition).
www.masscom.qc.ca

Craig McKie and Benjamin D. Singer (eds) Communications in Canadian Society, (5th edition) Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing, 2001.


Supplementary Reference Material:

TBA

There are no tutorials scheduled in the first week of class.


Schedule:

For the most part the lectures will follow the layout of the required text, considering a new topic (and chapter) each week. While the lecture material will sometimes vary from that covered in the text, generally we will attempt to stay in step with the agenda it sets. Consequently, students are required to read one chapter per week, plus supplementary material. Following the chapter outline of the text, the lecture topics will be:

1. Communication and society
2. Ties that bind: Mass communication, the mass media, and public communication
3. Democracy, politics, culture and the media.
4. Media content
5. Media and audiences
6. The legal context: Communications law and policy
7. Culture as industry
8. The structure and role of ownership
9. Journalists as content producers
10. Communications technology
11. Globalization
12. Communication in a digital age
N.B. A more comprehensive course outline will be available in the first week of class.
*This course may be applied to the Certificate in Liberal Arts.

The grades awarded in this course will be consistent with established university-wide practices to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, instructors will also follow Policy T10.02 with respect to "Intellectual Honesty" and "Academic Discipline" (see the current calendar, General Regulations).