Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2019 - CMNS 437 D100

Media Democratization: From Critique to Transformation (4)

Class Number: 8339

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Tue, 8:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 14, 2019
    Sun, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    75 units, including CMNS 235, 240 or 331.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An advanced seminar on the normative debates, social bases, and strategic potential for media democratization in the context of economically developed liberal democracies like Canada and the United States. This course complements other courses which critically examine state communication policies and the political economy and allegedly ideological character of corporate media. Here, we focus on campaigns and movements in civil society to define and build alternative communicative forms based on equality, democratic participation and/or human rights. Students with credit for CMNS 428 or 487 under the same title may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Overview:

Living in a platform society, the idea of democratizing media is growing more complex and increasingly addresses issues like access to information, net neutrality, diversity of information, hate speech and data democracy. This is an advanced seminar in which we look at the philosophical foundations, normative assumptions and political actions that are underlying and shaping media systems in the digital age. Using democratic theories, we critically examine the current estate of media systems, normative debates, social bases, and their strategic potential for media democratization in Canada and around the world.  

This course complements other courses which critically examine state communication policies and the political economy and allegedly ideological character of corporate media. Here, we focus on the link between the citizen and the media. We consider organized forms of resistance like campaigns and movements in civil society, as well as at the role of the individual. We look at forms in which citizens position themselves to the media through alternative communicative forms, as well as through interaction with the media online and offline. We discuss in which ways and how citizens contribute to and shape media systems and their normative underpinnings in the digital age.

Grading

  • Attendance and Participation 20%
  • Short Self -Reflection Paper 20%
  • Presentation 30%
  • Final term paper 30%
  • (To be confirmed in the first class)

NOTES:

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 S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline.  [Note: as of May 1, 2009 the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03)  have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

REQUIREMENTS:

Prerequisite: 75 units, including CMNS 235, 240 or 331. Students with credit for CMNS 428 or 487 under the same title may not take this course for further credit.  

A minimum CGPA of 2.00, and approval as a Communication student is required for entry into most Communication upper division courses

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Strategies for Media Reform:  International Perspectives
McChesney, Robert W. Obar, Jonathan A.
Fordham University press, 2016. 
ISBN: 978-0823271658

Media, Markets, and Democracy, Baker, Edwin, C.
Cambridge University Press, 2002
ISBN: 978-0521009775

RECOMMENDED READING:

The People's Platform:  Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age,
Taylor, Astra, Holt & Co.,, Henry, 1st Ed. 2014
ISBN: 978-0805093568

Anti-Social Media:  How Facebook Has Disconnected Citizens and Undermined Democracy
Vaidhyanathan, Siva, Oxford University Press, 2018
ISBN: 978-0190841164

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS