Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2022 - CMNS 437 B100

Media Democratization: From Critique to Transformation (4)

Class Number: 3235

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Thu, 8:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    75 units, including CMNS 235, 240 or 331, with a minimum grade of C-.

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:

NOTE: This is a B-section course. B = Blended. Course has a combination of in-person and online components, and a portion of face-to-face class time is replaced by asynchronous online components.

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

  • Participation (online/offline) 10%
  • Short Self-Reflection Paper 20%
  • Presentation 30%
  • Final term paper outline 10%
  • Final term paper 30%

NOTES:

Note: Grading to be confirmed in the first class.

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.]

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Freedman, Des, J. Obar, C. Martens and R. McChesney, (eds.) (2016). Strategies for Media Reform: International Perspectives. Fordham University.


ISBN: 9780823271658

Milan, S., Treré, E., Masiero, S. (eds.) (2021). Covid-19 from the margins. Pandemic invisibilities, policies and resistance in the datafied society. Institute of Network Cultures.

Available online: https://networkcultures.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Covid19FromTheMargins.pdf


RECOMMENDED READING:

Robinson, S. (2018). Networked News, Racial Divides. How Power And Privilege Shape Public Discourse In Progressive Communities.


Segura. S. & Waisbord, S. (2016). Media Movements: Civil Society and Media Policy Reform in Latin America.


Vaidhyanathan, S. (2018). Anti-Social Media. How Facebook Disconnects us and undermines democracy.


Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

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

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.