Spring 2022 - CMNS 440 D100

Labour, Communication and the Media (4)

Class Number: 3236

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    60 units including CMNS 230 or CMNS 240, with a minimum grade of C-; or written permission of the instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores the relationship between labour, communication, and the media, including: working conditions in the media and communication industries; media representations of workers and workplaces; and uses of media and communication technologies by workers and their organizations. Students with credit for CMNS 488 with the topic "Labour and CMNS" may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores the intersection between labour and digital technology, including what work is like in the media and communication industries, how digital technologies are reshaping the world of work, and how workers and their organizations are responding to these transformations. The rise of “platform economy” discourse has brought with it promises of consumer convenience, entrepreneurial freedom, and labour flexibility. But what impact has digital technology really had on workers and workplaces? At the “high-skill” core getting a foot in the door often comes at the cost of working for free, creative jobs can be accompanied by chronic overwork, and gender and racial inequities are the norm. At the precarious margins of the labour market digital platforms have brought algorithmic management, unprecedented surveillance, and low pay. Addressing these problems is a major challenge facing workers, their organizations, and policymakers, and the development of collective solutions is a central focus of this course. Topics examined during the semester include precarious employment and the gig economy; platform companies and platform labour; online work, entrepreneurialism and new worker identities; the digital labour process; labour resistance and collective organization; global divisions of digital work; platform cooperativism.

The seminar format is participatory and collaborative. Each week the instructor will offer an introduction to the topic, after which the group will discuss themes selected from the weekly readings. Regular, respectful, and informed participation is an essential component of the seminar and forms a significant portion of the final grade.

Grading

  • Participation 30%
  • Group Project Proposal (due Week 7) 5%
  • Group Presentation (Week 12 or 13) 10%
  • Critical Summary Assignment (Due Week 5) 20%
  • Group Research Project (due Week 12 or 13) 35%

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). For further information see: www.sfu.ca/policies/Students/index.html.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Course readings will be available either online through the SFU electronic journals system or via Canvas.

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.