COMMUNICATIONS 623

Literature of Journalism
Winter Semester 2010Brigham Young University Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30-10:45 a.m., BRMB Room 242 Instructor: Dr. Dale Cressman! Ofce: Room 308 BRMB ! ! ! ! email: cressman@byu.edu Phone: 422-1686

Ofce Hrs: Tuesdays 2:30-4:00; Thursdays 3:30-5:00 This seminar will survey the literature of journalism studies, particularly those works taking theoretical and sociological approaches to journalism. Students will become familiar with seminal works related to news production, journalism as a profession, and journalisms place in society. Required textbook: Karin Wahl-Jorensen and Thomas Hanitzsch, eds., The Handbook of Journalism Studies (Routledge, 2009). Learning activities/course requirements: Students will lead two class discussions based on assigned readings and provide the class with copies of an outline/abstract of the assigned reading. It is expected that all students will fully participate in these discussions and come prepared to engage the assigned readings. However, the assigned student will take the lead by presenting and provoking discussion. Students will write a journal review for a book selected from a list provided with this syllabus (also found on the course Blackboard site). The form of the review will follow the format of either of the following journals: Journalism Studies (published by Routledge) or Journalism Theory, Practice and Criticism (published by Sage). The review will be due on March 2. Students should expect to orally present their review in class and provide a copy for all members of the class. Students will produce a nal project, selecting one of the following options: - Literature survey: A student may conduct a literature survey related to the material of the course for use in a thesis or to prepare for comprehensive exams or further study. - Research paper: A student may write a research paper appropriate for convention presentation or publication. - Journal: A student may keep a weekly intellectual journal. The journal should reect a rigorous and critical engagement with the readings, class discussions and related observations and should provide an abstract for each of the works engaged. The due date for the nal project is April 13.

Course schedule: A tentative schedule is provided here. However, it will be rened after our rst meeting to reect assignments for student presentations. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the schedule as needed. Of course, you will be made aware of any such changes. Grading: Final grades will be derived largely on the following criteria: Participation (including presentations): 50% Book review: 25% Final project: 25% Tentative schedule: Week 1: Overview of journalism studies (Chapters 1-2) Week 2: No class (prepare for presentations) Week 3: News Production (Chapters 5-6) Week 4: News Production (Chapter 7) Week 5: News Production (Chapters 8-9) Week 6: News Content (Chapter 11) Week 7: News Content (Chapter 12) Week 8: News Content (Chapters 13-14) Week 9: News Content (Chapter 15) ! Book Review due Week 10: Journalism & Society (Chapters16-17) Week 11: Journalism & Society (Chapters 18-19) Week 12: Journalism & Society (Chapters 22-23) Week 13: Global Context (Chapters 24, 28) Week 14: Journalism & Education (Chapters 3-4) ! Final project due