MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

MCO120  2000 Fall – 2012 Summer II

Media and Society

1.

Describe historical implications of technology in mass communications from Gutenberg (1440) to Tim Berners-Lee (1989). (I)

2.

Contrast and compare populists and elitists. (II)

3.

Contrast and compare “Boomers” and “Xers”. (II)

4.

Describe implications of buying, selling, and merging media properties worldwide. (III)

5.

Contrast and compare international media systems and world-press theories. (III)

6.

Define the term global village, and examine its contribution to world understanding. (IV)

7.

Evaluate and compare news elements in relation to the selection process. (V)

8.

Compare Yellow Journalism from 1900 to news coverage in the new millennium. (V)

9.

Describe the impact of the third British Invasion as tabloid journalism crossed the Atlantic. (V)

10.

Evaluate the significance of the history of wire services and their evolution from pigeons to digitized data. (V)

11.

Describe the changing scene of broadcast news and its impact on newspapers. (V)

12.

Analyze ethical press problems from bribery to assassination in Mexico, Israel, Egypt, and Iran. (VI)

13.

Evaluate the significance of comic strips and political cartoons as part of the media. (VII)

14.

Identify and explain issues of advertising that affect the media. (VIII)

15.

Describe the change, growth and needs of the public relations industry in society today. (IX)

16.

Explain the pros and cons of conglomeration, nationally and worldwide. (X)

17.

Describe the implications of synergy and best-sellers. (X)

18.

Describe the impact of celebrity book of the month clubs. (XI)

19.

Explain the marketing practices of specialized magazines. (XII)

20.

Describe the historical impact of radio on the American public. (XIII)

21.

Trace the history of popular music in the 20th century. (XIV)

22.

Identify and explain some of the major effects of television on society. (XV)

23.

Trace the history of the cinema industry, and identify its effects on society today. (XVI)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

MCO120  2000 Fall – 2012 Summer II

Media and Society

I. Mass Communications Then and Now

A. New Technologies

1. Cable TV

2. Fiber optics

3. Satellite communication (direct broadcast satellite)

4. Two-way TV and computers

5. Electronic mail

6. Printing technology

7. HDTV

B. Home video: The consumer takes control

1. VCR

2. Laser discs

3. DVD

II. Popular Culture

A. What is it?

B. Icons and artifacts

C. Events

1. Concerts

2. Sports

D. “Boomers” and “Xers”

III. International

A. World press theories

1. Authoritarian

2. Libertarian

3. Communist

B. Ownership crossing global boundaries

IV. The Global Village

V. News Function

A. Definition

B. Variables affecting news decisions

C. Journalism types

1. Yellow

2. Fair and balanced

3. Advocacy

4. Supermarket and tabloid

5. Specialty

D. Wire services

E. Broadcast news

VI. Law and Ethics

A. Libel

B. Privacy

C. Free press/fair trial dilemma

D. Shield laws

E. Ethical problems

VII. Comics and Syndicated Materials

VIII. Advertising

A. False reflections: social implications and issues

B. Economics

C. Regulations

D. Agencies

IX. Public Relations

A. Definition

B. Growth and change of the industry

X. Mass Communications

A. Conglomerates

B. Synergy

C. Implications

XI. Books: The Permanent Press/Printed Word of Our Society

A. Gutenberg legacy

B. Print to civilization

C. Paperbacks

D. Instant best sellers

E. Instant books

XII. Magazines

A. Specialization and demassification

B. News

C. Photojournalism

XIII. Radio

A. The Golden Age

B. Formats

C. Ratings

XIV. Music

A. Top 40

B. Birth of rock

C. New music

D. Country music

E. Charts

XV. Television

A. Networks

B. Programming function

C. Ratings

D. Genres of prime time

E. Daytime TV

F. Children’s programming

G. Violence

XVI. Cinema

A. History

1. Sound

2. Star system

3. Golden years

4. Reaction to television

B. Marketing

C. Ratings: regulation of self