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SpCom
438, Sec. 3, "Mass Media and Democratic Theory," Prof. Althaus 1
unit Overview
This
seminar examines the institutions, practices, and effects of political
communication from the standpoint of democratic theory. While the "informed
citizen" plays an important role in many theories of democracy, the
communication systems that are supposed to supply these citizens with political
information have tended to receive little attention from political philosophers.
This course examines some of the critical tensions between the requirements of
democratic institutions, the supply of political information provided by news
media, and the public demand for such information. Special attention will be
given to the obligation of democratic citizens to become informed, the economics
of news organizations, the role of news values and journalistic routines in
shaping political news coverage, and the impact of new communication
technologies on the constitution of mass-mediated public spheres. No
background in political theory or political communication is required for
students taking this course. In keeping with the cross-disciplinary nature of
the seminar's topic, we will attempt to integrate scholarship from communication
studies, political science, sociology, economics, history, and philosophy,
representing a range of theoretical perspectives from paternalism and liberalism
to critical theory and postmodernist critiques of the public sphere. Objectives
This
course is intended to (1) help students understand the provision of political
news as a complex interaction between elite sources, journalists, and news
audiences; (2) acquaint students with the dominant values and newsgathering
routines that shape mainstream news coverage in the United States; (3) help
students appreciate the various kinds of political communication systems that
exist in modern democratic societies; and (4) familiarize students with
important normative considerations relating to the provision and consumption of
political information in democratic societies.
Course
Grade Grades
for this course will be determined by student contributions to class discussion
(20%), brief (1-2 page) synopses of selected readings that assigned students
will prepare for each of the weeks (6 total, 20%), a short (2-3 page) midterm
reaction paper (10%), and a take- home final exam (50%). |