COMM 101: UNDERSTANDING MASS MEDIAProfessor Eric Luther TX Community College transfer student SMU: Dallas, TX – Bachelors of Humanities NYU: New York, NY – Masters in Arts & Humanities

Education 10 years in media production (mainly TV news) Taught communications and media courses as adjunct at

other community colleges, but came full-time to WCC as of Fall 2010

Curriculum Chair, Communication & Media Arts

7.5 WEEK SESSION DAY #1 of 15 DAYS OF

INSTRUCTION 14 left to go Instruction ends 5/9 Finals are from 5/10-11 Tight but flexible schedule –

ATTENDANCE IS KEY!

COMM 101: UNDERSTANDING MASS MEDIAStudents: Who are you and what brings you

to this class? What are your communications &

media interests? What do you expect/hope to get

out of this class?

COMM 101: UNDERSTANDING MASS MEDIATODAY’S OVERVIEW: Go over Course Outline + Book +

Blackboard Discuss Course & Mass Media

Basics Discuss Project #1 Remember - Class Materials are posted

on Blackboard prior to meeting

COURSE OUTLINE HIGHLIGHTS:

BLACKBOARD SECTIONS:

COURSE OUTLINE HIGHLIGHTS:

WEEKLY CLASS FOLDERS

COMM 101: UNDERSTANDING MASS MEDIA

This course has four distinct graded/credit parts: COURSE REFLECTIVE PROJECTS: Two Written Reflective

Projects = 25% COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:

Online CONNECT LearnSmart Adaptive Learning Chapter Modules/Online CONNECT chapter quizzes/Online CONNECT Assignments/In-Class Media/Study Focus Questions = 25%

COURSE PAPER: Semester Research Paper = 25% COURSE FINAL: Final Exam (online-cumulative from chapter

quizzes + in-class media work) = 25% Total = 100%

COMM 101: UNDERSTANDING MASS MEDIA

3 PURCHASING OPTIONS – ALL INCLUDE CONNECT COMMUNICATION

COMM 101: UNDERSTANDING MASS MEDIA

LATE WORK POLICY:No late projects or papers are accepted. Quizzes completed after the posted due date will result in 50% credit. Material covered in class will always be posted in the appropriate area/weekly class folder on Blackboard so physical absences are not an excuse for falling behind when completing work. You are held responsible for the material whether you are physically present or not.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:Students are allowed to miss a total of 2 class periods (approximately six hours of instruction) before being penalized. After that, each absence will result in a 5% reduction of your final grade. In addition, there will be in-class work that is not available beyond the day/time of assignment and, therefore, unavailable for later completion.

What is “COMM 101: Understanding Mass Media”?

COMM = Communications, the general field of study.

How would you generally define “communication”? What does it mean to “communicate”?

What is “COMM 101: Understanding Mass Media”?

Communication (dictionary) the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or

behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else

communications : the ways of sending information to people by using technology

What is “COMM 101: Understanding Mass Media”?

101 = Introductory College Class

The beginning of a course of study; the basics.

What is “COMM 101: Understanding Mass Media”?

UnderstandingWhat does “understanding” mean?

Understanding (dictionary)the knowledge and ability to judge

a particular situation or subject

What is “COMM 101: Understanding Mass Media”?

How will this class foster your understanding of mass media?Provide history/contextProvide opportunity for knowledge

applicationProvide opportunity for personal

reflection

What is “COMM 101: Understanding Mass Media”? MASS MEDIA

What does “Mass Media” mean? (dictionary) any of the means of communication,

such as television or newspapers, that reach very large numbers of people. <an event that has attracted a lot of attention from the mass media> <the dissemination of news by mass media> <The mass media have/has ignored this important issue.>

MASS MEDIA ASBOLUTES“Mass Media” channels

always use technology of some kind to deliver the SAME message to a great number of people at widely separated points who typically don’t know each other.

MASS MEDIA ASBOLUTESWhat does “technology”

mean? (dictionary): the use of science in industry,

engineering, [media], etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems

MASS MEDIA ASBOLUTES“Mass Media” is basically the opposite concept of “interpersonal” communication.

Why study “MASS MEDIA”? We need to understand it because it

informs and shapes just about every aspect of our daily lives – it’s all around us, like oxygen. Mass Media can be thought of as the “nervous system” of society.

MASS MEDIA AS SOCIETY’S “NERVOUS SYSTEM” The nervous system is a

complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to the body.

Mass Media is a complex network of technologies that carry messages to and from the brain to and from various parts of society.

MEDIA LITERACY What does “Media Literacy” mean? Media literacy is the ability to access,

analyze, evaluate, and create media. Media-literate youth and adults are better able to understand the complex messages we receive from television, radio, Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, video games, music, and all other forms of media.

MASS MEDIA CHANNELS A Mass Media “Channel” is the

delivery system by which we get mass media; it’s how we receive mass media information and messages – specifically the technology involved.

MASS MEDIA MESSAGES A Mass Media “Message” is the

content/message itself rather than the delivery system/technology; it’s what we receive via mass media delivery system/technology e.g. “Modern Family” is the Mass Media

Message and Television is the Mass Media Channel.

MEDIA LITERACY We’ll be looking at Mass Media

(channels + messages) of all kinds and examining how we interact with them as both a society and individuals so we can sharpen our “Media Literacy” skills.

Your feedback and input is crucial to getting the most out of this class – I want to learn from you, too…

Print from the late 1400s~ books, pamphlets, newspapers, magazines, etc.

Recordings from the late 1800s~ records, tapes, cassettes, 8-track cartridges, CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray

Cinema/Film from about 1900~ feature films, short films, documentaries – all shown in theaters

MASS MEDIA CHANNELS

Radio from about 1910~ news/talk shows, music programs, live concerts…(BROADCAST MEDIA)

Television from about 1950~ news, dramas, sitcoms, educational, reality… (BROADCAST MEDIA)

MASS MEDIA CHANNELS

By and large the previous 5 mass media channels were clearly defined. TV and Radio programming were broadcast through your TV & Radio, books and newspapers were printed, movies were shown in theaters, albums were played on your stereo, etc. In other words, you didn’t go to one Mass Media Channel expecting anything OTHER than what it specialized in and the channels were distinct and different…but something changed all that…

MASS MEDIA CHANNELS

MASS MEDIA CHANNELS Internet: from about 1990~ websites, email, webisodes, chat

rooms, streaming audio/video, online newspapers/magazines (DIGITAL MEDIA - including video games)

Mobile: from about 2000~ text messaging, video, photos, music

- cell phone transmissions of all kinds (DIGITAL MEDIA)

MASS MEDIA CONVERGENCE With the advent of DIGITAL

MEDIA, mass media of all kinds are converging into one type of channel – you can now watch TV, read a book, listen to music, see a movie and check in on your favorite radio station all in the SAME MASS MEDIA CHANNEL. This is called “MEDIA CONVERGENCE”.

MASS MEDIA CONVERGENCE The merging of previously distinct

media technologies and media forms resulting from digitization and computer networking

7 MAJOR MASS MEDIA CHANNELSPrint=from the late 1400sRecordings=from the late 1800sCinema/Film=from about 1900Radio=from about 1910Television=from about 1950 Internet/Digital=from about 1990Mobile/Digital=from about 2000

FUTURE OF MASS MEDIA CHANNELS

What will be the 8th, 9th, 10th, etc. Mass Media Channel?

REAL WORLD EXAMPLE: The Future of Google

“Looking to the future, the next big step will be for the very concept of the “device” to fade away. Over time, the computer itself—whatever its form factor—will be an intelligent assistant helping you through your day. We will move from mobile first to an AI first world.”

FUTURE OF MASS MEDIA CHANNELS

GOOGLE IN 2020?GOOGLE IMPLANTGOOGLE EYE