Mass Media in American Politics
M 3:30 p.m.
Instructor: Prof.
Jim Schubert Assistant: Dr. Margaret Ann Curran
Office and phone: ZU
113; 753-9675
Office hours: 2:15
p.m. Monday
Email: t70jns1@wpo.cso.niu.edu mcurran03@aol.com
Objectives:
This course broadly examines
the role of mass media in modern American politics. Mass media include newspapers, radio, television and the
worldwide web. We pay special attention
to the dramatic effects of television on the quality and conduct of politics
over the past 50 years and will be concerned with the effects of the web over
the coming decades. Very current
questions, for example, involve the effects of the rise in negative political
advertising and campaigning on the decline in voter turnout in national
elections or the effects of television on the role and importance of political
parties and their national conventions.
In addition to concern for how media affect the attitudes and behavior
of the public (e.g. stereotyping), we shall also be concerned with how mass
media have helped transform the process of government in the presidency and
administration, the legislature and the courts. Finally, we consider the power of the media and efforts to
regulate and/or restrain the exercise of free speech through the mass media.
Readings:
Three books provide most of
the required readings for this course:
Paletz,
David L. 2002. The
Media in American Politics. 2nd
edition.
Graber,
Doris A. 2000. Media
Power in Politics. 4th
edition.
Graber,
Doris A. 2001. Processing
Politics.
A few additional articles may
be placed on library reserve or will be available from the web.
Grades and Requirements:
Grades in the course will be
based on three exams (25% each), a term paper (20%), and assigned exercises and
class participation (5%). The term
paper topic will be selected with my consent and the paper will be
approximately 10-12 pages, word processed, spell checked, and double spaced
with 1” margins.
Attendance:
Attendance is expected and,
needless to say, is a factor in class participation. Substantially different material is presented in lectures and the
readings and both sources will be thoroughly covered by the examination.
TOPICAL OUTLINE AND
READING ASSIGNMENTS
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Week |
Topic |
Paletz |
Graber (2000) |
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8/22 |
Role of media in politics |
Chapter 1 |
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8/29 |
Media effects, power and control |
Chapter 2 |
Readings 1, 5 |
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9/12 |
News, press and politics |
Chapters 3, 4 |
Reading 2 |
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9/19 |
Mass media and agenda setting |
Chapters 5, 6 |
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9/26 |
Exam 1 |
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10/3 |
New technologies |
Processing
Politics |
Reading 36 |
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10/10 |
Effects on attitudes and behavior |
Chapter 7 |
Readings 7, 8 |
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10/17 |
Effects (continued) |
Chapter 8 |
Readings 23, 24 |
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10/24 |
Campaigns and elections |
Chapter 9 |
Readings 10, 17, 29 |
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10/31 |
Campaigns (continued) |
Chapter 10 |
Readings 13, 14, 16 |
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11/7 |
Exam 2 |
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11/14 |
Presidency and Congress |
Chapter 11 |
TBA: APSR |
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11/21 |
Media and the Courts |
Chapter 12, 14 |
Reading 12, 19, 21, 22 |
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11/28 |
Mass media and foreign policy |
Chapter 13,15 |
Readings 20, 26, 27, 36 |
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12/5 |
FINAL EXAM |
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