course description
Description taken from Semester at Sea literature:
SEMS 356: Mass Media Systems Around the World, Semester at Sea (3 credits)
In this era of globalization, a remarkable variety of media systems (e.g. developmental, grassroots, authoritarian, democratic) exist around the world and interact in sometimes surprising ways with American media exports. This course explores this variety and these interactions through a comparative study of national media in the countries of our voyage. We'll focus in particular on the forces that shape and constrain the production and export of mass media content and on the ways in which mass media influence culture and politics, drawing on both theoretical study and direct field observation. We will also explore and debate important legal and ethical issues (sometimes tied to American media exports) surrounding the media of some of the countries we visit. Methods of evaluation include three integrative essays (15%), a midterm and final exam (20% each), a field journal (20%), a series of reading quizzes (15%) and class participation (10%). Prerequisites: Introduction to Mass Media, Introduction to Mass Communications or permission of the instructor.
SEMS 356: Mass Media Systems Around the World, Semester at Sea (3 credits)
In this era of globalization, a remarkable variety of media systems (e.g. developmental, grassroots, authoritarian, democratic) exist around the world and interact in sometimes surprising ways with American media exports. This course explores this variety and these interactions through a comparative study of national media in the countries of our voyage. We'll focus in particular on the forces that shape and constrain the production and export of mass media content and on the ways in which mass media influence culture and politics, drawing on both theoretical study and direct field observation. We will also explore and debate important legal and ethical issues (sometimes tied to American media exports) surrounding the media of some of the countries we visit. Methods of evaluation include three integrative essays (15%), a midterm and final exam (20% each), a field journal (20%), a series of reading quizzes (15%) and class participation (10%). Prerequisites: Introduction to Mass Media, Introduction to Mass Communications or permission of the instructor.
