Political Science 475G
Politics and Mass Media
Fall, 2005
TR 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm CB 245
Professor Mark Peffley
Office Hours: TR 10:00-11:00

Description

This course examines the way in which modern mass media have altered the dynamics of democratic politics in the United States. More generally, we shall be concerned with the ways the mass media influences how we think and act in the political world. Specific topics include why Americans hate the media, how news is made, the role of the media in campaigns and elections, how the news influences our political attitudes and behaviors, and how media coverage of government influences policy makers.

Readings

Several texts are assigned for this course, all of which are available at the university bookstores.

·         Leonard Downie, Jr. and Robert G. Kaiser. The News About the News: American Journalism in Peril, Vintage Books 2003.

·         David Paletz, The Media in American Politics: Contents and Consequences. 2nd ed. Longman, 2001.

In addition, 2-3 required articles (e.g., Patterson, Zaller) are available on-line by clicking the appropriate link in the on-line syllabus. To access these articles, you need to be using a computer on campus or a computer with Acrobat Reader installed. To install Acrobat Reader, a free program, click on the "Get Adobe Reader" icon next to the article.

Web Site

The syllabus is posted at my web-site (http://www.uky.edu/AS/PoliSci/Peffley/) , where new material (e.g., lecture outlines, exam review questions, written assignments) is posted and updated throughout the semester.

Student Responsibilities

1.  Graduate students should see me about additional readings and a research paper requirement.

2. Participation

Students are expected to have read and considered the course readings in preparation for each class. Students are also expected to participate in class discussions and to be ready to do so on the subject of the day. Class participation is 5% of the grade and will definitely influence borderline grades.

Our class time will not be spent simply "going over" the assigned readings. Rather, the readings will serve as a foundation and point of departure for lectures and discussions. It is, therefore, imperative that students complete the assigned readings before a particular topic is taken up in class. Also, the assigned readings should not be viewed as absolute truth. Read the material thoughtfully, challenge the conclusions of the authors, and voice your criticisms in class.

Students should feel free to raise questions concerning the readings, the lectures, and the comments of other students. In other words, meaningful participation is strongly encouraged and will, no doubt, enhance the quality of our class sessions.

3. Written Assignments

There will be 1-3 short written assignments that require no outside reading beyond that which has been assigned. These short (3-4 pages) papers are designed to help students organize and think more reflectively about the material in the course, and to apply many of the issues we discuss in class to the "real world." Topics being considered for these papers include: 1) designing a media strategy for your favorite not-for-profit organization, 2) analyzing evidence for news bias in news articles posted on the Internet, and 3) conducting a survey to investigate media effects, and so on. The written assignments cannot be turned in late, except for university excused absences.

4. Examinations and Grades

Grades will be based on the following criteria:

Midterm

40% of Grade

Final Exam

40% of Grade

Written Assignments

15% of Grade

Class Participation

5% of Grade

While class attendance is not mandatory, exams will be based on both readings and class discussions. Also, attendance and participation will definitely influence borderline grades. Finally, if you aren't in class, you obviously won't have the opportunity to write the short papers that will be assigned.
If a student has a university-excused absence, arrangements for a make-up exam may be made. (See Section 5.2.4.2, Part II of the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook for a definition of university-excused absences.) Note, however, that the format of a make-up will not be the same as the regular exam.

Tentative Reading List

I.     Introduction (Aug 25)

Sept 1: Film, APSA Conference

PART I: THE NEWS MEDIA AS AN INSTITUTION

II. News and Democracy: What Should Be the Role of the Media in a Democracy? (Sept 6)
       Read: Paletz, Media in American Politics, Chapter 1
    
        Lecture Outline I: Democracy and the Role of the Media

III. Analyzing the Modern Media: How Does the Media Make the News? (Sept 8)
     Media modes, making the news, media bias, restraints on the media
          Read: Paletz, Media in American Politics, Chapters 2-4.
    
       Lecture Outline II: Making the News, News Bias

Film: September 13: “Smoke in the Eye”

Film: September 22: “OutFoxed!”

(Check out opposing interpretations of media bias on the abortion issue by Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting vs the Media Research Center)

Check out the growing economic concentration of media ownership at Columbia Journalism Review's site, "Who Owns What"

Manipulate news coverage in your own backyard! Maximize Media Coverage of Your Event, Jason Salzman, author of Making the News: A Guide for Nonprofits and Activists    

IV. What's Wrong with Modern News Media? Problems & Possible Solutions (Sept 15)
         Read: Downie and Kaiser. The News About the News, entire.

         Lecture Outline III: Downie and Kaiser

Daily Show Viewers More Knowledgeable About Presidential Campaign!

Find out how the public views the press in the Pew Center poll report, News Media's Improved Image Proves Short-Lived

To find out more about Civic Journalism, visit the Pew Center for Civic Journalism web-site, a comprehensive site loaded with examples of CJ media outlets.

V. Trends in Political News Coverage:  Lapdogs, Watchdogs and Junkyard dogs (Sept 29)
        Read: Paletz, Media in American Politics, Chapters 9-10
                  Thomas Patterson, "Doing Well and Doing Good"

                      Lecture Outline IV:  Trends in News Coverage of Elections

Review Questions for Midterm (posted 10-5)

MIDTERM EXAMINATION: October 13

Film: October 18,  "Independent Media In A Time Of War"

October 21: Last day to withdraw

 

PART II: EXPLAINING NEWS COVERAGE

VI. What Drives the News? Theories of News Coverage of Elections and War (Oct 20)
             Read: John Zaller, A Theory of Media Politics, entire. and New Chapter 1

          Lecture Outline: Zaller v Patterson

         Discussion Questions for Zaller

           Lecture Outline V: News Coverage of War

Extra Credit Written Assignment, Due November 10th, Choose One:

News Bias Paper, OR paper on Zaller

 

PART III: THE POLITICAL IMPACT OF THE MEDIA

VII. How Much Influence Does the Media Have on Political Behavior? (Nov 1)
    Studies of media effects
        Read: Paletz, Media in American Politics, Chapters 5-8

PIPA: Public Misconceptions of Iraq War, by news source (p. 13)

        Lecture Outline VI: Media Effects    

VIII. How Does (Television) News Coverage Affect Governing? (Nov 8)
    Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, Judiciary, Public Policy

        Read: Paletz, Media in American Politics, Chapters 11-12.

       Lecture Outline VII: News Coverage and Governing (to be posted)

        December 8: Last Day of Class! 

Review Questions for Final Exam 

FINAL EXAMINATION: Wednesday, December 14, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM