Final Exam Question

In Media Unlimited, Todd Gitlin identifies several different styles of navigating the media torrent.

*Which style best describes you? Are you a fan? A critic? A secessionist? Some other type?

*Offer specific examples of your use of and attitude toward media technologies and productions to support your choice.

*Also say whether you believe your primary style of navigating the media is sufficient to cope with the media torrent and why or why not.

Synthesizing other materials from class -- readings, discussions, presentations -- is helpful, if not essential. Your response, at the very least, should be thoughtful, well organized and clearly phrased.

Your paper should be 3-5 double-spaced pages. A hard copy of it is due by 12:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 10.

Feeling Our Way Through the Media Torrent

In Media Unlimited, Todd Gitlin writes, "Media are occasions for experiences -- experiences that are themselves the main products, the main transactions, the main 'effects' of media. This is the big story; the rest is details." What do you think he means by this? And how is it related to the ideas of Georg Simmel discussed later in the book? Please respond by the start of class Monday, Nov. 23.

Fail

Would it be good for the world if the Internet suddenly went black and never returned? Why or why not? What would YOU lose? What would YOU gain? Refer to Klosterman's essay for support as necessary.

Please post your response by 4 p.m., Wed., Nov. 18.

Girl Reporter

As the class handouts indicate, women had second-class status in journalism for most of its history. What does that suggest to you about the relationship of journalism to the rest of American society? By and large, is journalism a progressive influence on society or a reflector and enforcer of society's established beliefs? (And why do you think that is?) How does it make you feel to read about the limits placed on women in earlier eras in journalism? Do you see or sense gender-based limits on women in media professions today? If so, what are they? Please respond by 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 15.

Good Night, and Good Luck

This film recounts the Cold War-era confrontation between CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow and anti-Communist witch-hunter Sen. Joseph McCarthy on a series of historic TV broadcasts. Do the events the film portrays reflect the recurring traits of the news media identified by Rodger Streitmatter in his book, Mightier Than the Sword? (Refer to the last chapter for a summary list of the traits.) Are there analogous events in the history of American journalism, including recent history? Do you believe such events are typical or exceptional for the press (that is, which traits seem to dominate -- courage or cowardice, public service or self-interest)? Explain why.

Your response should take the form of a two-page essay sent to me as a Word or rtf attachment before class on Monday, Nov. 23.

Mightier Than the Sword

What, in reading about the history of American journalism, surprised you the most? A particular incident? A particular personage? A particular development or trend? Briefly explain why (but in more than one hurried sentence). Please post your response by 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

Cult of Amateur 3

In the final chapter of his book, Keen proposes solutions to the problems he perceives with Web 2.0. Please evaluate his proposed solutions. Do you agree with them? Are they workable? Do you have other and better ideas? Your response is due by 4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28.