JOU 1300
Never Stay Silent: Journalism History
Spring 2024
Dr. Dean C. Smith
—Syllabus—
Please note that information in this syllabus may be changed or revised at any time.
If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to determine what you may have missed.
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High Point University Spring 2023 2 credits
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Professor: Dean C. Smith, Ph.D. Telephone: (336) 841-9099 Email: dsmith1@highpoint.edu Office: Qubein 356
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Weekly Seminars: 1:35 Thursdays,Wanek 439
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Office Hours: T: 8-9 W: 8-12 Th: 8-9 By e-mail appointment (encouraged).
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Course Catalog Description
Journalism’s crucial role in helping democracy function is sometimes forgotten amid the clamor of partisan debate and the messy nature of the news business. Students will examine the important role journalism has played in American society. Students will also take skillful possession of their power as citizens by becoming perceptive news consumers. The course seeks to help students recognize the differences between news and propaganda, news and opinion, bias and fairness, assertion and verification, and evidence and inference. Students will be introduced to the major issues and themes in the history of journalism in America. The course will trace substantial changes in the practice of journalism and the key instances in which the practice of journalism brought change to America. Students will learn the most important eras in journalism history and the prevailing business model in each. Students will also learn the most important definitions of news across eras and across various media. Two credits.
Course Objectives
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By the end of the course, students should be able to: |
Methods for assessing this learning outcome: |
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Student Learning Outcomes: |
1. Students will be able to identify the major issues and themes in the history of journalism in America.
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Participation and quality of discussion while in class; tests. |
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2. Students will be able to identify substantial changes in the practice of journalism and the key instances in which the practice of journalism brought changes to America.
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Class participation and tests. |
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3. Students will be able to identify the most important eras in journalism history and the prevailing business model in each. |
Class participation and tests. |
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4. Students will understand how “news” was defined differently in different and know the correct names for those eras and why they arose.
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Class participation and test. |
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Out-of-class work: |
In addition to attending class and completing all course requirements, students are expected to spend at least 1 hour each week engaged in out-of-class work (e.g., reading, studying, doing homework, working on projects) for every hour of credit earned in this class. |
IN THIS COURSE: Outside work will largely consist of short readings related to class discussions, along with preparing for in-class tests. |
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Texts & Materials
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THERE IS NO SINGLE TEXTBOOK TO BUY FOR THIS COURSE! Free online reading materials will be provided
via the class blog: jou1300.blogspot.com This is a WRITING-INTENSIVE COURSE. In place of lengthy readings, outside-of-class work will focus on practicing good journalistic writing on PERSONAL BLOGS.
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Graded Assignments
EOTO 1 10%
Presentation 1 5%
EOTO 2 10%
Presentation 2 5%
EOTO 3 10%
Presentation 3 5%
Antiwar Post 5%Movie Post 1 7%
Movie Post 2 7%
Movie Post 3 7%
Final Post 10%
Final Presentation 9%
Overall Blog 10%
Grading
I will
adhere to the High Point University system of grading, which is as follows:
A (superior) is the highest grade given; it is reserved for those students whose work is of a markedly superior quality.
B (excellent) is the grade
given for work that, while not notably superior, is clearly above average.
C (average) is the grade given for satisfactory work done by the average student.
D (inferior) is the grade for work that, while not
altogether satisfactory, is good enough to entitle the student to receive
credit for the course.
F (failure) is the grade given for failure and indicates that no credit can be received for the course except by repetition.
Statement on Absences and Tardies
Attendance—both
physical and mental—is vital. You are required to be in every
class. You will have a lot of information presented to you in this class,
and each classroom session is designed to be a building block for the sessions
that will follow.
Each student will receive two (2) unexcused absences. Additional absences will only be granted for documented university-sanctioned events or hospitalization. One additional non-excused absence will result in class probation; a subsequent absence will result in the student being dropped from the class. Attendance will be taken in the STARFISH online system, which will automatically send students warnings when absences become a problem.
If
you know in advance if you are going to be absent (e.g., for a documented
university-sanctioned event), please send me an e-mail letting me know. All
assignments should be submitted on time, and they are due on the assigned date
even if you are absent from class.
If you are absent, you are responsible to keep abreast of all
announcements, handouts, and assignments. Saying “I wasn’t here; I didn’t know”
will not fly.
Writing Styles
HPU requires all academic work to be written in the latest version of the American Psychological Association (APA) style. We will work on this together in class because it is a skill you will need for the next three years at HPU. If you would like to start learning APA style on your own, follow this URL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10.
Deadlines
Professionals meet deadlines. All assignments are due at the time directed by the professor and in the format required for that assignment. Work turned in late but within 24 hours of the deadline will receive an automatic one-letter grade penalty; work turned in between 24 and 48 hours will receive a two-letter grade penalty. Worked turned in between 48 and 72 hours late will receive a three-letter grade penalty. Dates and times must be verified by the professor, which means students must locate the professor in order to have the late paper accepted. No work will be accepted after 72 hours from the original deadline. All work must be received by the instructor in the manner requested (e.g., paper copy, online via Blackboard).
Statement on Credit Hour Expectations
High Point University’s accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, defines a credit hour as follows: A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates:
1. Not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester. . . . , or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required outlined in item 1 above for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
As such, students are expected to commit an average of at least eight hours per week outside of class on their production work.
IN THIS COURSE: Out-of-class work will consist of blog posts and short online quizzes.
Plagiarism and Cheating
This course emphasizes ethical practices and perspectives. Above all, students and instructors should strive to communicate and act, both in class interactions and in assigned coursework, in a manner directed by personal integrity, honesty and respect for self and others. Included in this focus is the need for academic honesty by students. Students need to do their own original work and properly cite sources. For example, be aware of plagiarism—directly copying more than 3 or 4 words from another author without quoting (not just citing) the author is plagiarism. Further, all work produced and submitted in this class is expected to be original work created this semester for that class assignment only. Work submitted for any assignment that was created, in part or in whole, for another class or another assignment will face the same punishment as plagiarism and cheating. Cheating or plagiarizing will not be tolerated and will result in the student being reported. If a student is found guilty of plagiarism, the penalty may result in an "F" for the course. Please familiarize yourself with the rules, regulations and penalties for academic misconduct as noted in the Student Handbook.
All instances of plagiarism will be reported to
the Dean’s office, where a cumulative list will be maintained. It is up to the instructor to determine the
appropriate next step for first time offenders (e.g., zero for the project,
expulsion from class, referral to the Honor Court). Second and subsequent offenses will
automatically be reported to the Honor Court.
University Honor Code
Each student signed the HPU Honor Code, which is available at http://www.highpoint.edu/campuslife/sga/index.cfm?DeptCategory=19&PageID=1705. It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Honor Code.
Classroom Use of Electronic Media
Cell phone use in communication classes is strictly prohibited. This includes voice, text, video, data or any other current or future transmission technology. I will tell you at certain times when it is OK to use your cell phone, such as photographing a chart on the board.
Any
audio or video recording in the class, including the instructor’s
lecture/discussion, or other classroom activity is prohibited unless authorized
by the instructor and students in the classroom.
Inappropriate use of a laptop, desktop, or other electronic computing device during class will result in the student being asked to leave the room. An absence will be recorded for that day’s class and the student will not be readmitted to class until they have met individually with the Dean of the School of Communication.
Statement on Copyright
The use
and manipulation of digital and analog photos, graphics, text, audio and video
files and artifacts for class assignments and performances at the Nido R.
Qubein School of Communication must comply with established copyright laws and
practices. As such, all work or portions
of a work must be original unless specifically exempted by the instructor in
written instructions. For example, if a
given audio recording project accompanies a graphic, that graphic must also be
original even though the project was designed to test audio skills.
Accessibility Services
Students who require classroom accommodations due to a diagnosed disability must submit the appropriate documentation to the Accessibility Services located on the 4th floor of Smith Library or by contacting Rita Sullivant Roberts, Director of Accessibility Services, at 336-841-9061, or at rsulliva@highpoint.edu. A student’s request for accommodations should be made at the beginning of each semester/course. The support staff also provides testing accommodations, assistive technology, mentoring, time management, and organization skills development.
Statement on Diversity
This
course is about freedom of speech, which includes academic freedom. You will be
exposed to MANY diverse opinions, ideas and points of view, some of which you
may not agree with. As a member of an academic community, you are expected to
interact with fellow students and professors who come from a variety of
backgrounds and bring a variety of perspectives into the ongoing academic
dialogue. Listen, learn and contribute throughout the semester while allowing
others to enjoy and exercise the same freedom.
Statement on Building Access
Students must be cleared by the Dean to have after-hour access to the School of Communication or any of its rooms and labs. Please make sure to carry your student Passport at all times when in the building after-hours. After-hours access will be revoked if you abuse the privilege by eating or drinking in lab areas, if you engage in abusive behavior with other students or staff or treat the facility with disrespect. Expulsion proceedings will be initiated against any student who steals or purposely damages university equipment or software. There are cameras everywhere!
Writing Center
The Writing Center, with locations on the first floor of Smith Library and in the University Center Learning Commons, provides writing assistance for students at any level of study – from freshman to graduate – with any stage in the writing process, from invention through revision. Appointments may be made by emailing writingcenter@highpoint.edu and listing three times when you are available to meet during our regular hours. Alternatively, students may request appointments outside these hours to review their writing with consultants online or at an authorized campus location, and the Center will provide a list of times when individual consultants are available. Writing consultants do not proofread or edit students’ papers for them, but they do work with students to help them develop strategies for improving their writing in light of their respective assignments, instructors, and writing styles.
Course Evaluations
All students are expected to complete course evaluations in the week preceding final exams. These evaluations, which are delivered online, are an important part of High Point University’s assessment program, so your cooperation in completing them is greatly appreciated. As the end of the semester or academic session draws near, you will receive information from the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment about how to complete the online evaluations.
Statement on Final Exams
All students are expected to attend final exams. Do not schedule events that will require you to miss final exams or expect a faculty member to move a final to accommodate your plans. This includes attending vacations arranged by parents (do not get plane tickets that depart before your last final exam); do not buy tickets to rock concerts that occur during final exams; do not plan to get married during final exams; and do not expect to have car troubles during final exams. The only person who can excuse you from final exams is the Dean, and he will only do so for a medical emergency requiring hospitalization or the death of an immediate family member.
Late Assignment Feedback
This
course contains a major late assignment: final blog
grade. In addition to a letter grade in Blackboard, I will attach a comment to the final post on
each blog with feedback.
DETAILS ONLINE
Students are expected to adhere to all standards outlined in the
School of Communication’s Policies, Practices, and Expectations guidelines:
http://www.highpoint.edu/communication/files/nqsc_syllabus_policies.pdf
These hold true unless alternate standards are specifically outlined elsewhere in this syllabus.
GRADE APPEAL. If a student has a complaint or concern about a faculty member regarding a grade, they should first try to resolve it with the instructor in question. If the complaint is not resolved through this interaction, the student should then go to the Department Chair. If the instructor of the course also serves as a Chair, then the student should approach the Dean as the first step in the process.
For this course, a student should pursue the following process:
1. Talk with the instructor of the course,
2. Talk with Dr. Bobby Hayes, who serves as the Chair of the Department of Journalism in the School of Communication.
The decision of the Chair/Dean is final.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. If a student has a complaint or concern about a faculty member regarding any matter other than a grade, they should first try to resolve it with the instructor in question. If the complaint is not resolved through this interaction, the student should then go to:
1. the Department Chair;
2. the Dean of the School of Communication; then
3. the Provost, which is the final step in the grievance process.
Bypassing any of these steps—going directly to the president, for example—will not resolve the issue and will only delay resolution. Senior administration will not deal with grievance issues unless it has been discussed at the appropriate level.
If the instructor of the course also serves as a Chair, then the student should approach the Dean as the first step in the process.
For this course, a student should pursue the following process:
1. Talk with the instructor of the course.
2. Talk with Dr. Bobby Hayes, who serves as chair of the journalism program.
3. Talk with Dr. McDermott, who serves as the Dean of the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication.
4. Talk with Dr. Carroll, who serves as the Provost of High Point University.
The decision of the provost is final.
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