COMM 315

Syllabus

Course Contents

This course focuses on the impact of Mass Media on contemporary politics. It studies how political actors and organizations try to use media to support their agendas, but also how the media professionals influence public policy. The penetration of new digital technologies and platforms is changing dramatically the media landscape. The course pays special attention to the paradigm change and to the consequences it may have for the political system as a whole.

The first weeks of the term, we establish a conceptual foundation that helps participants to prepare for the following phases of the course. we must define, first of all, what “politics” means. Then, it differentiates semantically related terms, such as state, government or nation.

After that, the course studies the most significant theories on Mass Media Effects and the implications for the political strategies and techniques. Particularly the irruption of social media platforms is relevant for this course, since it seems to be debilitating the power position of traditional media conglomerates and opening new and more effective ways for politicians to interact with their audiences.In following steps, the course analyzes the actual effect that this changing media landscape might have on the electoral game, the public opinion dynamics, and the democratic process in general.

Literature

Every learning unit will include information about the necessary reading material (journal articles, books and book chapters) will be available in the course’s Web-site. Be aware that this is going to be a reading and writing intense course.

In addition to that, we will be working with two major texts:

Graber, Doris A. and Johanna Dunaway. 2014. Mass Media and American Politics (11th Edition), Washington D.C.: CQ Press. 

This book is available in CCSA’s bookstore. You can also find some affordable options in Amazon: Mass Media and American Politics

Zuboff, Shoshana. 2019. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, New York: PublicAffairs.

Zuboff’s book is also available in Amazon at a reasonable price: Age of Surveillance Capitalism

Grading

Examinations
1st Quiz20%
2nd Quiz20%
Final Exam30%
Case Study
Video Presentation10%
Case Study Paper10%
Participation10%

Graded Assignments:

Examinations

There will two quizzes and a final exam, which includes the contents of the whole course. Exams will cover material from the corresponding learning units. There will be no make-up exams (except for well documented medical emergencies). All the assessments in this course will take place online, in the Blackboard Vista environment. Please, make sure that you are familiar with the system before the day scheduled for the exams.

Case Study

The case study has two related assignments: the video presentation and the case study paper. First, you should select a topic related to the contents of two of the learning units. In the learning unit of populism, you can choose a contemporary case that studies the phenomena of systemic political corruption (as described by Francis Fukuyama), populist politicians (based on the dimensions of populism discussed in the learning unit: Anti-establishment attitudes, belief in the supremacy of popular sovereignty, or the faith in the homogeneous virtue of the people). The second learning unit relevant to this assignment focuses on News Bias, Polarization, and Misinformation. You can select a contemporary case that illustrates the different types of news bias, the relationship between media and political polarization, or the effect of misinformation on society.

The first assignment is a 5-8 minute video presentation of your findings. In this link, you can learn how to create a video from a power point presentation.

The second assignment is a 10-page paper (double-spaced, Times New Roman size 12) developing the findings of your presentation.

You can find a more detailed description of structure and evaluation of both assignments in this page.

Participation

Your participation grade will depend on your activity in the forums I’ll open during the second section of the course. These forums will focus on your video presentations. I’ll select those that I believe will generate the best discussions. It’s important to read your classmates’ entries and contribute your own comments. The aim is to foster interactive discussions, similar to those in our on-ground classes, where students’ presentations inspire dialogue.

Late Assignments

Late assignments will be graded so you receive feedback, but will be worth only half credit (100 pt. paper receives 50 points). This is a severe penalty; it is not fair to others who met the deadlines if we accept yours late.  The instructor will not accept any assignment more than one week late. In the 21st century, computer problems are no longer reasonable excuses for late papers. The instructor suggests knowing the equipment well enough and allowing ample time in case of problems.

Course Policies

The instructor reserves the ultimate right to modify the schedule of activities, assignments and tests for the class as it deems necessary. In addition, the professor reserves his right to assess the overall ability of the students to meet the expectations of the course and will exercise his right to pass or fail the student accordingly.

COMM 495, Political Communication in the Age of Surveillance, is an entirely online, asynchronous course. In case you do not know, asynchronous means, in the context of online teaching, that we will NOT meet at regular times as a group. You will find online all the material you need to success in the course. You will have the flexibility to work whenever you can plan it in your schedule. It is, thus, very important that you regularly (at least once a day) log into your Blackboard Learn account in order to keep up to date.

Incompletes

The University’s policy on the awarding of incompletes is discussed in the catalog and will be followed in this class.

Academic Dishonesty

CCSU has a zero tolerance policy on academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes cheating on homework or exams, and also plagiarism. Demonstrated cases of academic dishonesty can result in severe penalties including receiving an “F” in the class.

To learn more about this subject, please read CCSU’s policy of academic misconduct at

http://web.ccsu.edu/academicintegrity

Special Needs

Please contact me privately to discuss your specific needs if you believe you need course accommodations based on the impact of a disability, medical condition, or if you have emergency medical information to share. I will need a copy of the accommodation letter from Student Disability Services in order to arrange your class accommodations. Contact Student Disability Services, room 241, Copernicus Hall if you are not already registered with them. Student Disability Services maintains the confidential documentation of your disability and assists you in coordinating reasonable accommodations with your faculty.

Diversity Statement

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (“CSCU”) is committed to providing an educational and employment environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment based on protected characteristics, and/or retaliation, including retaliation under applicable federal and state laws for engaging in protected activity. To ensure compliance with federal, state, and local civil rights laws and regulations, and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of its education program or activity, CSCU has developed this Discriminatory Harassment, Nondiscrimination, and Title IX Policy (the “Policy”) that provides for a prompt, fair, and impartial resolution of allegations of protected characteristic discrimination, harassment, and/or allegations of retaliation. CSCU values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of all individuals when resolving allegations during what is often a difficult time for all involved. https://www.ccsu.edu/OEI

I adhere to the university’s diversity policy. Please, take the time to read the whole statement.

Tentative Course Outline

WeekCourse Contents
Week 0
1/22
to
1/24		Introduction to the Course /
Age of Surveillance
Week 1
1/27
to
1/31		Key Concepts;
State, Government, Nation, Propaganda
Week 2
2/3
to
2/7		Politics Defined:
Plato, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Hume
Week 3
2/10
to
2/14		The Degeneration of Democracy:
Corruption and Populism
Week 4
2/17
to
2/21		News Biases, Polarization,
Mis- and Disinformation
Week 5
2/24
to
2/28		Public Opinion :
Walter Lippmann
Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann
Week 6
3/3
to
3/7		1st Quiz 3/7
Week 7
3/10
to
3/14		Mass Media Effects I:
The Powerful Mass Media / Minimal Effects
Mass Media Effects II:
Return to the Concept of Powerful Mass Media ch 10
3/17
to
3/21		Spring Break
Week 8
3/24
to
3/28		Mass Media Effects III
New Media
The New Mass Comm Paradigm
Video Presentation Due 3/28
Week 9
3/31
to
4/4		Mass Media and Political Power
Media Landscape, Regulation, Control
Week 10
4/7
to
4/11		2nd Quiz 4/11
Week 11
4/14
to
4/18		Surveillance and Political Power I
Science of Behavior
Week 12
4/21
to
4/25		Surveillance and Political Power II
Private vs Public Life
Week 13
4/28
to
5/2		Totalitarianism
Hannah Arendt
Week 14
5/5
to
5/9		Freedom, Equality, Democracy
Voluntary Servitude
Case Study Paper Due 5/9
5/12
to
5/16		Final Exams

University Calendar

Martin Luther King Holiday – No ClassesJanuary 20
100% tuition refund withdrawal deadline (full-time students)January 21
First Day of Classes January 22
Last Day to Add a Course January 28
90% tuition refund withdrawal deadline (full-time students)January 28
100% tuition refund course drop deadline (part-time students) January 28
60% tuition refund withdrawal deadline (full-time students) February 4
60% tuition refund course drop deadline (part-time students) February 4
Last Day to Drop a Course without “W” February 11
Last Day to Declare Audit or Pass/Fail February 11
Full-time to part time status change deadline February 11
Withdrawal Period (no permission required) February 12 – April 22
Enrollment census (5 p.m.) February 12
Presidents’ Holiday Recess – No Classes February 14 – February 17
40% tuition refund withdrawal deadline (full-time students) February 18
40% tuition refund course withdrawal deadline (part-time students) February 18
Spring Break – No Classes  March 17 – March 23
Fall 2025 Academic Advising period March 24 – April 4
Midterm March 25
INC grades from Spring & Summer lapse to “F” (undergraduates) March 25
Summer 2025 registration begins March 26
Fall 2025 registration begins for matriculated students April 4
Day of Reflection Recess – No ClassesApril 18 – April 20
Late Course Withdrawal Period (permission required) April 23 – May 18
Last Day of Classes May 11
Final Exam Period May 12 – May 18
Spring CommencementMay 17
Spring Commencement (inclement weather date)May 18
Non-matriculated graduate level student registration for Fall 2025 beginsJune 2
Non-matriculated undergraduate level student registration for Fall 2025 beginsJuly 14