JOUR 4321: Media Institutions and Economics
Spring 2007
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:45
CLRE 104
102D Armory
Phone: (O) 492-5374
E-mail: andrew.calabrese@colorado.edu
Web: http://spot.colorado.edu/~calabres
Office hours: T, Th
2:30 – 3:30, or by appt.
Course Overview:
The media industries play an important, central role in contemporary
global culture, politics and economics. This course is an introduction to the
institutions and practices of the media industries. It will 1) survey the
histories, structures and activities of these organizations and 2) consider
pressing contemporary issues surrounding them.
David Croteau and William
Hoynes, The Business of Media: Corporate Media and the Public Interest (
Alison Alexander, James Owers,
Rod Carveth, Anne Hollifield and Albert N. Greco eds., Media Economics: Theory and Practie, 3rd ed. (
Additional readings will be available in hard copy, on the web, and by e-reserve.
Course Requirements:
This course involves lecture and discussion sessions, critical analysis
of contemporary writing on the topic, writing assignments, and midterm and
final exams. Grades will be based on the following criteria:
Two writing assignments (20%)
Midterm Exam (25%)
Final Exam (25%)
Group Project (20%)
Participation (10%)
Class attendance is required.
University Policies:
Disability: If you qualify for accommodations because of
a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely
manner so that your needs may be addressed.
Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented
disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671,
Willard 322, and www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
Religious observance:
If you have a religious obligation that conflicts with a particular date of
classroom attendance, or with meeting an assignment deadline, please notify me
two weeks prior to the date so that we may consider possible solutions to the conflict.
Classroom behavior:
As a result of extensive discussions with and recommendations from faculty and students, the University
has a new classroom behavior policy.
Please consult the policy at: (http://www.colorado.edu/policies/index.html).
Honor code:
According to the university’s honor
code, students must neither give nor receive unauthorized assistance on the
work they do. You are responsible for knowing and adhering to this code. The
honor code is available at: (http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/).
Please pay particular attention to the definitions of various forms of academic
dishonesty so that you may be
certain that you are not in violation of the code.
Sexual harassment: The university’s policy on sexual harassment
applies to all students, staff and faculty.
Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention. It can involve intimidation, threats,
coercion, or promises or create an environment that is hostile or offensive.
Harassment may occur between members of the same or opposite gender and between
any combination of members in the campus community: students, faculty, staff,
and administrators. Harassment can occur anywhere on campus, including the
classroom, the workplace, or a residence hall.
Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been sexually
harassed should contact the Office of Sexual Harassment (OSH) at 303-492-2127
or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the
Tentative Schedule:
This is the reading and assignment schedule. Additional readings will be assigned, and some minor revisions may happen as far as when particular readings will take place, but the writing assignment due dates, presentation dates, and exam dates will happen on the dates indicated.
Tue Jan 16 First Day – Introduction
Thu Jan 18 C&H, preliminary pages through ch.1
WEEK 2
Tue Jan 23 C&H, ch.2; ME, ch.1
Thu Jan 25 ME, ch.2&3
Tue Jan 30 ME, ch.4; handout and discussion of writing Assignment #1
Thu Feb 1 ME, ch.5&6
WEEK 4
Tue Feb 6 ME, ch.7; additional reading from: The Project for Excellence in Journalism, The State of the News Media 2006. For Tuesday, go to the chapter on NETWORK TV, and read the following sections: “Introduction,” “Ownership,” and “Roundtable.”
Thu Feb 8 ME, ch.8; additional reading from: The Project for Excellence in Journalism, The State of the News Media 2006. For Thursday, go to the chapter on CABLE TV, and read the following sections: “Introduction,” “Ownership,” and “Roundtable.”
WEEK 5
Tue Feb 13 Assignment 1 due (and discussion)
Thu Feb 15 ME, ch.9
WEEK 6
Tue Feb 20 ME, ch.10; handout and discussion of writing Assignment #2
Thu Feb 22 ME, ch.11
WEEK 7
Tue Feb 27 ME, ch.12
Thu Mar 1 Advertising cont’d.
WEEK 8
Tue Mar 6 ME, ch.13
Thu Mar 8 Online media cont’d.
WEEK 9
Tue Mar 13 Review for midterm
Thu Mar 15 MID-TERM EXAM
WEEK 10
Tue Mar 20 Start on Group Assignment
Thu Mar 22 Assignment 2 due (and discussion)
WEEK 11
Tue Mar 27 SPRING BREAK
Thu Mar 29 SPRING BREAK
WEEK 12
Tue Apr 3 C&H, ch.3
Thu Apr 5 C&H, ch.4
WEEK 13
Tue Apr 10 C&H, ch.5
Thu Apr 12 C&H, ch.6
WEEK 14
Tue Apr 17 C&H, ch.7
Thu Apr 19 Group meetings
WEEK 15
Tue Apr 24 GROUP PRESENTATIONS
Thu Apr 26 GROUP PRESENTATIONS
WEEK 16
Tue May 1 WRITTEN GROUP REPORTS DUE
Thu May 3 Review for Final Exam (the final will cover material since the midterm)