Graduate Studies Reports Access

Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - RTV5416
Tracking Number - 2960

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2013-10-11
Campus: St Petersburg
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only): Needs to be removed as a special topics course and made into a permanent course
Comments: USF-SP approved 4/29/13. To USF Sys 5/23/13. To SCNS 5/31/13. Approved eff 6/1/13. Nmbr 5411 apprd as 5416


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2012-10-09
  2. Department: Journalism and Media Studies
  3. College: AP
  4. Budget Account Number: STP 10000 511247 000000 0000000
  5. Contact Person: Deni Elliott
  6. Phone: 7278734881
  7. Email: elliott@usfsp.edu
  8. Prefix: RTV
  9. Number: 5416
  10. Full Title: Race, gender, class issues in media
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?:
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Race gender and class in media
  19. Course Online?: C - Face-to-face (0% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: -
  22. Prerequisites: none
  23. Corequisites: none
  24. Course Description: Survey of how those outside the American mainstream, whether by race, ethnicity, gender or socio-economic class are portrayed in various forms of media. Emphasis on news media, with a secondary focus on entertainment media.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Replacing Selected Topics with Permanent number; already listed in program
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? The need for this course as a regular course offering is justified, as outlined above, by departmental accreditation standards; in addition, it builds upon the foundation laid BY the department's Neighborhood News Bureau course, by further exposing students to ideas and issues related to newsroom diversity.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 3 or more times
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) Background and experience in reporting on or creating content for under-represented groups in American society.
  29. Objectives: Understanding of the relationship between the American media and the broader society, including how media affect users' perceptions of race, gender, ethnicity, and class.

    Development of well-supported opinions on how issues related to media as a social construct can enhance or harm users' decisions regarding persons outside the American mainstream.

    Critically thinking about how various groups within American society are portrayed and/or marginalized by mainstream media.

    Application of research skills to a contemporary problem or issue relating to the media's portrayal of a specific group within American society.

  30. Learning Outcomes: The ability to articulate how the media reflect Americans society, demonstrated through on-line classroom discussion and participation.

    The expression of opinions on assigned issues, demonstrated by the completion of weekly on-line blog postings to the class websites.

    Analysis of the major issues related to how various populations are portrayed and/or marginalized by mainstream news, and entertainment media, demonstrated by the completion of two on-line examinations.

    Ability to analyze a major issue related to the portrayal of one or more groups in mainstream media, demonstrated through a substantial research paper.

  31. Major Topics: News Power

    Factors in news coverage

    Minority access to news coverage

    Geography and news

    History and news

    Increasing diversity in news coverage

    Media Reflections of "Who we are"

    The Role of Language: Words as Weapons

    The Lesbian and Gay Press

    Racial Sterotyping and the Media

    Advertising and sexual orientation

    Advertising and ethnicity

    The Latino Audience and Advertisers

    Native American Media

    Women and Media Representations of Beauty

    The importance of ethnic news media

    On-line media and diversity

  32. Textbooks:
  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: n/a
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: Two in-class written examinations- 20% each=40%

    One short paper on media audit- 10% total=10%

    Posting of weekly blog entries on

    assigned readings- 10% total=10%

    One long research paper presentation- 30% total =30%

    Attendance and participation in class- 10% total=10%

    The following system will be used to transfer numerical grades to letter grades:

    A : 94-100

    A- : 90-93

    B+ : 87-89

    B : 84-86

    B- : 80-83

    C+ : 77-79

    C : 74-76

    C- : 70-73

    D+ : 67-69

    D : 64-66

    F : Below 64

  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: Class 1: Course Introduction and Overview: What role do race, gender, and class play in news coverage, entertainment, and advertising media?

    Introduction of key concepts related to course readings and discussion.

    Class 2: Henry Louis Gates and Racial Profiling in American Society and Media

    Readings: Under “Assignments” on Blackboard

    Class 3: The O.J. Simpson Case: A Study in Black and White

    Readings: Under “Assignments” on Blackboard/Video Clips under “Videos”

    Class 4:Presumed Innocent: Charles Stuart and Racial Bias in the News Media

    Readings: Under “Assignments” and Video clips under “Videos” on Blackboard menu.

    Class 5: News Power

    Heider, Introduction and Chapter 1

    Assignment of local TV news audit

    Class 6: Factors in news coverage

    Heider, Chapter 2

    Class 7: Minority access to news coverage

    Heider, Chapter 3

    Class 8: Geography and news

    Heider, Chapter 4

    Class 9: History and news

    Heider, Chapters 5 and 6

    Class 10: Ensuring more diversity in news

    Heider, Chapter 7

    Class 11:Discussion of local news and diversity Local TV news audit due

    Exam 1

    Class 12: The Power of Words: Humor and Bias in Entertainment Media

    Readings and video clips for this class and for the rest of the semester are found on Blackboard.

    Class 13: Words as Weapons: the Case and Legacy of Lenny Bruce

    Class 14: Reality TV or Ethnic Slurs: The “Jersey Shore” MTV controversy

    Class 15: The Invisible Minority and Majority: Portrayals of Asians and Women in Media

    Class 16: The Invisible Minority and Majority (continued)

    Class 17: Native Americans and Journalists: A Clash of Cultures

    Class 18: New Audiences for Advertisers: Marketing to Gays and Latinos

    Class 19: Censorship of sexual messages: Gay-themed digital billboards rejected by Clear Channel

    Class 20: Advertising to Young Ethnic Audiences and Women: Inclusion or Insult?

    Class 21: Empowerment of Women in Musical Genres

    Class 22: Empowerment of Women in New Media: Gender On-Line

    Class 23: The Digital Divide in Media: An Unlevel Field of Play?

    Class 24: Social Media, Gender, Race, and Diversity

    Class 25: Why Media Diversity Matters: Perspectives on Progress

    Exam 2

    Classes 26-28: Final Research Paper Presentations

  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: Plagiarism, as defined on the USFSP website, is punishable by an “F” on an individual assignment and, depending upon the specific circumstances, an “F” for the course. Plagiarism in the practice of journalism is an especially heinous act, given the credibility that must be maintained with our readers/viewers/users. In the instance where intent to defraud the reader is clear and demonstrable, the penalty will be an assigned grade of “FF,” designating failure for academic dishonesty, and resulting in dismissal from the university.

    In addition to coming to class, you are responsible for checking the Blackboard site for this class on a daily basis.

    Also, this class will have an on-line class blog, which will help drive classroom discussion. You are expected to do the readings specified for the dates specified. The blog will always have to do with that week’s readings and you will be required to post your comments to that week’s blog entry in advance of class, by the day and time listed. Failure to post comments on the class blog will result in a detraction of one point from your participation grade for each time a posting is missed.

  38. Program This Course Supports: Journalism and Media Studies
  39. Course Concurrence Information: n/a


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.