Department of Communication, Course Home Pages - COM 110
Volunteer State Community College | Division of Humanities
COM 110: Survey of Mass Communication
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
(Note: Each instructor will have policies and assignments specific to his/her section. See their course pages.)
1. Explain how the media perform in society.
2. Explain how the media reflect and mold the priorities of society.
3. Contrast what the media have achieved in the past and what they
are capable of achieving in the future.
4. Explain the basic nature of each mass medium and its audiences.
5. Explain the media's reliance upon consumer acceptance for their
own existence.
6. Explain the structure and functions of the various mass media of
information, persuasion and entertainment.
7. List the elements of the communication process and explain
their relationships.
8. Contrast feedback and delayed feedback.
9. Contrast channel noise and semantic noise.
10. Explain the basic mass communication theories.
11. Explain the historical development and functions of newspapers.
12. Explain the historical development and functions of magazines.
13. Explain the historical development of books and the nature of the
book publishing business.
14. Explain the historical development of radio, contemporary radio formats,
and the future of radio.
15. Explain the history of the recording industry, trends in popular music,
and the probable future of recordings.
16. Explain the historical development of television, the ratings programming
and the criticisms of television.
17. Explain the historical development of film, the business of filmmaking,
and the probable future of filmmaking.
18. Explain the unique features of the new electronics: cable, microwave
and satellites, videotex, videocassette recorders, videodiscs, neovideo,
and the homecomcen.
19. Explain the historical development of advertising, the role of advertising
agencies, the various advertising strategies, the impact of advertising and
the criticisms and defenses of advertising.
20. Explain the historical development of public relations, the public relations
business today, and specializations in public relations.
21. Explain the historical development of the news services and their
current functions.
22. Explain the four basic theories of the press.
23. Explain the legal limitations on the media.
24. Explain the first and sixth amendments and the conflict between them.
25. Explain the ethical and social responsibilities of the media.
Course Textbook:
Campbell, Richard.
Media and Culture:
An Introduction to Mass Communication.
VISIT THE BOOKSTORE
Chapter Study Guides
Summaries provide an overview of key concepts from the text and annotated links to Web sites related to chapter content.
Online Quizzes
Feedback is provided for responses, whether correct or incorrect, and cross-references to the book aid in further review of the text material. A tally of right and wrong answers is provided at the end of the quiz.
Critical Process Exercises
The Critical Process Exercises found on this website, along with those in the text, are designed to help students engage critically and thoughtfully with important media issues.
Media Studies
The Media Studies found in this section offer in-depth analysis of a particular media individual, innovation, or issue. Media studies are also linked to a corresponding chapter in the main text.
SELECT CHAPTERS TO VIEW
MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATIONS
1. Mass Communication: A Critical Approach
2. Information and New Technology
3. Sound Recording and Popular Music
4. Popular Radio and the Origins of Broadcasting
5. Television and the Power of Visual Culture
6. Cable and the Specialization of Television
7. Movies and the Impact of Images
8. Newspapers and the Rise of Modern Journalism
9. Magazines in the Age of Specialization
10. Books and the Power of Print
11. Advertising and Commercial Culture
12. Public Relations and Framing the Message
13. Media Economics and the Global Marketplace
14. The Culture of Journalism
15. Media Effects and Cultural Approaches
16. Legal Controls and Freedom of Expression
Media Critic
Essays are a forum for media scholars to discuss important current media events. A new essay will appear frequently, emphasizing the importance of critical perspective and cultural analysis in our media-saturated society.
Brill's Content Corner
Critical Process Exercises are designed to work with the copy of Brill's Content included with each copy of Media and Culture. Questions help apply the tools of description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation to reading.
Student Research
Resources
While your research should almost always begin with your university library, the general links here will be helpful in finding on-line resources related to media issues. (Some mass media links)
Job/Internship Opportunities
Online, you will be able to find
job services, classified ads, employment services, and internship information. You can search in a given geographical area, select a field of interest.
Online Glossary
The online glossary allows access to key media-related terms. The search feature allows the reader to search for terms alphabetically
