J387 Communication History Fall 2006
Calendar and Reading Assignments
Under construction: This page will change throughout
the term.
Last updated: 11-28-06
Please notify the instructor of any
errors
Required Reading
Textbook: William David Sloan, The Media in America: A
History, 6th edition (Northport, AL: Vision Press, 2005)
Supplemental Reading
This course assumes that you already are familiar with
outlines of U.S. history. If you are not, you will need to refer to a
U.S. history textbook or reference work.
Calendar
Readings are to precede classroom presentations.
Calendar and assignment changes will be announced in class. Some
lecture notes and overheads will be posted here, but the instructor
is not responsible for information you miss due to lack of
attendance.
Week 1: September 25, 27, 29
Learning from the past: The Founders, freedom of expression,
and assessing historic evidence.
Week 1
overheads
Read: Sloan, "Why Study Media History?" xi-xiv, Chapters 4
and 6.
Reading
Guide for weeks 1-3.
Week 2: October 2, 4, 6
Government and development communication in the early United
States.
Read: Sloan, Chapters 5, 8 and 10.
Guest speaker on Monday, Oct. 2: Paul Frantz, Reference
Librarian
HISTORY'S TRUTHS PAPER: Due at noon, Friday, October 6.
Week 3: October 9, 11, 13
The public's press: communication and democracy
Read: Sloan, Chapters 7, 11
EXAMINATION #1, Friday, October 13.
Supplemental materials:
Supplemental materials: "First impressions: The journey of
Oregon's first newspaper press." Videotape 5704, "Yours for Liberty,"
Videotape 3318, Knight Library.
"Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice," Videotape 1247, "The
Black Press," Videotape 4898, Knight Library.
Week 4: October 16, 18, 20
Communication as a business; origins of advertising
Supplemental materials: "Mr. Sears' Catalogue." (Private
videotape.)
Supplemental materials: "Nellie Bly: Around the World in 72
Days," 1997. (Private videotape.)
Week 5: October 23, 25, 27
Commercialization of Communication: Catalogs, magazines and
Progressive reform
Read: Sloan, Chapters 13, 16.
NEW DATE: Research Proposal due: Noon Monday, October 23
Week 6: October 30, November 1, 3
Publicity, persuasion, propaganda and power
Read: Sloan, Chapters 17:319-332, 21: 405-414, 22:
423-434.
Supplemental materials: "The Image Makers," Videotape 2427,
Knight Library.
Week 7: November 6, 8, 10
Radio and entertainment
Read: Sloan, Chapters 18, 19.
Revised research proposals due: Noon, Monday, November
6.
EXAMINATION #2: Friday, November 10
Supplemental materials: "War of the Worlds" (Private
videotape), "The Reel World of News," Videotape 2426, Knight
Library.
Week 8: November 13, 15, 17
Television: Network broadcasting, national magazines, and the
"mass" audience
Read: Sloan, Chapters 20, 21: 413-421.
Supplemental materials: "The Quiz Show Scandals." "Edward R.
Murrow. " (Private videotapes).
Week 9: November 20, 22. No class November 24
(Thanksgiving)
Advertising, persuasion and television
Supplemental materials: "Film in the Television Age,"
Videotape 2599, vol. 8, Knight Library. "The 30-second President,"
Videotape 2429, Knight Library.
Read: Chapters 22: 434-439, 23.
RESEARCH PAPER DUE: Wednesday, November 22
Grading
Form
Week 10: DEAD WEEK. November 27, 29, December 1
Topic: Politics, war and public opinion
Read: Chapters 24.
Supplemental materials: "History of Television" (Private
videotape.)
EXAMINATION #3: Friday, December 1
NO EXAMINATION in Week 11