PUBP 710-003
“The Media
and Public Policy:
Messengers
Amid the Madness”
Class Time: Monday, 4:30
p.m. – 7:10 p.m.
Location: ARLO 246
Instructor: Frank Sesno sesno@gmu.edu
Assistant: Juliana
Hoskinson jhoskins@gmu.edu
Office phone number:
(703) 993-4961
This
class will explore the complex and increasingly critical relationship between
media and public policy. In a society
where a 24/7 news cycle bombards a fractured public, where ‘infotainment’ and
the ‘argument culture’ often overshadow traditional journalism, it has become
more difficult to focus public debate and build political consensus necessary
to shape, lead or change public policy.
Polls, focus groups, Orwellian talking points, sound-bitten debates,
massive spending by special interests and corporate ratings/circulation
pressures can distort and overshadow important issues.
We
will examine how these forces collide in our modern media, how coverage
decisions regarding public policy are made in newsrooms, how advocates use and
rely on the media to advance their message and how different media reflect
different strengths and vulnerabilities.
We will attempt to understand the consequences of what respected
journalists Tom Rosenstiel and Bill Kovach refer to as the “mixed media
culture” and its impact on the pursuit of public policy. We will probe the relationship between
coverage and public opinion, and their influence on American domestic and
international policy.
This
course has several objectives: to convey a deeper and nuanced understanding of
the relationship between the media and public policy and the decision-making
process that shapes the journalism of complex issues; to examine how public
policy practitioners factor the media into their work and strategy; to
understand some of the communication strategies designed to influence public
opinion; and to explore whether and how the media help or hinder the civil
discourse we require as a democracy.
The
course will be lively, provocative and highly interactive, with extensive
reading and an expectation that students will follow the news on a daily basis
from several sources. We will make use
of case studies and real world examples, reinforced by student presentations
and frequent visits by accomplished professionals. Our guests will represent the media, public policy, advocacy
groups, opinion polling, public relations and strategic communications.
There
will be several writing assignments.
All papers should be submitted in class AND sent via email to sesno@gmu.edu.
Papers should be composed in standard 12-point font, double spaced,
standard margins. Citations and bibliography are required. Papers lacking proper academic documentation
will not be accepted.
·
The
first paper will be due week #3, Feb 10.
You will examine a news program or newscast to assess its coverage of
issues. You should consult and make
reference to early course readings to make your assessment. You should address the questions raised on
page six of the article “Before
and After: War and News” by Rosenstiel et al. (Journalism.org). This paper should be two pages long. (10% of grade)
·
The
mid-term paper is due March 3rd.
This exercise will involve your critical assessment of an issue as
measured by the “CNN effect.” You will
be expected to define the issue, assess the coverage and determine whether and
how the so-called “CNN effect” plays into the formation of public opinion
and/or policy. This paper should be
four to five pages in length. (30% of grade)
·
A
one-page proposal is due for your final paper on March 17th. (See below.)
·
The
final paper is due May 5th.
Each student will be expected to select a topic, with the instructor’s
approval, and write a 5,000 word (20 – 22 page) analytical research paper built
around a public policy case study. This
examination is intended to probe the relationship between a major issue and the
coverage surrounding it. The paper
should emphasize and utilize concepts covered in class to examine the subject
and develop a conclusion and recommendations.
Your paper should reflect graduate level research and analysis. The paper must cite readings from the course. (40% of grade)
Class discussion and participation will be a central
component of this course and worth 20% of your final grade. You will expected to be well informed,
organized, armed with the courage of your convictions – and prepared to
articulate and defend your point of view.
Course syllabus and links to the readings can be
viewed through the class Web site on WebCT. Go to webct.gmu.edu and log on with
your e-mail user name. If you have never used WebCT, the password is the last
four digits of your student ID. You are responsible for all reading
assignments; be sure you navigate the class Web site and locate all the
articles and/or linked readings identified in the syllabus. Should you detect
any problems, report them well in advance, so we can address them.
·
You
are responsible for completing assignments on time. You will be penalized the equivalent of one full letter grade for
each day the assignment is late.
Assignments overdue more than a week won’t be accepted.
·
If
you cannot attend a class due to personal emergency, you should let one of us
know prior to class when possible.
Contact a class member to find out what you missed. You are responsible for all announcements,
assignments and material covered in class.
·
Incomplete
grades will not be given unless there is a documented medical, family or
personal emergency.
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TOPIC |
READINGS |
ASSIGNMENTS |
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1 |
1/27 |
Introduction |
Articles: 1.“The invisible agencies” by Lieberman 2.“Foreign news: What’s next?” by Parks (cjr.org) |
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2 |
2/3 |
Journalists and journalism: an overview of the business |
Book: “The News About the News,” chapters 1-3 and 8 (pp. 3-62; 219-252) Article: “In defense of journalism as a public trust” (Poynter.org) |
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3 |
2/10 |
Appetite for News: Appetite for issues? |
Book: “The News About the News,” chapters 4-5 (pp. 63-156) Articles: “Before and After: War and News” by Rosenstiel et al. (Journalism.org) |
DUE: Dissect newscast/ morning show, addressing the question on page 6 of the article “Before and After War” |
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4 |
2/17 |
War and Terrorism |
Articles: 1.“Too Free?” (ajr.org) 2. “Global News
and U.S. Policymaking” by Gilboa |
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5 |
2/24 |
War and Terrorism |
Book: “Mass Mediated terrorism” chapters 1-3 (pp. 7-102) Article: “Clarifying the CNN effect” by Livingston |
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6 |
3/3 |
War and Terrorism |
Book: “Mass Mediated terrorism” chapters 4-7 (pp. 103-198) |
DUE: Midterm assignment: The “CNN Effect” – Examine the coverage and impact of global journalism with the focus on an issue of diplomacy, defense or foreign policy. |
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3/10 |
SPRING BREAK |
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7 |
3/17 |
News, Polls and Policy |
Book: “Governing with the news” chapters 4 and 5 (pages 61-116) Articles: 1.“Congenial public, contrary press, and
biased estimates of the climate of opinion” by Gunther et al. (Pub. Op.
Qtly.) 2. “22% of Americans get news from talk
jocks” by Carney (LA Times) Optional: “Governing with the News” chapters 1-3 (pp. 1-60) |
DUE: One-page proposal for final research paper. |
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8 |
3/24 |
News and Government |
Book: “Governing with the news” chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 117-163) Booklet: “Communicating in a crisis” (To be distributed) |
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9 |
3/31 |
Case study: Healthcare |
Book: “The System” chapters 1-3 (pp. 3-47); 6-7 (pp. 96-178) |
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10 |
4/7 |
Case study: Healthcare |
Book: “The System” chapters 13, 20, 23 |
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11 |
4/14 |
Politics and Scandal |
Book: “Truth to tell” Preface and ch.1 (pp. 11-64) Article: “Public Offices Private Lives” by Schauer |
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12 |
4/21 |
Politics and Scandal |
Book: “Truth to tell” ch. 7 (pp. 177-206) Book on reserve: “Feeding the Beast” chapters 17-20 (pp. 236-298) |
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13 |
4/28 |
Looking Ahead |
Books: “The news about the news” chapter 9 (pp. 252-269); “Governing with the news” ch. 8 (164-192); Book on reserve: “Feeding the Beast” ch. 20-21 (pp. 280-307) |
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14 |
5/5 |
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Reading TBA |
DUE: Group Presentations: Analyze quality impact and consequences of coverage on a given public policy issue. Special attention should be paid to public opinion and real world outcome. |
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15 |
5/12 |
Final thoughts |
Reading TBA |
DUE: Group Presentations DUE: Final Paper |