JMC001: Introduction to the mass media and society

10 lectures   3 credits

Course description:

The course will introduce students to the roles and goals of the mass media and society in Africa today.

Lectures 1- 3. Theories of the mass media.

Students will learn about theories of the mass media to help them understand their social impact.

Students will also be introduced to an overview of the African mass media and their historical development.

Lectures 4 - 5. Africa in the information age

Students will learn about the growth and development of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) and how they have impacted people’s lives, attitudes and behavior.

Students will be introduced to the history of issues of justice and fairness in the international information and communication.

Lecture 6 - 7 Ethical and Legal issues in the mass media

Students will learn about ethics in the mass media and how to deal with ethical dilemmas in the mass media.

Students will learn about legal issues like Libel and Slander in the mass media.

Lectures 8 - 9.  Issues in the African media.

Contemporary issues affecting the mass media will be discussed on a case study basis.

Lecture 10. Term paper.

Lecture will focus on how to research and write a term paper on the mass media and society.

There will be short quizzes after each lecture.

There will also be occasional reaction papers on a topic given by the instructor

Students will be assigned to develop a term paper topic and write a term paper due at the end of the semester.

Grading.

Quizzes will account for 40 percent of the final grade

The term paper will account for 40 percent of the final grade.

Short reaction papers will account for 20 percent of the final grade.

A = 90 percent and higher

B = between 80 and 90 percent

C = between 70 and 80 percent

D = between 60 and 70 percent

F = under 60 percent.