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WelcomeJ201: Introduction to Mass Communication
January 18, 2017
Professor Chris Wellscfwells@wisc.edu | @cfwells201.journalism.wisc.edu
PICASSO ON LASCAUX
“We have learned nothing in twelve thousand years”
EXPRESSION AND STORYTELLING
An elemental human impulse
To leave a mark; to be heard; to express
To say what happened
To say I was here
To say what was right and wrong; what is important
WE DON’T USE WALLS TO TELL OUR STORIES ANY MORE
BUT WE DEFINITELY TELL STORIES
George Gerbner: A culture is made of stories
Traditionally, stories are told by family, church, school. Now, they are told by television. (That was in the 70s)
Today, they are told in uncountable media events
WE LIVE IN A MEDIA SOCIETY
What happens to a society when its stories are…
Told predominantly in mass media?
Told by journalists (well or not well)?
Told by advertisers hoping to sell products?
Told by politicians or governments hoping to influence public opinion?
Told in digital/social media?
And how can we tell our stories better?
WHAT IS MASS COMMUNICATION?
SO WHAT ARE MASS MEDIA?
First, communication that is mediated
Medium: A channel or passage connecting two things
(Singular: medium; plural: media)
SO WHAT ARE MASS MEDIA?
Second, mass media reach not individuals, but a mass audience
“The process by which a person, group of people, or large organization creates a message and transmits it through some type of medium to a large, anonymous, heterogeneous audience.” —Kevin J. Pearce
WITH MEDIA AS OUR STORYTELLER…
The possibility of global connectionAbility to experience distant events
But also
Mediation becomes part of our experience—of real things
Powerful forces shape perceptions
WHAT ABOUT YOU? HOW MANY DEVICES?
Examples:PhoneTelevisionRadioLaptopIpadNewspaper
HOW MANY PLATFORMS? (APPS?)
Such as:E-mailInstagramFacebookMad Next BusMy.wisc.eduWeb browser
HOW MANY?
Devices?
Platforms?
THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO TAKE THIS CLASS
We are living through historic times that are testing our society’s ability to comprehend and communicate about its problems.
• Media fragmentation• Political polarization• Fake news
MEDIA FRAGMENTATION
In the 1960s, an advertiser could reach 80% of American women with ads on CBS, NBC, ABC.
Now, it would take > 100 channels, plus web, plus social media
MEDIA DIVERSIFICATION
A 1950s-1980s media diet:• 3 Television networks (with strong public
service norms)• 6-12 Radio stations (and Fairness
Doctrine)• 1-2 Local newspapers
POLITICAL POLARIZATION
NEWS CREDIBILITY & FAKE NEWS
NEWS CREDIBILITY & FAKE NEWS
FAKE NEWS AND DEMOCRACY
How can a democratic society make decisions when its ability to know the
world is severely compromised?
NEWS CREDIBILITY & FAKE NEWS
OUR PURPOSES IN J201
(1) TO ANSWER THE KEY QUESTIONS:
What is this thing—our “media system”?
How does it work? How do the pieces fit together?
Can we build a democratic society out of this?
(2) TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE J-SCHOOL
The people (lots of guest speakers!)
The research we do
The knowledge we are building
(3) INTRODUCTION TO STRAT COMMAND JOURNALISM
Two of the dominant story-telling modes in our society
How they work: their key practices & players
What’s right with them & wrong with them
How you get started
THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION
THIS WEEKNo discussion sections!
But you need to be signed up for a discussion section to take this class
By Friday:
• Read website: 201.journalism.wisc.edu • It IS the syllabus
Friday is syllabus day
• J201 and all of its moving parts• Ask your questions!• First assignment• Very important to attend
REQUIRED TEXTS• Reader is highly recommended, available at StudentPrint
later this week (Monday at latest)
• Texts are available digitally. See class website.
• Readings are due by section
• Read readings for this week!
OFFICE HOURS
Make use of my office hours.
Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30
Other times by appointment: email cfwells@wisc.edu
CLASS TWITTER HASHTAG
#sjmc201
I’m at @cfwells
SEE YOU FRIDAY
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