Aalyze the role of digital media in relation to mass communication professions (journalism, advertising, and public relations), as well as society more broadly.
The purpose of this assignment is for you to think about
and analyze the role of digital media in relation to mass communication professions (journalism, advertising, and public relations), as well as society more broadly.
You will select a specific form or aspect of digital media and discuss it in relation to mass communication and society, focusing on positive and negative effects it raises.
Rubric:
Attached below
Potential Topics:
● Algorithms
● Internet of Things
● Online Games
● Smartphones
● Blogs
● Robotization
● Crowdsourcing
● 5G Internet
● Police Body Cameras
● Dating Apps
● Social Media (This is pretty board, so consider choosing a particular app or feature)
● And much more. Be creative!
Important: You will notice that we cover many of the topics listed above in class. While it is okay to select a topic we cover in class, you must go beyond lecture material when completing this assignment. In short, do not simply rehash any effects or other material I raise in class.
In addition to these elements, the paper must include:
● A relevant and appropriate title (not “Final Paper”)
● An introduction and conclusion
○ The introduction and conclusion should include your topic and a thesis / argument: What is the topic that you have chosen, what is the question that you want to explore, and why is it relevant? (e.g., I will explore uses of mobile chat apps by American teenagers) In a few sentences describe how you will achieve your project, what will you study and what dynamic of the topic will you explore. Think what is the problem that I want to solve. (e.g., how are teens in Minneapolis using Snapchat and managing their privacy online?)
Body paragraphs covering:
○ Brief overview (tell me a bit more about your topic, what it is, how it works, etc.) and history of your topic (its invention, use, etc.) (2-3 paragraphs)
○ Discuss 1 positive effect / implication for one of the mass communication professionn (1-2 paragraphs)
○ Discuss 1 negative effect / implication for the same mass communication profession(1-2 paragraphs)
○ Discuss 1 positive effect / implication in relation to society more broadly (1-2 paragraphs)
○ Discuss 1 negative effect / implication in relation to society more broadly (1-2 paragraphs)
○ Discuss your findings: What did you find? Why is it important? What does your research tell you about the future of the topic you selected? About mass communication? (2-3 paragraphs) (Note: This is not the conclusion paragraph)
Sources:
○ At least eight credible and relevant sources should be cited in your paper (two per “effects” section above)
○ Your reference list should appear at the end of your paper under the heading “References”
○ Used an appropriate citation style.
○ You are allowed and encouraged to use the readings from the course to support your argument, but. you must also use other strong sources such as books or credible news or academic journal articles.
○ Do not cite Wikipedia and do not just Google something and assume the first things that pop up are credible sources. Lectures are NOT sources.
Layout: 5-7 pages (not counting the required references page), 1-inch margins, Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spaced
Strategies for selecting your topic:
1. Follow the news and try to think about what you read, watch, and hear in the context of this course’s material. Soon your main problem will be not the lack of topics but the necessity to pick one among the many that come to mind!
a. What news sources should you follow? To focus on technology-specific news, you can read Wired, the New York Times’ Bits Blog, or Techmeme. If you want to follow news/media-specific news, tryMediagazer or Nieman Journalism Lab. In addition to following the news, monitor websites and publications that have information/data/resources that relate to the material of our course, including Culture Digitally, the Berkman Center at Harvard, and the Pew Research Center
2. Think ahead about your potential case when you are doing required readings or the texts you select for class. Maybe there is something in the text that the author mentions only briefly but that catches your attention? Search to learn more, and perhaps that will become your case.
Talk to your classmates or the instructor if you are struggling with the research process. We are all here to help each other.
This is a chance for you to be creative and interact with course concepts you are specifically interested in. You should relate the project to something that we covered in the class or to the themes of the course. You may do this directly by referring specifically to readings that we’ve had, or you might do this more loosely referring the topic headings for the various weeks throughout the semester. Just be sure that there is a specific tie-in to the course and make it clear what that is. Make sure to read ALL the instructions below
