CTPR 461: Managing Television Stations
and Internet Media Units: 2
Fall 2015, Wednesday, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Location: SCA 209.
Instructor: Dick Block
Office: SCA 209
Office Hours: By appointment, Wednesday, 4:30 – 6:00 pm, or other times by request.
Contact Info: , 310 452 3355
Student Assistant: Rachel Victor
Contact Info: , 215 558 0910
Syllabus for COURSE-ID, Page 2 of 5
Course Description
CTPR 461 is an overview from a management point-of-view of legacy electronic mass media TV, radio. cable, and digital mass electronic media.
The four pillars on which the course is structured are:
(1) Guest speakers in a variety of roles from their respective media.
(2) Field trips to a TV station-duopoly and a digital production center. The TV station field trip is scheduled on Saturday, August 29, an away-game afternoon, to avoid traffic congestion between the campus and the valley on a weeknight. Attendance is optional, but highly recommended. Car pools will be available.
(3) Industry news from sources with high editorial standards.
(4) An updated eleven-part Lexicon that provides keys to the historical and current environment in which the electronic mass media operate.
Learning Objectives
(1) Familiarity with current management issues of broadcasting stations and networks, cable networks, and digital media
(2) Understanding the creative, financial, legal and research fundamentals of news and entertainment programming, and the marketing of them.
(3) Confidence in what to expect and be prepared for if a career in electronic mass media is chosen, or how to deal externally with it.
Recommended Preparation
Watch a local TV station and its competition or listen to a local radio station and its competition as if preparing for job interviews, complementing the process by reading TVNewsday.com, the leading aggregator of news relevant to the industry.
Description and Assessment of Assignments
Weekly Standard Assignment (WSA) due prior to the next class, and submitted by e-mail with no attachments. The Subject should read: USC/WSA 1,2,3, etc.
WSAs have two parts, worth five points each:
Part 1: A report on the Guest Speaker (s)
Part 2: A write up of the significance of one itemTVNewsday published between the day after the last class to no later than the day of the next class. Items about ratings are unacceptable.
Grading Breakdown
Assignment / Points / Percent of Grade (WSAs = 3.33%)WSA 1 / 10 / 3%
WSA 2 / 10 / 3%
WSA 3 / 10 / 3%
WSA 4 / 10 / 3%
WSA 5 / 10 / 3%
WSA 6 / 10 / 3%
WSA 7 / 10 / 3%
WSA 8 / 10 / 3%
WSA 9 / 10 / 3%
WSA 10 / 10 / 3%
WSA 11 / 10 / 3%
WSA 12 @ 10 / 3% / Total / 120 / 40%
Midterm / 80 / 26%
Final / 100 / 34%
Total / 300 / 100%
Grading
A: 91-100
B: 82 -90
C: 71-81
D: 62-70
Assignment Submission Policy
Excused absences: WSAs are due no later than prior to the next class. Part 1: Entries from five different chapters of the Lexicon, describing each and indicating the reason for choosing it. Part 2: As if the class were not missed.
*There will be no WSAs the weeks preceding the Midterm and Final. There will also be one special assignment, WSA 12, Career Day, Chicago, April 18, 2015, with reports on each panelist and the moot interview by a student for a TV news job. The Guest Speaker report and write-up of a TVN item are not required in WSA 12.
Course Schedule: A Weekly Breakdown (Subject to Change)
DAILY ACTIVITIES/SPEAKER / HOMEWORK / DUE DATESWeek 1: August 26 / Jennifer Celotta, Writer/Producer / WSA 1 / 9/2/15
Lexicon: Chapter 1 Cable & OTT, plus LA Nielsen TV Ratings
Week 2: Sept. 2 / Steve Kazanjian, CEO, Promaz/BDA
Lexicon: Chapter 2 Digital Media
Week 3: Sept. 9 / Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy, Amazon Studios / WSA 3 / 9/16/2015
Lexicon: Chapter 3 History & LA Nielsen Radio Ratings
Week 4: Sept. 16 / Radio Night, Talent & Executives from local stations / WSA 4 / 9/23/2015
Lexicon: Chapter 4 Trade Associations
Week 5: Sept. 23 / Mark Williams, Creative Director, Social Strategy & Content / WSA 5 / 9/30/2015
Programming, LiveWorld, social content marketing company
Lexicon: Chapter 5 News
Week 6: Sept. 30 / Perry Simon, Ex-GM, BBC America, veteran network & studio executive / WSA 6 / 10/7/2015
Lexicon: Chapter 6 Programming
Week 7: Oct. 7 / Midterm Prep / NO WSA
Todd Karli, News Director & Anchor, and other staff
members fromKERO-TV ABC 23 Bakersfield, DMA 127
Week 8: Oct. 14 / Midterm / WSA 7 / 10/21/2015
Kevin Fraser, Co-host, “Entertainment Tonight”
Saturday Oct. 14 / CBS Broadcast Center, Studio City, 2PM
Week 9: Oct. 21 / Peter Gaffney, SVP, A+E, by Skype from NYC / WSA 8 / 10/28/2015
Nir Caspi , Packaging Agent, WME
Week 10: Oct. 28 / Joey Chavez, SVP Original Programming, TNT / WSA 9 / 11/4/2015
Lexicon: Chapter7 Regulation, 8 Research, 9 Sales & Advertising
Week 11: Nov. 4 / YouTube LA Place, 12422, West Bluff Drive, LA 90064, 424 835 8012, / WSA 10 / 11/11/2015
Host: Bridgett Humphrey, Events Manager
Depart SCA 630 PM Return 930 PM.
Week 12: Nov. 11 / Spencer McCoy, VP/General Manager, KABC-TV7 LA. / WSA 11 / 11/18/2015
Lexicon: Chapter 10 Stations & Chapter 11 Technology
Week 13: Nov. 18 / Christie McConnell, VP Development, all3media / *WSA 12-- / 12/2/2015
Lexicon Review / Career Day, Chicago
Week 14: Nov .25 / Thanksgiving Break
Week 15: Dec. 2 / Final Prep
Holiday Party
“The Study Hall, 2827 Hoover, 213 493 4363 at 9:00 pm
Week 16: Dec 9 / Final
Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems
Academic Conduct
Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Section 11, Behavior Violating University Standardshttps://scampus.usc.edu/1100-behavior-violating-university-standards-and-appropriate-sanctions/. Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct, http://policy.usc.edu/scientific-misconduct/.
Discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment are not tolerated by the university. You are encouraged to report any incidents to the Office of Equity and Diversity http://equity.usc.edu/ or to the Department of Public Safety http://capsnet.usc.edu/department/department-public-safety/online-forms/contact-us. This is important for the safety whole USC community. Another member of the university community – such as a friend, classmate, advisor, or faculty member – can help initiate the report, or can initiate the report on behalf of another person. The Center for Women and Men http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/cwm/ provides 24/7 confidential support, and the sexual assault resource center webpage describes reporting options and other resources.
Support Systems
A number of USC’s schools provide support for students who need help with scholarly writing. Check with your advisor or program staff to find out more. Students whose primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute http://dornsife.usc.edu/ali, which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for international graduate students. The Office of Disability Services and Programs http://sait.usc.edu/academicsupport/centerprograms/dsp/home_index.htmlprovides certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations. If an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency Information http://emergency.usc.edu/will provide safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technology.
db 08/01/15
Syllabus for COURSE-ID, Page 2 of 5