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American Studies 137bFall 2015
Journalism in 20th-Century AmericaBlock C
Mr. WhitfieldM W Th 10-10:50
The institution of journalism has been central to democratic theory and practice and will be scrutinized in both historical and contemporary terms. The seminar will examine what American journalists have done, how their enterprise has in fact conformed to their ideals, and what the consequences have been for the political culture.
1) Aug 27 ThIntroduction: Discussion of the meaning offreedom of
expression
No assignment
2) Aug 31MBad news: Continue discussion of the First Amendment
No assignment
JOURNALISM AND REALITY
3) Sept 2 WWhat is truth?
Discuss: Walter Lippmann, Public Opinion,parts I-IV
4) Sept 3 ThContinue discussion of Public Opinion,parts V-VIII
5) Sept9 WComplete discussion of Public Opinion
6) Sept 10 ThWhat is reality?
Discuss: Daniel J. Boorstin, The Image,chapters 1-3
(Brandeis Monday)
7) Sept 16 WContinue discussion of The Image, chapters4-6
8) Sept 17 ThComplete discussion of The Image
9) Sept 21 MWhat was television journalism?
Discuss: Edward J. Epstein,News fromNowhere, chapters 1-5
10) Sept 24 ThComplete discussion of News from Nowhere,chapters 6-9
JOURNALISM AND LAW
11) Sept 29 TForgive us our press passes
Discuss: Sydney Pollack (dir.), Absence of Malice
(Brandeis Monday)
12) Sept 30 WFIRST EXAMINATION
13) Oct 1 ThFull court press
Discuss: Fred W. Friendly, The Good Guys,the Bad Guys, and
the First Amendment, chapters 1-8 (on LATTE)
14) Oct 7 WComplete discussion of The Good Guys, theBad Guys, and the
First Amendment, chapters 12-14 (on LATTE)
15) Oct 8 ThThe Papers and the papers: lecture onNew York Times v.
United States (1971)
No assignment
16) Oct 12 M"Who gives a goddamn about freedom of thepress?" (President
Nixon to Counsellor John Dean, on the White House tapes)
Continuation of lecture on the PentagonPapers
17) Oct 14 WCompletion of discussion of the PentagonPapers
Discuss: Edward Jay Epstein,Between Factand Fiction, chapter
4 (on LATTE)
JOURNALISM AND PROPERTY
18) Oct 15 ThThe grand acquisitor: lecture on thelegacy of William
Randolph Hearst
No assignment
19) Oct 19 M"If it bleeds, it leads" (tabloid motto):the legacy of Hearst, cont.
No assignment
20) Oct 21 W"American"
Discuss: Orson Welles (dir.), Citizen Kaneand Pauline Kael,
"Raising Kane," inKael et al., The Citizen Kane Book (on
LATTE)
21) Oct 22 ThComplete discussion of Hearst and Citizen Kane
22) Oct 26 MPride and prejudice: lecture on Henry L.Mencken
No assignment
23) Oct 28 WIs journalism a profession?
Discuss: Henry L. Mencken, "Journalism inAmerica"in
Prejudices: Sixth Series(on LATTE)
24) Oct 29 ThTheir masters' voice
Discuss: Ben H. Bagdikian, The New Media Monopoly, part I
25) Nov 2 MComplete discussion of The New Media Monopoly, part II
JOURNALISM AND DEMOCRACY
26) Nov 4 WThe education of Lincoln Steffens: lectureon muckraking
No assignment
27) Nov 5 ThSECOND EXAMINATION
28) Nov 9 M"A fun guy to be with"--Roy M. Cohn onSenator Joseph R.
McCarthy
Discuss: Edwin R. Bayley, Joe McCarthy andthe Press,
chapters 1-2 (on LATTE)
29) Nov 11 WComplete discussion of Joe McCarthy and thePress, chapters 6-
7 (on LATTE)
30) Nov 12 ThReflections in a bloodshot eye
Discuss: Fred W. Friendly, Due toCircumstances Beyond Our
Control, chapters 1-3 (on LATTE)
31) Nov 16 MWhite House watch: lecture on thePresidency and the press
No assignment
32) Nov 18 W"I heard the news today, oh boy" (J.Lennon-P. McCartney)
Discuss: Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward, All the President's
Men, and Alan Pakula (dir.), All the President's Men
33) Nov 19ThComplete discussion of All the President'sMen, and Epstein,
Between Fact andFiction,chapter 2 (on LATTE)
34) Nov 23 MJournalism against itself
Discuss: Billy Ray (dir.), Shattered Glass
35) Nov 30 MThe young and the restless
Discuss: David T. Z. Mindich, Tuned Out,chapters 1-4
36) Dec 2 WComplete discussion of Mindich, Tuned Out, chapters 5-7
TELEVISION AND DEMOCRACY
37) Dec 3 ThWhat's wrong with this picture?
Discuss: Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselvesto Death, part I
38) Dec 7 MComplete discussion of Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death,
part II
39) Dec 9 WConclusion
No assignment
"What can I say about journalism? It has the greatest virtue and the greatest evil. It is the first thing the dictator controls. It is the mother of literature and the perpetrator of crap. In many cases it is the only history we have, and yet it is the tool of the worst men. But over a long period of time and because it is the product of so many men, it is perhaps the purest thing we have. Honesty has a way of creeping in even when it was not intended."--John Steinbeck
Requirements
The third examination will be given during finals week, and will cover all material assigned and discussed since the second exam on November 5.
An ESSAY of eight to ten pages is also required. Keeping in mind John Steinbeck's notion of journalism as "the product of many men" and women (the best and the worst), you are expected to pick a significant figure in historical or contemporary journalism. Drawing on an autobiography, a memoir or a reliable biography (usually one book will suffice), profile that figure and assess his or her importance to the practice of journalism in the twentieth century. Or you may select an historic episode that discloses a problem confronting journalism and other mass media. The topic must meet with the instructor's approval.
The paper is due no later than Friday, December 11. No extensions of this deadline will be permitted, nor will any excuses (apart from medical reasons) be accepted.
WARNING: The grade assigned to the course paper will be dramatically reduced should glaring lapses of proofreading or errors of grammar appear. Please consult authoritative style sheets on usage. If you wish to have your essay returned with comments on it, you are expected to submit a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your paper.
A seminar depends for its success upon the full preparation and participation of everyone enrolled in the course. Contributions to class discussions from all students are expected; astuteness in discussions will be rewarded. Absenteeism--which the instructor alone defines--will not be allowed! If you must miss class, please inform me either by e-mail () or in person. Apart from exceptional circumstances, no laptops or cellphones may be used during class; they are distracting.
Aside from contributions to class discussion, the three essay exams and the paper will be weighed about equally in assessing a grade in this seminar, though a favorable thumb will be placed on the scales when academic improvement is evident. Because this is a four-credit course (with three hours of instruction per week), success in Amst 137b is based on the expectation that students will spend a minimum of nine hours of study time per week in preparation for this class (such as readings, papers, preparation for exams).
Read carefully Section 3 of Rights and Responsibilities, to ensure that all work submitted in Amst 137b satisfies the criteria of academic integrity.
Any student who has a documented disability should meet with the instructor at the beginning of the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
The following books are available for purchase in the bookstore and have also been placed on reserve:
Bagdikian, Ben H. The New Media Monopoly
Bernstein, Carl & Bob Woodward All the President's Men
Boorstin, Daniel J. The Image
Epstein, Edward JayNews from Nowhere
Lippmann, Walter Public Opinion
Mindich, David T. Z.Tuned Out
Postman, Neil Amusing Ourselves toDeath
All other works assigned are available on LATTE.
office hours M W 1-2:30 and by appointment (ext. 63035) in Brown 314.