JOUR 375/COMM 372 SYLLABUS-COURSE READER 14
JOURNALISM 375/COMMUNICATION 372
THE IMAGE OF THE JOURNALIST
IN POPULAR CULTURE
SPECIAL EDITION:
SOB SISTERS
The Image of the Female Journalist
SYLLABUS-COURSE READER
Journalism 375/Communication 372
Four Units – Wednesday – 2 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.
ASC 204 – 21220R -- Fall, 2007
ã Joe Saltzman, 2005
JOURNALISM 375/COMMUNICATION 372
SYLLABUS AND COURSE READER
THE IMAGE OF THE JOURNALIST IN POPULAR CULTURE
SPECIAL EDITION: SOB SISTERS
THE IMAGE OF THE FEMALE JOURNALIST
Fall, 2007 – Wednesday– 2 to 5:20 p.m. – ASC 204
Joe Saltzman, Professor of Journalism
Office: 213-740-3918
Home: 310-377-8883
E-Mail:
Office Hours:
Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (By Appointment)
SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM POLICY ON
PLAGIARISM/FABRICATION/ACADEMIC INTERGRITY
Plagiarism is defined as taking ideas of writings from another and passing them off as one’s own; in journalism, this includes appropriating the reporting of another without clear attribution. The following is the School of Journalism’s policy on academic integrity as published in the University catalogue: “Since its founding, the USC School of Journalism has maintained a commitment to the highest standard of ethical conduct and academic excellence. Any student found guilty of plagiarism, fabrication, cheating on examinations, or purchasing papers or other assignments will receive a failing grade in the course and be dismissed as a major from the School of Journalism. There are no exceptions to this policy.”
ACADEMIC ACOMMODATIONS
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSPO. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number DSPO is 213-740-0776.
INTERNSHIPS
The value of professional internships as part of the overall educational experience of our students has long been recognized by the School of Journalism. Accordingly, while internships are not required for successful completion of this course, any student enrolled in this course who undertakes and completes an approved, non-paid internship during this semester shall earn academic extra credit herein of an amount equal to one percent of the total available semester points for this course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This special edition of Journalism 375/Communication 372 concerns the impact of conflicting images of the journalist in movies and television on the American public’s perception of newsgatherers in the 20th and 21st centuries. A special edition of the class emphasizes the image of the female journalist in popular culture and its influence on the public’s perception of its news media. The public takes its images wherever it sees and hears them and in the end, it really doesn’t matter to the public if these images are real or fantasy, true or false. The reality is that few people ever witness a journalist in action. They rarely visit a newspaper or magazine office or a broadcast newsroom or any other place where journalists work to report the news of the day. Yet they have a very specific idea of what a journalist is and what he or she does because they have read about journalists in novels, short stories and comic books, and they have seen them in movies, TV programs, plays, and cartoons. The public bases its impressions and understanding of the news media on these images. This class explores why this is so.
Course Outcomes:
To gain an understanding of the various images of the female journalists in popular culture and how they influence the public’s perception of its news media. You will learn why these images are important to our way of life, our very democracy, and study the ramifications of how the public perceives and judges the media and why this can have a profound effect on the success or failure of our American democracy. One of the primary objectives of this course is to teach you to be more sophisticated in your understanding of the news media, their functions and the reasons the American people have a love-hate relationship with the messengers who bring the important news and information to them.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
There is a book report (see below), a mid-term examination and a final examination.
The material covered in the examinations will be based on the lectures, readings and videos. You are expected to pay attention to themes and concepts. In the syllabus are class notes and summaries to help you keep track of all the films involved. It also helps to keep a careful record of film titles, main characters and their positions, and key plot points. All take-home assignments must be typed, double-spaced and turned in on time. No exceptions.
The class will begin promptly at 2 p.m. Since each section of the class will include video, it is important that we start on time if you want to get out on time.
GRADING
You will be graded on:
Class Participation 100 points
Mid-Term Examination 200 points
Book Report 300 points
Final Examination 400 points
THE BOOK REPORT
Each student must select a book (or books) featuring a female journalist from either the list of authors and books below, or a book (s) of your choice. Most of these books can be found on the Internet (especially E-Bay) and many are still available at local bookstores.
The final book report must include the following:
· A profile of the female journalist(s) featured in the book including a brief biography put together from information included in the book (age, physical appearance, likes, dislikes, family background, social life, professional life, etc.).
· A very brief summary of the plot. Plot summary should only be relevant to the female journalist(s) involved, and not just a recitation of what happened.
· A discussion of how this character(s) fits in with the general image of the female journalist in popular culture as described in class. Describe the image of this particular female journalist and how it fits in with the historical image of the female journalist in popular culture. Discuss the pros and cons of the image and what it contributes to the public understanding of journalism and the female journalist.
The paper should be typed and double-spaced without any mistakes in grammar, spelling or style (use the Chicago Manual of Style). It must NOT BE FEWER than five pages and NOT MORE than 15 pages. It should reflect what you’ve learned in class and in your readings.
You may choose any book featuring a female journalist (with proper approval), but here is a list of some possibilities:
Jo Bannister
The Primrose Switchback (2000), The Primrose Convention (1998)
Mildred Wirt Benson
Between the Lines (1996), The Nicest Guy in America (1997)
Venise T. Berry
All of Me: A Voluptuous Tale (2001)
Clair Blank
Series of books featuring Beverly Gray
Edna Buchanan
Series of books featuring Britt Montero
Jan Burke
Series of books featuring Irene Kelly
Carol Cail
Series of books featuring Maxey Burnell
Mary Jane Clark
Close to You (2001)
Susan Conant
Series of books featuring Holly Winter
Catherine Coulter
Blowout (2004), Impulse (1990)
Barbara D’Amato
Series of books featuring Cat Marsala
Mary Daheim
Series of books featuring Emma Lord
Carola Dunn
Series of books featuring Daisy Dalrymple
Sylvia Edwards
Series of books featuring Sally Baxter
Tony Fennelly
Series of books featuring Margot Fortier
Antonia Fraser
Series of books featuring Jemima Shore
Hal Friedman
A Hunting We Will Go (1997)
Mickey Friedman
Series of books featuring Georgia Lee Maxwell
Alison Glen
Series of books featuring Charlotte Sams
Alison Gordon
Series of books featuring Kate Henry
Lesley Grant-Adamson
Series of books featuring Rain Morgan
Winston Groom
Such a Pretty, Pretty Girl (1999)
Lisa Haddock
Series of books featuring Carmen Ramirez
Patricia Hall
Series of books featuring Laura Ackroyd
Denise Hamilton
Series of books featuring Eve Diamond
Carolyn Hart
Series of books featuring Henrietta O’Dwyer Collins
Sparkle Hayter
What’s a Girl Gotta Do? (1994), Nice Girls Finish Last (1996), Revenge of the Cootie
Girls (1997), The Last Manly Man (1998), The Chelsea Girl Murders (2000)
Jean Heller
Handyman (1995)
Joan Hess
Series of books featuring Claire Malloy
Wendy Hornsby
Series of books featuring Maggie MacGowen
Eleanor Hyde
Series of books featuring Lydia Miller
Jody Jaffe
Series of books featuring Natalie Gold
Yolanda Joe
This Just In… (2000)
Jeannine Kadow
Burnout (1999), Dead Tide (2002)
Kelly Lange
Series of books featuring Maxi Poole
Constance Laux
Diamonds and Desire (2000)
Ellen Larson
Series of books featuring Natalie Joday
Deborah Lawrenson
Idol Chatter (1996)
Jane Leavy
Squeeze Play (1990)
Jan Ledfdord
The Cloning (2002)
Fiona Lewis
Between Men: A Novel (1995)
Cathie Linz
Sleeping Beauty and the Marine (2003)
Laura Lippman
Series of books featuring Tess Monaghan
Emily Listfield
The Last Good Night (1997)
Harold Livingston
To Die in Babylon (1993)
Vicki P. McConnell
Mrs. Porter’s Letter (1982), The Burnton Windows (1983), Double Daughter (1988)
Val McDermid
Report for Murder (1987), Common Murder (1989), Final Edition (1991), Union Jack,(1993). Deadline for Murder and Booked for Murder (1996). Conferences Are Murder (1999)
Claudia McKay
The Kali Connection (1994)
Molly McKitterick
Murder in a Mayonnaise Jar (1993)
Franci McMahon
Night Mare: A Mystery (2001)
Leslie Meier
Series of books featuring Lucy Stone
Carlene Miller
Killing at the Cat (1998), Mayhem at the Marina (1999), Reporter on the Run (2001)
Ron Nessen and Johanna Neuman
Series of books featuring Jane Day
Meg O’Brien
Series of books featuring Jessica James
David Osborn
Series of books featuring Margaret Barlow
Joanne Pence
Series of books featuring Angelina Amalfi
Audrey Peterson
Series of books featuring Jane Winfield
Anna Porter
Series of books featuring Judith Hayes
Gayle Roper
Series of books featuring Merry Kramer
Jane Rubino
Series of books featuring Cat Austen
Diane Salvatore
Love, Zena Beth (1992)
Eve K. Sandstrom
Series of books featuring Nell Matthews
Sarah Shankman
Series of books featuring Samantha Adams
Sidney Sheldon
The Sky Is Falling (2000), The Best Laid Plans1998)
Celestine Sibley
Series of books featuring Kate Mulcay
Barbara Burnett Smith
Series of books featuring Jolie Wyatt
Julie Smith
Series of books featuring Rebecca Schwartz
Danielle Steel
Journey (2000), No Greater Love (1991), Bittersweet (1999), Mirror Image (1999),
Message from Nam (1990), Changes (1983), Passion’s Promise (1976), Changes (1990)
Triss Stein
Series of books featuring Kay Engles
Barbara Bradford Taylor
Dangerous to Know (1995), Remember (1994), A Secret Affair (1998)
Elaine Viets
Series of books featuring Francesca Vierling
Mary Willis Walker
Series of books featuring Mollie Cates
Penny Warner
Series of books featuring Conner Westphal
EVALUATION OF BOOK REPORT
The assignment is evaluated based on the criteria listed below. The overall quality and connections made to class discussions and material are also considered.
Content:
· Profile of Female Journalist including Biography
/ 80 Points
· How Character Fits with General Image of the Female Journalist in Popular Culture
/ 40 Points
· How Character Fits with Historical Image of the Female Journalist in Popular Culture
/ 40 Points
· Pros and Cons of the Image Presented
/ 40 Points
· Contributions to Public Understanding of Journalism and the Female Journalist
/ 40 points
Total Content: ______/240 points_
Presentation:
· Format
/ 20 Points
· Spelling/ Grammar
/ 20 Points
· Proper Citation
/ 20 Points
Total Presentation: _____/60 points _
TOTAL SCORE: ______/300 points_
COURSE READINGS
There are two textbooks for the class.
Your syllabus-course reader is a textbook. Bring it to class each week.
The second textbook is Frank Capra and The Image of the Journalist in American Film, a publication of The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture (IJPC), a project of the Norman Lear Center, USC Annenberg. It was written by Joe Saltzman and is available at the USC Bookstore.
The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture (IJPC), a project of the Norman Lear Center, has a Web site that has valuable information for the class – www.ijpc.org. It includes the relevant essay, “Sob Sisters: The Image of the Female Journalist in Popular Culture,” written by Joe Saltzman, director of the IJPC, and reprinted in this course reader. It is required reading.
In addition, these books are recommended:
Good, Howard, Girl Reporter: Gender, Journalism and Movies, Scarecrow Press. Published: May, 1998.
Ness, Richard R., From Headline Hunter to Superman: A Journalism Filmography, Scarecrow Press. Published: October 7, 1997. A guide to more than 2,100 feature films dealing with journalism. An excellent resource.
THE INSTRUCTOR
Joe Saltzman has been a prolific print and electronic journalist for 45 years. He created the broadcasting sequence for the School of Journalism at the University of Southern California in 1974. He has taught for nearly 40 years, is a tenured professor at USC and the winner of several teaching awards, including the USC Associates Teaching Excellence Award. He is currently the Director of the Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture, a project of the Norman Lear Center, USC Annenberg, and a former associate dean of the Annenberg School for Communication.
Before coming to USC, Saltzman was a senior writer-producer at CBS, Channel 2, in Los Angeles. His documentaries and news specials have won more than 50 awards including the
Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award in Broadcast Journalism (broadcasting’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize), two Edward R. Murrow Awards for reporting, five Emmys and four Golden Mike awards. Saltzman is listed in Who’s Who in America, the International Who’s Who in Literature, Who’s Who in California, Who’s Who in the West, Who’s Who in Education and International Biography.
CLASS SCHEDULE
CLASS ONE: INTRODUCTION (August 29, 2007)
Required Reading: Syllabus – Glossary, Classes One and Two. “Sob Sisters: The Image of the Female Journalist in Popular Culture” (in syllabus-course reader and on the ijpc.org Web site).
In-Class Video: Sob Sisters: The Image of the Female Journalist in Film and TV Summary, 1929-2003.
CLASS TWO: THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE NEWSPAPER FILM – THE 1930s -- THE SOB SISTERS (September 5)