Dr. Sue Collins
HU 3882, Fall 20145 Humanities Department
Michigan Technological University Office: Walker Arts 305
Tues/Thurs 2:05-3:20 p.m. Voicemail: x73260
Walker Arts, HDMZ 120C Office hours: Thurs 2-3 p.m. & by appt.
Course Description
This course offers a critical survey of key issues and debates concerning the political economy of U.S. media organizations and their practices. We will explore the historical, regulatory, and economic contexts of their operations, highlighting contemporary issues of media conglomeration, ownership, convergence, regulation, and policy. The course will consider in varying degrees major sectors of cultural production such as film, broadcasting, music/sound, print journalism/publishing, and digital technologies. After covering the historical roots that give rise to the particulars of U.S. media policy, we will consider the contemporary moment of industry practices (production, distribution, creative labor, technological innovation) and how these intersect with political, social, and cultural issues.
Why take this class? The media industries are a pervasive force in contemporary life. Industry economics and policy-making have important consequences for how news and entertainment function within the commerce, governance, and social life. A critical evaluation of the workings of the media industries allows us to assess their value to the public interest and participatory democracy. Students interested in communication and media studies will develop proficiency in understanding critical perspectives on the media industries coming out of academic scholarship from historical and contemporary perspectives, as well as industry-generated discourse in order to conduct research and assess research claims and findings. Students will work individually and with otherson variousresearch exercises and a final research project.
Required Texts:
Havens, Timothy & Amanda Lotz. Understanding Media Industries. New York: Oxford University Press,
2012. NOTE: This text is not available in the MTU bookstore; however, you can buy a used copy for as little as $4.00 (including shipping!) online. Try: Bookfinder.com
On-line Resources:
Canvas: Additional reading will be posted on Canvas. (If you print these out, please do so with a double-
sided printer.) All written assignments will be uploaded onto Canvas.
Course website: suewcollins.com; “Media Industries”; log-in: globaltest1; password: maddow
Requirements and Grading
10%Attendance and participation:
You are expected to arrive on time, having read the week’s assigned readings, and prepared to participate in discussions and exercises. This grade will be evaluated, in largepart, on the basis of the quality of your active participation—in other words, your ability to ask thoughtful questions, make relevant comments or provide answers, and contribute to the class discussion in a regular and meaningful way.
PLEASE NOTE: More than two absences will affect your final grade. If you have eight absences or more you will NOT receive a passing grade. Please be aware that absences are not an acceptable excuse for not having done the required work. Most work will be due on Canvas, so you will be able to turn in assignments that way should you need to be absent.You will also be expected to keep track of your absences, and to find out what you missed from a classmate in the event that you are absent. If you have a special circumstance concerning attendance, please bring it to my attention ASAP so that we may work out acceptable options for your success in this class.
Some caveats on active participation:
Your presence in the classroom: It is a significant distraction for students to enter and exit at times other than the designated start and finish of the class. Please be on time, and bring it to my attention should you need to leave class early. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Note-taking: I strongly urge you to take notes for this class. I will not be posting PowerPoint slides on Canvas, so your note-taking will help you enormously withquizzes and exams for this class.
Computers, browsing, cell phones: We will be using the laptops with great frequency in this class. Please be aware that browsing during class time is inappropriate. The same goes for cell phone browsing/texting. If you have an emergency that requires your attention outside of the class, then you may step out to take care of it. Otherwise, I’ll expect your full attention.
10%Industry news report: students will present to the class twice during the semester on a current media industry topic; details will follow
15%Assignments: two written, details will follow
10% Exercises: in-class
10%4 Quizzes: taken on Canvas, open book/note
30%Exams: twotake-home essay style
15% Final project: students will present their project to the class
NOTES:
All students are expected to bring the week’s current readings to classas part of their effective participation in the course.
Written assignments are to be turned in on Canvas where they will be subject to Turnitin. Please follow this format: in the upper left corner, include your name, course name, date, and assignment heading or paper title (no title pages). Type all work in Word, 12-point font, one-inch margins, double-spaced, and number all pages. Your grade will partly be based on your ability to follow the norms and conventions of writing using Standard English academic style and conventions.
LATE PAPERS will result in a drop in a letter grade unless approved by me.
Plagiarism is not tolerated and will result in failing the course. Consult the University rules and guidelines regarding this serious breach of ethics. In addition please note that all materials used in the construction of your written work (notes, outlines, rough drafts, etc.) should be saved until you have received a passing grade from me.
Evaluation Standards and Policies:
93-100 = A; 88-92 = AB; 82-87 = B; 78-81 = BC; 72-77 = C; 68-71 = CD; 60-67 = D
93-100 = Excellent. This work is outstanding work in all respects. This work demonstrates comprehensive and solid understanding of and engagement with course materials, and presents thoughtful interpretations, well-focused and original insights, and well-reasoned commentary, engagement and analysis of the course’s themes, theories, methods and reading materials. Includes skillful use of source materials, illuminating examples and illustrations, fluent expression, and no grammatical/careless errors.
88-92 = Very good. This work demonstrates a complete and accurate understanding of course materials, presents a reasonable degree of insight and broad levels of analysis. Papers are mostly free of grammatical/careless errors.
82-87 = Good. Work reflects competence, but stays at a general or predictable level of understanding. Source materials, examples, illustrations are used appropriately and articulation/writing is clear. Papers have been carefully proofread for the most part.
78-81 = Fair. This work demonstrates understanding that hits in the ballpark, but source materials, examples, illustrations are not well developed or indicate errors and omission.
72-77 = Adequate. Reflects acceptable engagement with materials but remains superficial, incomplete, or expressing some errors or weaknesses.
68-71 = Passable. Reflects minimal engagement with material. Source materials may be used inadequately or inappropriately, and arguments lack concrete, specific examples and illustrations. Writing/articulation may appear vague, hard to follow, or loaded with typos and other technical errors.
60-67 = Unsatisfactory. This work demonstrates a serious lack or error in understanding, and fails to express the most rudimentary aspects of the course’s content. Sources may be used entirely inappropriately or not at all, and writing/articulation is deficient, and characterized by grammatical and/or technical sloppiness.
59 and below = Failed. Work not submitted, or attempted, or work that has been plagiarized.
University Policies: Academic regulations and procedures are governed by University policy.
Academic dishonesty cases will be handled in accordance with the University's policies. For more information on this serious breach of conduct, see:
If you have a disability that could affect your performance in this class or that requires an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please see me as soon as possible so that we can make appropriate arrangements.The Affirmative Action Office has asked that you be made aware of the following: Michigan Tech complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education or services at Michigan Tech, please call the Dean of Students Office, at 487-2212. For other concerns about discrimination, you may contact your advisor, department head or the Affirmative Action Office, at 487-3310
For more information on these policies, see:
Affirmative Action:
Disability Services:
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Course Schedule (subject to change)
DateRead (due by date indicated) C= supplemental readings on Canvas
1) T Sept 1Introduction/course overview
2) TR Sept 3Cultural economy and creativity
Davies & Sigthorosson: “Creativity and Commerce” (pp. 22-36) C
3) T Sept 8Political economy/industry analysis
Hesmondhalgh: “Media Industry Studies, Media Production Studies” C
4) TR Sept 10Historical contexts: film
Schatz: “Film Industry Studies and Hollywood History” C
5) T Sept 15Historical contexts: film stardom
Kindem: Hollywood’s Star System: A Historical Overview” C
6) TR Sept 17Historical contexts: broadcasting
Streeter: “Liberalism, Corporate Liberalism” (selection TBA) C
Streeter: “A Revisionist History of Broadcasting, 1900-1934” (pp. 59-84) C
7) T Sept 22Historical contexts: broadcasting cont.
Streeter: “A Revisionist History of Broadcasting, 1900-1934” (pp. 84-104) C
8) TR Sept 24Historical contexts: advertising
Meyers: “From Sponsorship to Spots: Advertising & the Development of Electronic
Media” C
9) T Sept 29Historical contexts: cable
Campbell: “Cable and the Specialization of Television” C
10) TR Oct 1Deregulation
Hesmondhalgh: “Marketisation in Telecommunications & Broadcasting” (pp.106-122) C
11) T Oct 6*** EXAM ONE ***
12) TR Oct 7Media industries today – Structures in ownership
H&L: chpt 1, “Key Concepts in Media Industry Studies” (pp. 4- 9)
H&L: chpt 2, “Media Industry Mandates”
13) T Oct 13Why media markets are different
McChesney: “The Market Uber Alles” (pp. 175-205) (C)
14) TR Oct 15Regulation and strategies
H&L: chpt 4, “Regulation of the Media Industries”
15) T Oct 20Conditions of production
H&L: chpt 5, “Economic Conditions in Media Production”
16) TR Oct 22Labor processes and production culture
H&L: chpt 6, “Creative Practices and Roles Involved in Making Media”
Hackley & Rungpaka Tiwsakul, “Advertising Management and Personal Identity
in the Digital Age” C
17) T Oct 27Distribution and audience measurement/participation
H&L: chpt 7, “Distribution and Exhibition Practices”
H&L: chpt 8, “Auxiliary Practices”
18) TR Oct 29New media, new models, & the moral economy
Marshall, “New Media as Transformed Media Industry” C
Green & Jenkins, “The Moral Economy of Web 2.0: Audience Research and
Convergence Culture” C
19) T Nov 3Working the long tail
H&L: chpt 10, “Digitization”
20) TR Nov 5Advertising and new media
Turow: “The New Power of Advertising” C
*****NOTE: Friday, Nov. 6 is the last day to withdraw with a “W” on transcript*****
21) T Nov 10*** EXAM TWO ***
22) TR Nov 12Shifts in cultural production
H&L: chpt 9, “Growth of the Symbolic Economy”
23) T Nov 17“Precarious” media work is not all play
Deuze: “Convergence Culture and Media Work” C
24) TR Nov 19Project time
Nov 23-27Thanksgiving Holiday --- enjoy!
25) T Dec 1Project time
26) TR Dec 3Media Industries & Globalization
H&L: chpt 11, “Globalization”
27) T Dec 8Screening: Exporting Everybody Love Raymond
28) TR Dec 10Project presentation
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