Politics Through the Media

Course structure: This course aims to examine the ways that the modern media function. And the role that politics plays in the process. The first half of the course will involve a detailed reading of Chomsky and Herman's Manufacturing Consent. Each week will begin with a short introduction presentation on material relevant to the week's reading. The remainder of the time will be used for class debate on the text and the presentation. The second half of the course will examine the content and production of alternative media. This section will feature presentations by guest speakers and course participants.

Participant Expectations: Participants of this course will be expected to take turns facilitating by giving a brief presentation related to the course readings. As a final project participants should produce a piece of alternative media. This project could be an article, a zine, a film, or anything else that the participant wants. The work done for this project will act as the basis for a brief presentation to the course.

Participant presentation: The final 2 weeks will be allotted for participants to present the work that they have done for the final assignment. e.g. An analysis of the role of the media concerning the recent US-led war in Iraq could include the following topics:

• Role of Arab news outlets? Type of coverage? Ownership? Is US \ Arab coverage divide enough?
• Flyer bombing: analysis of US propaganda
• Jessica Lynch as hero: use of specific military actions as public relations actions
• The 'case' for weapons of mass destruction: analysis of official statements before and after
• use of religious language \ imagery by leaders
• 'Project for New American century' and the war

Course Outline:

Classes are on Wednesdays from 8 pm to 9:45 pm

Sept 17:

• Discussion of course outline. Participants should discuss their aims, desired areas of emphasis, etc.
• Discuss and sign up for course presentations
• Possible viewing of Manufacturing Consent, the NFB documentary

Sept 24:

• Manufacturing Consent chap. 1
  • OverviewOfPropagandaModel^?
  • Discussion of recent articles using model

Oct 1:

• MC chap.2 & 4

Oct 8:

• MC chap. 3
  • Presentation, e.g. on media role during recent Chavez coup-attempt, or some history about El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua
  • Possible films:
    1. CBC documentary about media and Chavez coup attempt
    2. 'The Spiral', by Chris Marker and others

Oct 15:

• MC chap.5
  • Presentation, e.g. on Vietnamese history, or its media structure

Oct 22: *READING BREAK

Oct 29:

• MC chap. 6 & 7
  • Presentation on Laotian and Cambodian history, or their media structure

Alternative media and media production

Nov 5:

• Julie Crysler Editor, This Magazine
• Newsgathering 101 (How to find stuff out. How to create reports that are credible, fair and accurate -- and get them published)

Nov 12:

• Guest speaker active with alternative media

Nov 19:

• Participant presentations

Nov 26:

• Participant presentations