Contact Information

Instructor Name: Margarita Tapia

Official Title: Doctoral Candidate and Adjunct Instructor

Department: Journalism and Mass Communication, Strategic Communication/Public Relations

Office Hours: TBA and via Zoom or by appointment

Email: margarita.tapia@ou.edu

Zoom link: https://oklahoma.zoom.us/j/97815409612?pwd=dWpCRTdMZkcyUVpuRm4wSXFieTNWZz09 

Meeting ID: 978 1540 9612

Password: JMCClasses

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The Spring 2023 syllabus can be downloaded HERE. The text also follows.

University of Oklahoma

Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Strategic Communication

JMC 4853-996: Race, Gender, Class and the Media[1]

Spring 2023

 

Instructor: Margarita Tapia
Office: Gaylord Hall, Grad Pod, 3^rd Floor

Office Hours: Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Zoom and by appointment­­­­­­­­ (email for virtual or in-person appointments)
Email: margarita.tapia@ou.edu

 

Communication Plan:

Email communication is the primary method with the instructor in this course. Feel free to email questions or concerns at any time. I typically respond to students’ emails within 24-hours on weekdays. To ensure a prompt response, please put “JMC 4853” in your e-mail subject line as a prefix. For example, your subject line could be: “JMC 4853: Question about chapter 4”.

 

Tech Support:

If you have issues accessing Canvas, please contact 405-325-HELP.

 

Canvas:

This section of JMC 4853 is an asynchronous course that is housed in Canvas. The course relies heavily on the Canvas site. Check the Canvas site regularly for class information, announcements, grades, and updates. Please ensure that you turn on notifications for this course on Canvas so you don’t miss any updates.

 

 

Course Prerequisite:
Junior standing and twelve (12) Journalism and Mass Communication credit hours, OR permission of the instructor. No student may earn credit for both 4853 and 5853.

 

Course Description:
Survey of past and present relationships between women and racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. and the media. Media portrayal, employment, ownership, and access will be studied. 

 

Course Goals:
Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate knowledge of the structures of the role of the media professional in shaping notions of gender, race, and class, as well as the effects of those portrayals on the audience, at both the individual and societal levels. We will examine the history and contemporary practices involved in the representation of all people in the media in the United States. We will explore portrayals, employment, ownership, and access issues in populations according to their gender and racial identities.

 

Required Texts and Materials:

Bramlett-Solomon, S.; Carstarphen, M. G. (2017) Race, Gender, Class and Media, Third Edition. Kendall Hunt Publishing.

ISBN: 978-1-5249-0988-8

 

All other materials will be provided either via Canvas or the OU library website.

 

Learning Outcomes:

The below learning outcomes (LO) describe some tangible skills and specific, new understandings you should have upon completion of this course. The LOs are based on Bloom’s Taxonomy, a scale or range of possibilities that educators often use. For more details about Bloom’s Taxonomy, please visit Vanderbilt’s University Center for Teaching.

 

As a result of this class, students should be able to:

 

1. Know basic media terms, related theories and concepts across industries and be able to recall facts, terms, and basic knowledge (Remember/Knowledge).
2. Compare, contrast, and interpret news sources and media content (Understand/Comprehension/ Interpreting/Organizing).
3. Learn and practice successful approaches for communicating with others across diverse backgrounds, even when they disagree with others on various opinions and beliefs (Apply/Application).
4. Conduct Interviews and/or engage in respectful conversations with others about diversity topics (Apply/Application).
5. Examine information, make inferences, and use evidence to analyze topics in “real time” about the core identity themes of this class (Analyze/Analysis).
6. Classify and analyze the ways in which different media communicate differently about race, gender, class information (Analyze/Analysis).
7. Respond to new information in “real time” as it presents itself, listen to others, defend your point-of-view respectfully as needed, and/or express your own judgments professionally and respectfully (Evaluate/Evaluation).
8. Compile information and review its elements to identify new patterns and/or alternative solutions (Create/Synthesis).

 

Expectations:

Your active participation in the course will help build a community of practice for everyone. Students are expected to participate actively in online discussions, complete all assignments and readings. If you are unable to complete an assignment, the instructor should be contacted in advance to determine if alternatives are available. Any student with significant difficulty with class participation requirements should speak with the instructor at the beginning of the semester so that alternative forms of contribution can be identified.

 

**A Note on Course Content**

This class will inevitably address topics that members of the class may have differing views on, often strong views. In addition, some of the content may contain triggers, profanity, and polarizing content. The purpose is to encourage potentially difficult conversations.  ***THIS SERVES AS A TRIGGER WARNING FOR ALL COURSE CONTENT*** Feel free to express yourself on any topic as long as it is relevant to this class, and you do so respectfully. You will not be graded on what your opinions are; only on how you show a willingness to share them and listen to others.  This is a give-and-take kind of class.

 

RULE #1—Listen to everyone’s point-of-view, even if you do not agree. In an online course environment, we do this in assignments that require group input, such as discussion posts, by: (1) reading what others have to say, and (2) asking others to clarify their position if we are not clear about what is being said.

RULE #2—Stay in the conversation. In an online course environment, it may be tempting to mentally “check out” when you read something you don’t agree with. You will be surprised and pleased that you hung in there and listen to/read different views.

 

Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication—National Accreditation Standards (CVCs):

All Gaylord students who graduate from our program should be aware of certain core values and competencies (CVCs). Not all CVCs apply to every course.  But, overall, each student should be to:

 

• Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances.
• CVC2. Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.
• CVC3. Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications.
• CVC4. Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society.
• CVC5. Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information.
• CVC6. Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness, and diversity.
• CVC7. Think critically, creatively, and independently.
• CVC8. Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.
• CVC9. Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences, and purposes they serve.
• CVC10. Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style, and grammatical correctness.
• CVC11. Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
• CVC12. Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

 

Learning Activities, Assignments, and Assessment:

This is an asynchronous course that is housed in Canvas. There are three weekly components from which your grade will come: Discussion posts, assignments, and quizzes.

• Short Writing Discussion Posts: To increase engagement, spark critical thinking and apply concepts learned from your readings and supplemental material, you will complete weekly discussion posts that cover a wide variety of topics. The discussion posts are due by Saturday, of each week by 11:59 p.m.
• Weekly Activities/Assignments: These assignments are meant to help you gain a deeper understanding of and apply concepts learned from the readings and supplemental readings.
• Multimedia Assignments: To demonstrate your capacity to use a variety of media to communicate about race, gender, class and the media.
• Quizzes: You will be quizzed each week on the textbook chapters. Each quiz is timed and consists of 10 questions.

• Media Analysis Project: a polished, well-researched 5–7-page paper and a 2–3-minute multimedia presentation in which they analyze a popular cultural artifact, of their choosing, from a critical perspective using concepts learned in this course. 

 

Class Requirements:

 

Requirement	Description	Percentage of Grade	Approximate Points
WEEKLY DISCUSSION POSTS	Weekly topics that reflect on textbook subjects, contemporary media, and/or historic events	30%	300
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS	These individual writing assignments invite students to use some of the concepts of the class and explore personal relevance.	10%	100
MULTIMEDIA INTERVIEWS	Students get to conduct two (2) interviews--you pick your participants who meet the criteria. Before the conducting the interview, you will submit a proposal. The submission will include several pieces including a recording, transcript, report, and reflection. Use these opportunities to make connections between course content and real-life conversations.	30%	300
MEDIA DIVERSITY RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS	Using "content analysis" techniques, students will examine live, current media portrayals in advertising and TV news to analyze where diversity might be missing or present in what we watch.	10%	100
UNIT EXAMS/QUIZZES	Every assigned chapter will have a timed quiz with at least 10 questions. Additional quiz questions are possible from other content in the course.	15%	150
FINAL ESSAY	Instead of a final exam, you will submit one end-of-the-semester essay that will allow you to reflect upon your student experience and reflections about "cultural competence."	5%	50
	Total	100%	1,000

 

 

Final Grade:

The grading system is point-based, and the points correlate to letter grades. The instructor will not add curves or make-up assignments to substitute for assigned work. The mid-term and final grades will be calculated by simply adding up the points and seeing where they fall on the overall scale. The grading is based on 1000 points available for this course. Please see the distribution of points per assignment.

 

A = 900 or more points – Excellent

B = 899 to 800 points – Good
C = 799 to 700 points – Basic, with some weaknesses

D = 699 to 600 points – Poorly done
F = below 599 points and lower – Below standards

 

Make-up Policy:

There are no substitute assignments for missed assignments – please don’t ask. However, there may be some extra credit work throughout the semester. Extra credit points are added to your assignment points. If you have circumstances that qualify under the university policies for a make-up or other accommodation (i.e., death in the family; university-approved activity), inform the instructor as soon as possible.

 

Late Work:

Late work is automatically deducted 10% each day it is late (weekends included). The maximum penalty just for tardiness is 50%. For example, if an assignment is worth 100 points and the student would have earned 90 points for turning it on time but turned it in five or more days late, the final grade would be 40 points. Canvas is set up to automatically make the deductions. If you miss an assignment, I recommend you still do it and at least earn some points.

 

Absences:

You “attend” class on your schedule. You are responsible for checking Canvas and completing your work by the assigned deadline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land Acknowledgement Statement:

Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and Wichita & Affiliated Tribes. We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa, and Osage nations.

 

Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.

 

The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community, and it is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture, and history that make up our entire OU Community.

 

University Policies

Masking Policies:

Please follow the University of Oklahoma masking policy. The instructor will expect masking policies to be followed during any in-person meetings. These policies have changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Check the following website for further instruction. https://www.ou.edu/together/university-masking-policy

 

Copyright Syllabus Statement for In-Person or Online Courses:

Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.

 

Academic Integrity:

Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma, because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. For specific definitions on what constitutes cheating, review the Student’s Guide to Academic Integrity at http://integrity.ou.edu/students_guide.html

 

To be successful in this class, all work on exams and quizzes must be yours and yours alone.  You may not receive outside help. On examinations and quizzes, you will never be permitted to use your notes, textbooks, calculators, or any other study aids. Should you see someone else engaging in this behavior, I encourage you to report it to myself or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity Programs. That student is devaluing not only their degree, but yours, too. Be aware that it is my professional obligation to report academic misconduct, which I will not hesitate to do. Sanctions for academic misconduct can include expulsion from the University and an F in this course, so don’t cheat. It’s simply not worth it.

 

Religious Observance:

It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty.

 

Reasonable Accommodation Policy:

Students requiring academic accommodation should contact the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center for assistance at (405) 325-3852 or TDD: (405) 325-4173. For more information, please visit http://www.ou.edu/drc/home.html. Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities.

 

Title IX Resources and Reporting Requirement:

For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, or stalking, the University offers a variety of resources. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405/325-2215 (8 to 5, M-F) or smo@ou.edu. Incidents can also be reported confidentially to OU Advocates at 405/615-0013 (phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).  Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies can be directed to University Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Coordinator at 405/325-3546 or smo@ou.edu . For more information, visit http://www.ou.edu/eoo.html.

 

Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues:

Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact your professor or the Disability Resource Center at 405/325-3852 as soon as possible. Also, see http://www.ou.edu/eoo/faqs/pregnancy-faqs.html for answers to commonly asked questions.

 

Final Exam Preparation Period:

Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU’s Final Exam Preparation Period policy (https://apps.hr.ou.edu/FacultyHandbook#4.10).

 

Emergency Protocol:

During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.

Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather 1. LOOK for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances 2. SEEK refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building. 3. GO to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows. 4. GET IN, GET DOWN, COVER UP. 5. WAIT for official notice to resume normal activities.

Link to Severe Weather Refuge Areas , Severe Weather Preparedness - Video

 

Armed Subject/Campus Intruder:

If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:

1. GET OUT: If you believe you can get out of the area WITHOUT encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
2. HIDE OUT: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
3. 3. TAKE OUT: As a last resort fight to defend yourself.

For more information, visit http://www.ou.edu/emergencypreparedness.html and Shots Fired on Campus Procedure - Video

 

Fire Alarm/General Emergency:

If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates: 1. LEAVE the building. Do not use the elevators. 2. KNOW at least two building exits 3. ASSIST those that may need help 4. PROCEED to the emergency assembly area 5 ONCE safely outside, NOTIFY first responders of anyone that may still be inside building due to mobility issues. 6. WAIT for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.

OU Fire Safety on Campus

 

 Mental Health Support Services:

If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019.
To schedule an appointment call (405) 325-2911.

For more information, please visit http://www.ou.edu/ucc.

Tentative Schedule (An updated schedule will be posted on Canvas.)
READ, WATCH, ENGAGE, DISCUSS, TEST

 

Week/Date And Module #	Topics, Readings, Videos, etc.	Activities, Discussions, Exams
Week 1 1/17-1/21   MODULE #1 Media Literacy	READ: ·      Ch. 1 Literacy, media, and diverse audiences ·      Course preparation materials (see module)	Activity/Assignment: Familiarize yourself with the course content.   Discussion 1: Introductions   QUIZ: Academic Integrity QUIZ: Ch 1
Week 2 1/22-1/28   MODULE #1 Media Literacy (continued)   MODULE #2 Theoretical foundation	READ: ·      Ch. 2 Why Study race, gender, class, and media ·      Verification Fundamentals: Rules to live by ·      Ch. 3 Media functions, theories, and effects   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      Know your neighborhood o   Part 1 o   Part 2 o   Part 3 ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: ·      TBA (See Module)   Discuss: ·      TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Ch. 2 QUIZ: Ch. 3
Week 3 1/29 – 2/4   MODULE #3 Whiteness and stereotyping	READ: ·      Ch. 4 Concept and negotiation of whiteness ·      Ch. 5 Social psychology and maintenance of stereotypes ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA/See Module	Activity/Assignment: ·      Press Pass 1 introduced   Discuss: ·      TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Ch. 4 QUIZ: Ch. 5
Week 4 2/5 – 2/11   MODULES #4 & 5 The Media Institution and representation   New Media	READ: ·      Ch. 6 American Press and Multiculturalism: Legacy and Changes ·      Ch. 7 Twenty-first century press and diversity issues ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: ·      Press Pass 1 due ·      Diversity interview (stranger) proposal due   Discuss: TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Ch. 6 QUIZ: Ch. 7
Week 5 2/12 – 2/18   MODULE #6 Diversity in Media   Part 1: Class	READ: ·      Ch. 8 Class Portrayals in Film and Television ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: Press Pass 2 introduced   Discuss:  TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Ch. 8
Week 6 2/19 – 2/25   MODULE 7: Diversity in Media   Part 2: Hispanic/Latina/o/x and Asian American	READ: ·      Ch. 9 Latino-American and Asian American Portrayals ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: Diversity Interview due   Discuss: TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Ch. 9
Week 7 2/26 – 3/4   MODULE 8: Diversity in Media   Part 3: Native and African Americans	READ: ·      Ch. 10 Native American and African American Portrayals ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: Press Pass 2 due   Discuss: TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Ch. 10   No office hours this week.
Week 8 3/5 – 3/11   MODULE 9: Strategic Communications and the Media:   Part 1: Advertising	READ: CH. 12 Advertising and Multiculturalism: Marketing the content of our changing desires ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: Diversity Interview (family) proposal due   Discuss: TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Ch. 12
Week 9 3/12 – 3/19 Spring Break	No Required Assignments Due	No Required Assignments Due
Week 10 3/20 – 3/25 MODULE 10: Strategic Communications and the Media:   Part 1: Public Relations	READ: Ch. 13 Public Relations: Persuasion and the diverse tools of influence ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: TBA   Discuss: PR and Diversity   QUIZ: Ch. 13
Weeks 11 and 12 3/26 – 4/8   MODULE 11: Women and Media: Gender portrayals   This is a two-week module	READ: ·      Ch. 11 Gender Portrayals in Film and Television ·      Ch. 14 Women in the media: Milestones, stumbling blocks, and finish lines ·      Ch. 15 Women and Media: Ideal beauty standards and sexual objectification   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: TBA   Discuss: ·      TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Ch. 11, 14, & 15
Week 13 3/9 – 3/15   MODULE 12: Popular Culture and Representation	READ: ·      Issue 6: The rise and evolution of hip-hop culture ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: Diversity Interview (family) due   Discuss: TBA (See Module)   QUIZ: Music and Representation
Week 14 4/16 – 4/22     MODULE 13: Social media and activism	READ: ·      Ch. 16 Multiculturalism, sexism, and online voices ·      Ch. 17 Social media, politics, and community activism ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: TBA   QUIZ: Ch. 16 & 17   No office hours on Wednesday this week. See announcements for more information.
Week 15 4/23 – 4/29   MODULE 14:   LGBTQ representation in the Media	READ: ·      TBA (See Module)   WATCH/LISTEN: ·      TBA (See Module)	Activity/Assignment: Diversity Interview - Family   Discuss: Faith, race and class   QUIZ: LGBTQ representation in the Media
Week 16 4/30 – 5/6	FINAL DISCUSSION POST: Cultural Competence and final reflections   Work on Final project	Final project due by Saturday, May 6 at 11:59 p.m.
Week 17 (Finals Week) 5/7 – 5/12

           

 

 

[1] Parts of this syllabus are adapted from syllabi for this course by Dr. Meta G. Carstarphen and Ajia Meux. Other sections are required by the University of Oklahoma and/or Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.