Choose one of the following questions and write a 4-7 page paper (approx 1400-2500 words). Deliver a hardcopy to me, with your name and email address, by the beginning of class Thursday, January 26 (3:15).
1. Analyze the news media you use in a typical day or week, detailing instances of immediacy, hypermediacy, and remediation as these characteristics are described by Bolter and Grusin in Remediation. Assuming that at least one or two of these sources are online, detail ways in which online news sites still preserve the structures and routines of pre-Internet news media, a la Bocskowski, and ways they change or go beyond them, in the manner discussed by Giussani and/or Deuze.
2. "Media innovation unfolds through the interrelated mutations in technology, in communication, and in organization," asserts Boczkowski. Choose one or many examples of news media events, practices and/or trends from the past thirty years to illustrate this assertion.
3. Choose and analyze examples from contemporary news media of both evolutionary and revolutionary techno-social change, with reference to Boczkowski's discussion of such change.
4. The editor of the Lawrence, Kansas Journal-World was quoted in the New York Times: "I don't think of us as being in the newspaper business. Information is our business, and we're trying to provide information, in one form or another, however the consumer wants it and wherever the consumer wants it, in the most complete and useful way possible." However, as traditional newspapers began to use the unique capabilities of the web in order to compete in a world of Slashdot and Craig's List, the form of the media they began to use inevitably reshaped the institutions and practices of journalism. In what ways, exactly, does providing information via the web change journalism. Provide examples.
Choose one of the following questions and write a 4-7 page paper (approx 1400-2500 words). Deliver a hardcopy to me, with your name and email address, by the beginning of class Thursday, March 9 (3:15).
1. Choose one or more examples of Internet-distributed digital media (blogs, wikis, group blogs, message boards, community news sites, Usenet newsgroups) in which public sphere issues are discussed and make a case for the proposition that online digital media can improve the public sphere. Then choose one or more other examples and make the case against the proposition. Analyze each instance you cite in terms of the "public" it brings together (in light of Nancy Fraser's discussion), and whether or not the site(s) meet Habermas criteria for "rational critical debate" (as discussed by Boeder). Bring in Zaret, Rosen, Schudson, Agre and/or Thornton if (and only if) appropriate to your arguments.
2. Pick a potential idea, concept, or design that would aid in bridging the "digital divide" between bloggers and traditional press. What could be done specifically (in your opinion) that could bridge the gap between these media? Be sure to cite any of the paper or online texts or web resources from the syllabus, and list resources that would assist the effort your envision. In addition to describing your ideal, what could be some difficulties in executing it? Finally, what would be the primary benefits and disadvantages for launching this idea?
3. If we believe deeply that journalism plays a critical role in democracy, how do we think citizen journalism is helping and/or hindering democracy? How is the work of citizen journalism furthering or marginalizing citizens' contribution to the public sphere?
What does it mean for traditional journalists to (using Dan Gillmor's words from Thursday's class) turn journalism into a conversation? Use ideas in Dan Gillmor's We the Media to present your argument. Michael Schudson, Jay Rosen and Nancy Fraser's work could also be referenced (or other readings you find relevant).