WelcomeJ201: Introduction to Mass Communication

January 18, 2017

Professor Chris Wellscfwells@wisc.edu | @cfwells201.journalism.wisc.edu

PICASSO ON LASCAUX

“We have learned nothing in twelve thousand years”

EXPRESSION AND STORYTELLING

An elemental human impulse

To leave a mark; to be heard; to express

To say what happened

To say I was here

To say what was right and wrong; what is important

WE DON’T USE WALLS TO TELL OUR STORIES ANY MORE

BUT WE DEFINITELY TELL STORIES

George Gerbner: A culture is made of stories

Traditionally, stories are told by family, church, school. Now, they are told by television. (That was in the 70s)

Today, they are told in uncountable media events

WE LIVE IN A MEDIA SOCIETY

What happens to a society when its stories are…

Told predominantly in mass media?

Told by journalists (well or not well)?

Told by advertisers hoping to sell products?

Told by politicians or governments hoping to influence public opinion?

Told in digital/social media?

And how can we tell our stories better?

WHAT IS MASS COMMUNICATION?

SO WHAT ARE MASS MEDIA?

First, communication that is mediated

Medium: A channel or passage connecting two things

(Singular: medium; plural: media)

SO WHAT ARE MASS MEDIA?

Second, mass media reach not individuals, but a mass audience

“The process by which a person, group of people, or large organization creates a message and transmits it through some type of medium to a large, anonymous, heterogeneous audience.” —Kevin J. Pearce

WITH MEDIA AS OUR STORYTELLER…

The possibility of global connectionAbility to experience distant events

But also

Mediation becomes part of our experience—of real things

Powerful forces shape perceptions

WHAT ABOUT YOU? HOW MANY DEVICES?

Examples:PhoneTelevisionRadioLaptopIpadNewspaper

HOW MANY PLATFORMS? (APPS?)

Such as:E-mailInstagramFacebookMad Next BusMy.wisc.eduWeb browser

HOW MANY?

Devices?

Platforms?

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO TAKE THIS CLASS

We are living through historic times that are testing our society’s ability to comprehend and communicate about its problems.

• Media fragmentation• Political polarization• Fake news

MEDIA FRAGMENTATION

In the 1960s, an advertiser could reach 80% of American women with ads on CBS, NBC, ABC.

Now, it would take > 100 channels, plus web, plus social media

MEDIA DIVERSIFICATION

A 1950s-1980s media diet:• 3 Television networks (with strong public

service norms)• 6-12 Radio stations (and Fairness

Doctrine)• 1-2 Local newspapers

POLITICAL POLARIZATION

NEWS CREDIBILITY & FAKE NEWS

NEWS CREDIBILITY & FAKE NEWS

FAKE NEWS AND DEMOCRACY

How can a democratic society make decisions when its ability to know the

world is severely compromised?

NEWS CREDIBILITY & FAKE NEWS

OUR PURPOSES IN J201

(1) TO ANSWER THE KEY QUESTIONS:

What is this thing—our “media system”?

How does it work? How do the pieces fit together?

Can we build a democratic society out of this?

(2) TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE J-SCHOOL

The people (lots of guest speakers!)

The research we do

The knowledge we are building

(3) INTRODUCTION TO STRAT COMMAND JOURNALISM

Two of the dominant story-telling modes in our society

How they work: their key practices & players

What’s right with them & wrong with them

How you get started

THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

THIS WEEKNo discussion sections!

But you need to be signed up for a discussion section to take this class

By Friday:

• Read website: 201.journalism.wisc.edu • It IS the syllabus

Friday is syllabus day

• J201 and all of its moving parts• Ask your questions!• First assignment• Very important to attend

REQUIRED TEXTS• Reader is highly recommended, available at StudentPrint

later this week (Monday at latest)

• Texts are available digitally. See class website.

• Readings are due by section

• Read readings for this week!

OFFICE HOURS

Make use of my office hours.

Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30

Other times by appointment: email cfwells@wisc.edu

CLASS TWITTER HASHTAG

#sjmc201

I’m at @cfwells

SEE YOU FRIDAY