How do you see yourself and your world? To what extent are your perspectives of yourself and your world influenced by media?
To what extent do you trust the media to inform you about the people, places, and issues that matter in your world? Do you feel that you have the power to use and shape today's media - to make your own voice heard?
Brooke Gladstone, author of The Influencing Machine, observes, "The more people participate in the media, the more they hate the media. The greater the participation, the greater the paranoia that the media are in control" (xiv).
At the same time, as David Hoffman explores in his book, Citizens Rising, although the media have been used for both good and bad, "with the rise of digital technology, the power of the media to intervene in global affairs is in the hands of everyone - including you" (http://press.journalism.cuny.edu).
In this course, we'll analyze the role of the media in shaping our perceptions of ourselves, of others, and of the world around us. Over the course of two quarters, we'll explore the relationship between media and identity, exploring the ways in which media represent, or misrepresent, people and places. We'll explore the the ways in which media shapes public discourse about issues and events. And finally, we'll explore the relationship between media and democracy, examining how governments and political leaders around the world have used the media - for good and bad; the system of expectations and pressures that impact those who work in media; and how new technologies are "democratizing' the media, giving rise to "citizen journalists" - everyday people who have the power to communicate and coordinate with others for meaningful change. Ultimately, you'll have an opportunity to become a "citizen journalist" yourself, researching, writing, and adding your own voice to the conversation on an issue that matters to you.
To what extent do you trust the media to inform you about the people, places, and issues that matter in your world? Do you feel that you have the power to use and shape today's media - to make your own voice heard?
Brooke Gladstone, author of The Influencing Machine, observes, "The more people participate in the media, the more they hate the media. The greater the participation, the greater the paranoia that the media are in control" (xiv).
At the same time, as David Hoffman explores in his book, Citizens Rising, although the media have been used for both good and bad, "with the rise of digital technology, the power of the media to intervene in global affairs is in the hands of everyone - including you" (http://press.journalism.cuny.edu).
In this course, we'll analyze the role of the media in shaping our perceptions of ourselves, of others, and of the world around us. Over the course of two quarters, we'll explore the relationship between media and identity, exploring the ways in which media represent, or misrepresent, people and places. We'll explore the the ways in which media shapes public discourse about issues and events. And finally, we'll explore the relationship between media and democracy, examining how governments and political leaders around the world have used the media - for good and bad; the system of expectations and pressures that impact those who work in media; and how new technologies are "democratizing' the media, giving rise to "citizen journalists" - everyday people who have the power to communicate and coordinate with others for meaningful change. Ultimately, you'll have an opportunity to become a "citizen journalist" yourself, researching, writing, and adding your own voice to the conversation on an issue that matters to you.