Syllabus for COM 831 International Communication PDF

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Boston University International Communication, COM CM831 A1 Fall 2019 Time: Location: Course Web site:

8:00 AM – 10:45 AM on Wednesdays COM 317 http://learn.bu.edu/

Office Location: Office Hours:

704 Commonwealth Ave. @ 301B Wednesdays 11:30 PM – 1:30 PM, Thursdays 2:15 – 3:15 PM or by appointment Email: [email protected], Office: 617-353-3447

Contact Information:

Course Description Factors of international communication; cultural, economic, political, and social influences. Role of communication media in effecting social change in a wide variety of countries.

Course Objectives This class is intended to introduce key theories, concepts, and practices in the broadly defined field of international communication. As the world becomes immensely internationalized and intricately interconnected, a good understanding of the world’s communication system and knowledge about the world proves pivotal to success in any career. Without knowledge beyond national borders, communication professionals simply cannot fulfill their fundamental responsibilities and advance the interests and ideas they represent. A comprehensive knowledge of how global communication works will give you a competitive advantage. While taking this class, you will have the opportunity to:  grasp the context, history, and essential ideas behind international communication;  become familiar with the key issues that exist in international communication today;  build comprehensive knowledge of how practitioners in international communication work and the types of challenges they face; and  know how to conduct research and apply communication concepts in international contexts. Textbook & Readings Required text: Melissen, J. (Ed.). (2005). The new public diplomacy: Soft power in international relations. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN-13: 978-0230535541. 1

Punathambekar, A. (2013). From Bombay to Bollywood. New York: NYU Press. ISBN-978-0-81472949-6. Thussu, D. K. (Ed.). (2010). International communication: A reader. New York: Routledge. ISBN-13: 978-0415444569. Additional readings are posted on Blackboard. This is a communication course and thus daily consumption of news is important to be able to relate to course content.

Grading & Assignments Grading Your final grade will be calculated as follows: Assignment

Grade

1) Participation Participation 1 (first half of semester) Participation 2 (second half of semester)

5% 5%

2) Discussion Posts (11 Posts, 3 points each)

33%

3) Discussion Post Presentation

12%

4) Research Proposal Outline Draft Presentation Final report

5% 5% 10% 10% 10%

5) Final Reflection

5% Total

100%

Your final letter grade will be assigned based on your final numerical grade as such: 93-100 90-92.99 87-89.99 83-86.99 80-82.99 77-79.99

A AB+ B BC+

73-76.99 70-72.99 67-69.99 63-66.99 60-62.99 0-59.99

C CD+ D DF

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Assignments 1) Participation Grading Criteria: Students will receive two online participation grades to reflect their participation during the first and second halves of the semester. Your participation grade will be a reflection of the following areas. Failing to do well in one of those areas could result in a zero participation grade:  Attending class regularly and on time. This is a graduate course and an unexcused absence and more than one excused absence may result in a lower grade.  Being attentive in class. Remember that your cellphone is a huge distraction to your education and so is your laptop unless you are using it to take notes.  Engaging in class discussions every week. Your participation is expected when a question is raised in class and when the floor is open for discussion. In order to participate, you need to keep up with the readings, keep up with current events, share experiences you encounter as they relate to topics covered in the classroom, and most importantly, reflect critically and intelligently on all of the above.  Completing homework assignments that do not receive a separate grade. 2) Discussion Posts Reflect on the readings you have completed for the upcoming week and think of what areas/concepts you found most intriguing and would like to discuss further. Provide a succinct summary of one area/concept and connect it to a current event. When possible, connect this also to concepts from another course you are taking or have taken. End the post by raising a question about your topic which will generate a discussion among your peers in class. We will be using these questions to guide our class discussions. This is your opportunity to clarify some of the material you read and to discuss content you found interesting. Due Tuesdays, one day before class, by 11 AM: Discussion post on Blackboard Grading Criteria: Your 300 word post will be graded on the following areas. The post should: 1. Provide a succinct summary of one area/concept. 2. Reference the reading(s). 3. Connect to an event currently happening in the news and to course content from another course when possible. 4. Integrate at least one relevant outside reference (other than assigned materials) 5. Raise one critical question. Avoid questions that can be answered with a yes or a no. Instead, ask students a question that requires analysis. Remember that your question must be related to international communication. 6. Add at least one outside reference. References are used to support your research in this course. The following are the only types of references that are allowed: 3

1. Books published by a publishing house (not self-published books) 2. Research articles published in academic journals 3. Research articles published by a legitimate research institute (ex: Pew Research Institute) Additional references that may be used: 4. News published by a legitimate news source (ex: NPR, PBS) 5. A documentary Websites are NOT allowed. Wikipedia and “John Smith’s” blog are not considered legitimate sources. Grades will automatically be deducted if unreliable references are used. When in doubt, consult with the library. 3) Discussion Post Presentation Once a semester, each student will present their discussion post in a formal presentation with a PowerPoint. This is in addition to students discussing their questions informally every week. Due Wednesdays by 8AM (in addition to the Discussion post online the day before): Your PowerPoint. You will do a 15-minute presentation in class about your post ending with a discussion about the question you raised. Grading Criteria: Your grade will be based on your presentation content and on the quality of the discussion you lead. 4) Research Paper Choose between the following two options. You can choose to work with a partner on this research paper: Option A: Country Report Pick a country (or a region) you are interested in learning more about. You should immerse yourself in the communication issues of this country/region and write a comprehensive report based on your research findings. The issues you will focus on will depend on the amount/kind of information you can gather. It is important to keep in mind that your paper should deal with issues within communication, which is broadly defined and can include areas such as print media, social media, media professionals, media laws and policies, freedom of expression, and so forth. Focus on a limited number of topics or issues so you can research them in depth. The topic you choose should be connected to one or more course concepts. Option B: International Communication Research Address a key issue in international communication, examine a pivotal international communication concept/theory in the real world, or present findings of a case study that deals 4

with a given aspect of international communication. The purpose of this assignment is to investigate an area of international communication that is of interest to you. The topic you choose should be connected to one or more course concepts. Due for both options: Proposal: one paragraph summarizing what your paper will focus on and why you are interested in the topic. Be as specific as possible. Outline: o o o o o

Descriptive title Define the main concept(s) of your research (few sentences). Clarify connection between your topic and the course (few sentences). Provide a detailed sentence outline of your paper using bullet points and sub points. Include five relevant references or more and use APA or your field’s citation style. If you speak multiple languages, consider including reliable sources written in other languages.

Draft: 2000 words excluding references. Include a descriptive title in addition to definitions of your main concepts in your introduction. Include 10 references or more. Presentation: Presentation in class using PowerPoint followed by Q&A. The length of the presentation will be announced during the first few weeks of the semester. Final report: 4000 words excluding references. Include a descriptive title in addition to definitions of your main concepts in your introduction. Include 20 references or more. Grading Criteria: Your research assignments will be graded based on the following criteria:  Relevance: Assignments are relevant to course topic.  Specificity: Assignments are specific enough to demonstrate the student has read and comprehended course and other reading materials and is able to elaborate on course concepts.  Well-researched: Assignments are backed-up by credible sources (see list earlier). Sources are well-integrated into assignments.  Development: Assignments are organized, well-developed, and further our understanding of course topics.  Writing: Assignments are well written and writing is without grammatical or spelling errors. 5) Final Reflection Students will reflect on what they learned during the course by answering the questions below (approximately 500 words). 1. What are the five main takeaways from this course? 5

2. How are you going to apply what you learned in this course to your current/future workplace? 3. How are you going to apply what you learned in this course to your everyday life?

Extra Credit- COM SONA Program The College of Communication is committed to involving undergraduate and graduate students in scholarly research so that they may understand the importance of generating new knowledge at Boston University as a major research institution. Students in this class have the option to complete a total of 1research credit(s), worth 1% of your course grade. The completion of 1 research credit is equivalent to participating in a ~60-minute study, ½ research credit is equivalent to participating in a ~30-minute study, and ¼ research credit is equivalent to participating in a ~15-minute study. Students who add this course later than September 16th should contact the SONA admin: [email protected]. To create a participant account or login to an existing account, please visit the COM SONA site: https://bucom.sonasystems.com. Information about the times and dates of specific studies and the number of credits that will be awarded for participating in each study will all be available through this site. The SONA website will also allow you to select the course to which you would like the credit(s) for that study applied. It is your responsibility to regularly check the SONA website to keep track of the completion of your research credits and the deadlines and dates of the research studies. Unexcused no-shows to lab-based studies will result in a penalty of full credit of the study. For more information about research participation policies, visit: http://sites.bu.edu/crc/research-resources/SONA/. Any questions or concerns regarding SONA should be directed to the SONA admin: [email protected].

Communication Students are expected to check their BU email accounts on a daily basis. Turnaround time: I will respond to your emails within two business days, Monday through Friday. If you have questions about your assignments, make sure to ask them in advance.

Course Policies COURSE POLICIES This syllabus is a contract between you and your professor and clearly outlines course content and what expectations your professor has of you. Students are expected to prepare thoroughly for class by reading assigned materials prior to class, participating actively in class discussions, and completing assignments in a professional and timely manner. This syllabus is available on Blackboard starting the 6

first day of class. It is the student’s responsibility to become very familiar with this syllabus and its deadlines. To be fair and consistent with all students, there are no exceptions to any of the policies outlined here. Grades are updated on a regular basis on Blackboard so students can monitor their progress. In this class, please remember the following: 1. Class starts at 8:00 AM and not 8:01 AM. Please plan to be here on time. 2. No cellphone use. Cell phones and other technologies are a huge distraction to your education. 3. Late work is NOT accepted and will be marked as zero. Plan ahead. Late work will only be accepted with a documented emergency that is communicated with the professor ahead of time. ALL deadlines are highlighted in the syllabus. Please make every effort to meet these deadlines. 4. Please plan to ask general course-related questions during class so everyone can benefit from the answer.

University Policies Academic Code of Conduct All BU students are bound by the Academic Conduct Code. Please review to ensure you are acting responsibly and ethically in regard to your academics. Equal Opportunity BU has strict guidelines on classroom behavior and practices when it comes to treatment of students and guests on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, military service, national origin, or due to marital, parental, or veteran status. Discrimination for any of these reasons is prohibited. Please refer to the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy for more details. Disability Services If you are a student with a disability or believe you might have a disability that requires accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability and Access Services (DAS) at 617353-3658 to coordinate any reasonable accommodation requests. DAS is located at 25 Buick Street, on the third floor. Sexual Misconduct Boston University is committed to fostering a safe, productive learning environment. Title IX and our school policy prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, which regards sexual misconduct – including harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. We understand that sexual violence can undermine students’ academic success and we encourage students who have experienced some form of sexual misconduct to talk to someone about their experience, so they can get the support they need. Confidential support and academic advocacy resources can be found with the Center for Sexual Assault Response & Prevention (SARP) at http://www.bu.edu/safety/sexual-misconduct/.

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Student Athletics All student-athletes should be provided with a sheet from Student-Athlete Support Services regarding absences throughout the semester. These sheets should be handed in as soon as possible to avoid potential conflicts and so arrangements can be made to provide for missed lecture notes, classwork, or discussion. Recording of Classes Classroom proceedings for this course might be recorded for purposes including, but not limited to, student illness, religious holidays, disability accommodations, or student course review. Note also that recording devices are prohibited in the classroom except with the instructor’s permission. Positive Classroom Experience At your discretion, please alert me to anything related to preferred pronouns, preferred name or nickname, or any extenuating circumstances or trigger warnings (personal, medical, etc.) that might affect your classroom experience. I want to make sure you have the most positive experience in the classroom as possible.

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Schedule Any changes to the outline will be communicated with the students. Please note that additional readings may be posted on Blackboard.

Part I- International Communication: An Introduction Week One: Wednesday, September 4th Topics:    

Student and professor introductions Course overview and introduction: What is international communication? Discussion of syllabus Discussion of Research Paper topics

Week Two: Wednesday, September 11th Topics: 

International communication theories, history, & development

Readings:  Stevenson, 1992  Thussu, 2010: ch 5  Lazarsfeld, 1952  Chang, 2015 Additional resource:  UNICEF Communication for Development Due Tuesday (the day before class):  Discussion Posts: online by 11 AM

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Part II: Global Media Systems Week Three: Wednesday, September 18th Topics:  Global media ethics  Hallin & Mancini’s models of media  The models’ applicability beyond the Western world Readings:  Hanitzsch, Plaisance, & Skewes, 2013  Hallin & Mancini, 2012  Voltmer, 2012 Due Tuesday (the day before class):  Discussion Posts: online by 11 AM Due Wednesday:  Discussion Post Presentation (assigned students only): post presentation online by 8AM + present in class  Research Proposal: online by class time + bring printout to class Week Four: Wednesday, September 25th Topics:  

Cultural imperialism The impact of American television

Readings:  Elasmar & Bennett, 2002  Pjesivac & Imre, 2016 Due Tuesday (the day before class):  Discussion Posts: online by 11 AM Due Wednesday:  Discussion Post Presentation (assigned students only): post presentation online by 8AM + present in class

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Week Five: Wednesday, October 2nd Topics:  

Global media systems & media imperialism Non-Western media

Readings:  Thussu, 2010: chs 9, 13, & 15 Due Tuesday (the day before class):  Discussion Posts: online by 11 AM Due Wednesday:  Discussion Post Presentation (assigned students only): post presentation online by 8AM + present in class  Research Outline: online by class time + bring printout to class

Week Six: Wednesday, October 9th Topics:  

Globalization & information flow The digital divide

Readings:  Giddens (video)  Wessels, 2013  Schramm, 1964 Due Tuesday (the day before class):  Discussion Posts: online by 11 AM Due Wednesday:  Discussion Post Presentation (assigned students only): post presentation online by 8AM + present in class

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Week Seven: Wednesday, October 16th Topics:  

International news production and distribution Foreign correspondents

Readings:  McPhail, 2013  Vandevoordt, 2016 Due Tuesday (the day before class):  Discussion Posts: online by 11 AM Due Wednesday:  Discussion Post Presentation (assigned students only): post presentation online by 8AM + present in class

Week Eight: Wednesday, October 23rd Topics:   

Entertainment content flow and its impact Culture industries outside Hollywood Global and diaspora cultures

Readings:  Thussu, 2010: ch 24  Punathambekar, 2013: chs 1, 4 – 5 Due Tuesday (the day before class):  Discussion Posts: online by 11 AM Due Wednesday:  Discussion Post Presentation (assigned students only): post presentation online by 8AM + present in class

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Week Nine: Wednesday, October 30th Topics:  

Dominant and alternative discourse International information control and policy

Readings:  Thussu, 2010: chs 16 & 21  Lee, 2015 Due Tuesday (the day before class):  Discussion Posts: online by 11 AM Due Wednesday:  Discussion Post Presentation (assigned students only): post presentation online by 8AM + present in class  Research Draft: online by class time + bri...