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and its relationship to other mass media. The thematic approach of the text begins with Part 1,
“Digital Media and Convergence,” which introduces critical and ethical processes, the Internet,
digital media, and the concept of media convergence. The text continues with Part 2, “Sounds
and Images,” which covers the recording industry, radio, television, cable, and movies. Part 3,
“Words and Pictures,” includes chapters on newspapers, magazines, and books. Part 4, “The
Business of Mass Media,” deals with advertising, public relations, and media economics. The
final section, Part 5, “Democratic Expression and the Mass Media,” examines journalism ethics,
media effects, and legal issues of media expression.
There are two main reasons behind the thematic organization of the book. First, it’s often best to
understand print culture in terms of what’s happened recently in electronic and digital culture.
The more contemporary media are more pervasive and have shaped media culture with cross–
ownership and technological convergence. The second reason is pedagogical: Students do better
when the course begins with what they are most familiar with. By starting with chapters on such
media as the Internet and sound recording, the book engages students with the cultural landscape
that they are most immersed in: It is where they live.
You may want or need to teach the course differently, however. The following are sample syllabi
for the book’s thematic approach, a traditional chronological approach, and a special journalism–
centered approach.
SAMPLE SYLLABI: SEMESTER SCHEDULE
THEMATIC APPROACH
Digital Media and Convergence
Week 1: Mass Communication: A Critical Approach (Chapter 1)
Week 2: The Internet, Digital Media, and Media Convergence (Chapter 2)