Media Effects during
Political Campaigns

  • Discussion Leader & Analysis Paper, 50 points, due
  • Reaction Papers, 10 points, due weekly, total 100 points
  • Candidate Image Project - 50 points, due 10/14
  • Final Project - due ??/??, 200 points
  • Final Exam, ??, 100 points

  • Course Related Links - help with assignments, research tips

    Required Textbook:

    1. Perse, Elizabeth, Media Effects and Society, available for $40 from amazon.com
    2. Paletz, David, The Media in American Politics, available for $47 from amazon.com
    3. Grey, Lawrence, How to Win a Local Election: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide 1999 (available for about $12 from Amazon.com)
    4. various online readings - will be links on the syllabus below
    5. various articles on reserve in the library

Indepth Calendar

  1. no class - semester hasn't started yet

  2. no class - labor day

  3. 9/9 Intro Section
    • Paletz Ch1
    • Paletz Ch2
    • Perse
    • Grey Forewards and Introduction
    • Discuss campaigns/politics in popular culture (watch video, look at some websites, look at some magazines)

  4. 9/16 - Political Socialization
    • go over candidate image project requirements, content analysis training, hand out magazines

  5. 9/23 Voter Section
    • Political Participation
    • Paletz Ch8
    • Perse Ch6, Ch8
    • Grey Ch2, Ch5 (they're short)

  6. 9/30 - Learning
    • Paletz Ch7 (how voters learn)
    • Grey Ch1, Ch6 (what candidate needs to learn)

  7. 10/7

  8. 10/14 Campaign Section
    • Content Analysis Project Due
    • Candidate Image
    • Paletz ch9 & 10
    • Grey

  9. 10/21 Agenda Setting , Framing, Priming
    • Grey

  10. 10/28 Winnowing & Surfacing

  11. 11/4 - Advertising Strategies

    • 11/11 Media Section
      • Discuss New Media - talk radio, call-in tv, web
      • Paletz Ch3

    • 11/18 - Persuasion
      • Paletz ch5

    • 12/2 - Scandal, Media Bias
      • Paletz ch4

    • 12/9 - Review for Take-Home Final
      • Sparks Ch12 "Meet Marshall McLuhan"