Title:  Media                             Course#:  1530                                Number of Credits:  10

This class will analyze mass media as it is disseminated through various types of electronic and print mediums. Students will be exposed to media including, newspapers, magazines, television, film, internet and emerging technologies (podcasts, file sharing, blogging, wifi devices, etc.) Students will focus on how the media influences individuals, American society, and the global culture, as well as how media is influenced by new technologies, ownership groups, and government agencies. Students will develop and use critical thinking skills to: interpret the messages that are being sent through the media, analyze the purpose of those messages by studying the demographics of target audiences, understand media bias as a significant factor in editorial and programming decisions, evaluate the effectiveness of various forms of media and their method of delivery, and investigate media as a driving force in shaping the world around us.