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COMM 339

Adv Topics in Media Studies

This course offers an intensive examination of specific critical issues across a wide range of topics within media studies. Recent topics include: Advertising and Consumer Culture, Film Theory, and Cross-Cultural Journalism. Repeatable for credit with different topics.

Distribution Area Prerequisites Credits
1 course

Fall Semester information

JP Olsen

339A: AdvTps:Election Lab

"Election Lab" offers a blend of journalistic inquiry and political analysis, providing a hands-on experience akin to working within a news organization during a U.S. Presidential Election cycle.
With a maximum capacity of 10 students, this intimate setting will encourage deep engagement and collaborative learning. Throughout the semester, students will dissect the mechanisms that underpin the electoral process and examine the dynamics of power, influence, and hegemony in shaping political narratives.
Through investigation and critical thinking, participants will embrace the complexities of contemporary American politics while also navigating the shifting landscape of media, campaigns, and polling.
Central to the course is the application of journalistic principles and practices in reporting on the presidential election and other national, state, and local elections. Students will sharpen their skills in research, interviewing, and fact-checking as they explore key issues, candidate platforms, and voter demographics.
By honing their abilities to discern truth from misinformation, students will cultivate a commitment to accuracy and integrity essential for responsible journalism. In addition to theoretical exploration, "Election Lab" offers practical opportunities for students to engage directly with the electoral process, including options to attend local campaign events.
Whether aspiring journalists or political enthusiasts, the expectation is that participants will leave the course prepared to contribute meaningfully to the public discourse surrounding future elections.