Overview
In this course, students will critically engage with problems presented by the production, distribution, and consumption of global media products, and they will develop an understanding of the social, political, and economic influences that shape global media systems.
We discuss both mainstream and alternative media of various countries in the broader context of international media flows. Case studies focus mainly on North America and Latin America, but the readings and assignments offer scope for exploring the media systems of other regions.
Outline
CMNS 402 is divided into six units:
Unit 1: Introduction to the Study of Global Media
- Part A: Defining Global Communication
- Part B: Critical Views: Media Flows and Transnationalization
Unit 2: Controlling Communications
- Part A: Who Is in Control?
- Part B: Dependence and Sovereignty: Canada
Unit 3: The American Giant: Media Power and Electronic Colonialism
- Part A: Corporations and Conglomerations
- Part B: Beyond America: Developing Media Flows
Unit 4: Outside the Mainstream: Alternative Media Systems
- Part A: Democratic and Community Media
- Part B: Ethnic, Minority, and Special-Interest Media Production
Unit 5: Media in Latin America
- Part A: Latin Politics, Global Media
- Part B: Popular Culture, Transnationalization, and Identity
Learning outcomes
CMNS 402 has five major learning outcomes. After completing this course, students should be able to:
- Describe the connection between media systems and economic and political structures in various types of societies, and the role of the mass media in the functioning of economic and political systems.
- Explain the significance of regulatory frameworks of international communications.
- Inform themselves about and discuss mainstream and alternative media networks.
- Identify some of the main developmental directions of current information and communications systems.
- Improve critical tools with which to analyze the complex interests involved in media systems.
Evaluation
To receive credit for CMNS 402, students must complete and submit all of the assignments and achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) for the course.
Students will be evaluated on their understanding of the concepts presented in the course and on their ability to apply those concepts. The final grade in the course will be based on the marks achieved for the following activities.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Short Answer Questions | 15% |
| Assignment 2: Critical Response Essay | 25% |
| Assignment 3: Research Proposal with Annotated Bibliography | N/A |
| Assignment 4: Media Exploration—Case Study | 20% |
| Assignment 5: Research Paper—Global Media in Context | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
McPhail, T. L., & Phipps, S. (2020). Global communication: Theories, stakeholders, and trends (5th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Other materials
All other course materials are online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the CMNS 402 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on both parts of the examination.
| Activity | Weight |
| Part I: Take home essay | 40% |
| Part II: Paper exam | 60% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form