Write a paper examining and explaining the issue based your findings. The paper should present facts, along with views and opinions from relevant/informed sources (meaning experts and authorities or other people connected to the subject). Do not provide your personal opinion or write in first person. Use a third-person narrative voice and write objectively. You can angle the paper in a particular direction that is supported by your research to present a particular thesis or position you wish to take.
You must site at least five relevant and authoritative sources in the body of the paper and reference them in a works cited section at the bottom, per MLA (Modern Language Association style). Appropriate sources include mainstream news reports and op-ed pieces, scholarly studies, published research papers and books, blogs and websites directly connected or specializing in the subject, etc.
Each paper will be graded on its relevance to the writing prompt, thoroughness and detail, quality of information/explanation provided, the authority of its source material, and clarity of articulation. The textbook can be briefly cited but does not count as one of the five outside sources that need to consulted AND in referenced in the paper.
The paper must show evidence of proof reading with proper grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence structure, and it must be coherent. A paper littered with typos or poorly structured will receive a low grade.
Per MLA style, the paper must be double-spaced, written in 12-point font, with a header (student name, professor name, class name and date) in the upper left top. The body of the paper (or text) must include parenthetical citations to indicate the sources used for each segment. Every parenthetical source referenced in the text should have a corresponding entry in a Works Cited section included at the end of the paper.
Submit the paper to the Research Paper assignment folder in Canvas.
Possible topics (choose one) —
Over time, communication researchers and others have asked whether mass media — radio, television, the music industry, the internet, public relations, advertising etc. — shape society, or mirror it (by reflecting its existing values and behaviors). Or does mass media do both? Is there evidence showing one (shaping or reflecting) to be more of a reality than the other? Examine the level of influence mass communication media as a whole have on audiences in the U.S. You may also narrow your focus to certain types of media (for instance, broadcast) that appear to have a larger effect on U.S. society/culture than others.
One theme of the evolution of mass media in the U.S is government intervention. Government has had no real regulatory power over print communication – book and newspaper publishing for instance – after the long-abolished practice of licensing printers. But in the modern area, government has treated the broadcast world (radio and television) differently than print. The early days of radio produced an enduring ideal – that broadcasters must produce public interest programming in addition to other programming if they are using public airwaves. The Radio Act of 1927 introduced the principle that radio station licensees did not own their channels but could use them as long as they served the “public interest, convenience, or necessity.” This means, in the words of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), the stations had to air programming “that is responsive to the needs and problems of its local community of license.” Another example of government regulation was the temporary establishment by the FCC of a “fairness doctrine” (repealed in 1987) that required broadcasters to provide alternative political views for balance, which newspapers did not have to follow. The question of a broadcaster’s role as a public utility with public responsibilities still underlies many debates about broadcasting regulations today. Examine this issue. What arguments are there in support of or against this view that government oversight of radio/television or other broadcast mediums is necessary?
Social media is a blatant example of how certain mass communication media have become ingrained in our lives. And it has shown itself to be a powerful force for change when channeled toward a specific cause, as the textbook notes. Examine the social media phenomenon of “hashtag activism” and some prominent manifestations of that (examples include the Black Lives Matter and Me Too movements, but there are others). While this is a form of online engagement, hashtag activism also leads to real-world actions, for instance, sparking street protests. Studies show that many adults use social media to be civically active, for instance by signing and sharing online petitions. However, critics have derided hashtag activism as “slacktivisim,” arguing that it entails a lower level of commitment to a cause. Examine the pros and cons of hashtag activism for society at large.
As the textbook notes, and we discussed, mass media “at their best” try to help us understand events and trends affecting society. At their worst, the textbook warns, “they can erode the quality of our lives.” Examine both sides of this – mass media as a positive force — educator/interpreter/contextualizer for instance – and as a deleterious or undermining force in society (for example, reducing interpersonal interaction). Give examples of the good and the bad of mass media’s role in the society and culture.
