Description
The media industry today, like most sectors, is forced to adapt to changing circumstances brought about, and accelerated, by the fourth industrial revolution. Not so long ago, the vast majority of people received the news by watching television or reading the written press. In the space of a few decades, the ways of accessing the news have exploded from broadcast news (CBS, NBC and ABC) to cable news (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News) to online media (including Youtube) and social networks. New technologies have revolutionized what is considered news, who reports the news, how newscasts are produced, and how ordinary people obtain the news. According to a 2020 Pew Research poll, 86% of Americans consult digital platforms for the news, and 42% of people under age 30 turn to social media for the news. Posting links to articles and "liking" them allows people to read only the news that reinforces their pre-existing personal opinions.
News outlets have had to adapt their offer to a faster-paced world of shorter attention spans (X, formerly Twitter, is the ultimate example), and they have had to compete with ordinary citizens who post videos and publish pieces on personal blogs. In addition, the free access to much of this information on the Internet has reduced subscriptions to traditional media, like newspapers, which in turn, have had to change their business models and find ways to remain profitable. One response has been to offer much of their material on the Internet at reduced cost. Another has been to increase the entertainment component to the detriment of more in-depth analysis of major issues. "Infotainment" has blurred the distinction between what is worthy of being considered news. For example, Donald Trump's frequent insults of his competitors and less than factual statements lead major networks to accord him a great deal of airtime rather than to cover serious issues, such as health policy, infrastructure and foreign policy. All of this has had a major impact on both society and people's trust in government and in the media.
The freedom of the press was enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution and Thomas Jefferson, amongst others, repeatedly defended it as the foundational freedom upon which all other freedoms depend. In a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette in 1823, he wrote: "the only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted, when permitted freely to be expressed." In today’s media landscape of blogs and citizen journalism competing with traditional news outlets, this statement needs reassessing. Who controls the media and what impact is the new media landscape having on democratic societies? In the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, Margaret Sullivan, journalist at the Washington Post, wrote: "... journalists must write and report aggressively and fearlessly and be willing to fight for access, getting involved with civil and media rights and backing officials that champion free expression."
This course will take the United States as an example, but comparisons with other countries will be encouraged. Numerous issues will be explored through group presentations.
Course Requirements: continuous assessment
Presentation: Each group of students will do a presentation (about 30 minutes).
*Audience: have your questions ready for a lively discussion following the presentation.
Written exam: covering both the class material and presentations.
*Evaluation will be based on the quality of the content: well-constructed argumentation & clarity.
Grades: 2/3 presentation and participation in class discussion, 1/3 written exam
Compétences visées
Knowledge of the historical and current media landscape
Ability to speak knowledgeably about the link between the freedom of expression and democracy
Ability to explain how the digital era has disrupted and revolutionized the dissemination of information
Ability to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information
Disciplines
- Science politique
- Études anglophones
- Histoire et civilisations: histoire des mondes modernes, histoire du monde contemporain; de l'art; de la musique
- Sciences de l'information et de la communication