BCST 100 – Introduction to Electronic Media

CRN 75387, FALL 2020

Section 931 (Online – there are no on-campus meetings and no synchronous Zoom lectures)
Credit, Degree Applicable
ADVISE: ENGL 93 or 94 or placement in ENGL 96

Instructor: Malcolm Cecil
Office hours: Mondays, 1 -2 pm, Thursdays 1 - 2 pm, via Zoom teleconference
Office telephone: 415-239-3269

Due to the COVID Virus - Social distancing will be mandatory in the Fall Semester. I have no access to campus buildings. Until further notice, I am not at my office telephone. Please contact me via email

Email:mcecil@ccsf.edu - but please use the Canvas email system as your first choice for contacting me!  If you use this external email address you must include your course and section number in all communications.

Course Description

Development and impact of the major electronic media institutions of radio, television, cable, satellite, internet, and new media technologies as social, vocational, economic, and political forces in American society. The emphasis of this course is on broadcast history, organization, operation, occupation, programming, political development, regulation, and business practices.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:

• Outcome 1: Analyze operational and regulatory issues related to broadcast electronic media.
  • Outcome 2: Explain the history of electronic media technology and its impact on contemporary media systems.
  • Outcome 3: Analyze and evaluate current trends in electronic media.
  • Outcome 4: Evaluate issues regarding operations and business practices in contemporary electronic media.
  • Outcome 5: Analyze the effects of media on individuals and society.

Required Textbook and Readings

Electronic Media:  Then, Now and Later, 3rd edition, by Norman Medoff and Barbara Kaye (Taylor & Francis 2017)

Selected articles and other materials posted online.

Overall Structure of the Course

The course is designed to provide students with a variety of contexts for understanding and evaluating the history, impact, corporate/business structure and current trends in the broadcasting and electronic media industries. Students will be expected to apply all terms and concepts presented in the course in the successful completion of the course requirements. Lessons are assigned on a weekly basis, and consist of required readings, chapter quizzes, discussion forums and short assignments.

Course Requirements

Students are required to participate class discussion forums, take two examinations, complete a quiz for each textbook chapter and write two research papers. Students are expected meet all requirements in a timely manner. Late papers will be accepted for reduced credit. Students must complete both required papers and the midterm and final exams to pass the class. Additionally, instructor reserves the right to adjust a grade based on overall performance. A student’s point total might be in the range of an A, but if the student failed to participate in the Discussion Forums, or turned all papers in late, the grade will be adjusted accordingly.

Chapter quizzes

There is a multiple choice / true-false quiz for each assigned chapter. Quizzes can only be taken once and must be completed within the specified time limit.

Discussion forums

Each weekly lesson has a discussion topic. Students are required to participate in the discussion with other students in the Forums. It is not sufficient to merely post a single response to the discussion question; students are expected to read other posts, and respond appropriately. The goal is to engage in a DISCUSSION and exchange of ideas, to create a dialogue on the course topics and current events.

Papers

There are two required papers for this course. All papers must be turned in via the Canvas Assignments submission module. Assignment details, due dates and instructions can be found under the Assignments link (which will list all course assignments), in the Course Overview Module or at the the links themselves (posted in the week they are due).

Exams

There are two required exams, the midterm and the final. The midterm exam (Week 8) will cover chapters 1-6 in your textbook.  The final exam (Week 15) will cover chapters 7 through 11, and chapter 13. The format of both exams will be true/false and multiple choice questions.

Course Policies

All quizzes, exams and forum discussions must be completed during the week they are assigned. Extensions will only be made in extenuating circumstances and at the discretion of the instructor.

The examinations must be taken as scheduled. Exceptions will only be made in extenuating circumstances and at the discretion of the instructor.

Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

If you need classroom or testing accommodations because of a disability, or have emergency medical information to share with me, or need special arrangements in case the building needs to be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. My office hours are listed under the instructor contact heading at the top of this syllabus, or by Zoom video-conferencing.

Students seeking disability related accommodations are encouraged to also register with Disabled Students Programs and Services located in Room 323 of the Rosenberg Library (415) 452-5481. Please see the DSPS website (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for more information and alternate locations.

Plagiarism and Academic Honesty

Students in this course should be familiar with the college policies on Academic Responsibility contained in the CCSF Catalog. Violations of academic responsibility in this course will be handled as stipulated in that publication.

Academic or intellectual dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, will not be tolerated.  The CCSF Student Code of Conduct states:

Cheating is defined as taking an examination or performing an assigned, evaluated task in a dishonest way, such as having improper or unapproved access to answers.  Plagiarism is defined as the unauthorized use of the language and/or thought of another author and representing it as your own.

Assessment and Grading

Students will be evaluated on all required work – quizzes, exams, discussions and research papers. Midterm and Final Grades will be assigned on a straight scale as indicated below. Instructor reserves the right to adjust final grades as indicated above (Course Policies).

100% - 90% = A

80% - 89% = B

70% - 79% = C

60 – 69% = D

59% and below = F

Late Policy

Online classes are NOT self-paced, and you will need to manage your time effectively to stay on top of weekly deadlines. Due dates help keep you on task and maximize your learning, so please pay close attention to all deadlines. It's best to plan to complete and submit assignments before the due date. At the very least, you should give yourself some extra time in case of technical problems or other unexpected issues. Since the type of work in the course varies here are specific policies:

• Weekly discussions typically have two due dates: An initial post in reply to the prompt is due on Thursdays at 11 pm and a follow up reply to your peers is due by Sunday at 11 pm. The grade for late posts will be reduced by 50%.
• Weekly quizzes are due by Sunday at 11 pm. Quizzes cannot be taken after they close.
• Essays will be accepted for a period of up to 2 weeks after the due date, during which they can be submitted at a reduced point value: A 10% reduction is imposed immediately after the due date, a 20% reduction will be imposed after one week. No work will be accepted more than two weeks after the deadline).
• Exams must be taken before they are due. No late exams will be permitted.

These policies are established in an effort to create a fair, equitable learning context for all students.

At times, legitimate circumstances arise that make it impossible for students to meet a deadline. These circumstances include medical emergency and family emergencies. They do NOT include technology problems.

If students contact me well in advance of a due date with a legitimate circumstance, a short extension can be negotiated. Your request must be validated by evidence such as a doctor's note. Circumstances must be validated by evidence such as a doctor’s note. We will negotiate a brief extension that is commensurate with the circumstance.

Communication Plan

I will respond to your messages within 48 hours during the work week (Monday-Friday) excluding holidays or if you are notified otherwise.

Discussion posts will be reviewed and I will comment on them within 48 hours of the due date unless you are informed otherwise. Please note that you will receive private comments on your discussion posts, your essays and assignments. Your weekly quizzes are graded automatically and also contain feedback for your own self-assessment. I will participate in the weekly discussions, but will not respond to each individual student.

If you do not log in to the course, you will receive a message from our early alert system "Starfish" to remind you to come back to the course. If you don't participate regularly I will reach out to you within a week by email and / or phone to try to get you back on track. If more than two weeks go by without activity, I will drop you from the course. It is best to keep up as the semester goes quickly and because life happens!

Office Hours are listed under the instructor contact heading of this syllabus, or on my faculty website. If you are unable to come to campus, we can meet via Zoom video-conferencing.

List of Assignments

Note to students: This syllabus is subject to change by the instructor. Students will be notified of changes through Announcements on the class website. Students will be responsible for complying with changes.

The assignments listed below in the Course Summary do not include all course content. To view all course content, go to Modules.