Course objectives

Changes in technology -- from printing press to telegraph to radio to television to cable to computer -- always have influenced journalism and its social role. Some people have suggested that the change to online technology will be a sea change, altering the very nature of communication, especially journalism.

The objective of this course will not be how to do online journalism, although we will find ourselves discussing that. The primary objective will be to examine the social, cultural, political, legal and economic influence of online journalism on the field of journalism and on the role of journalism in society.

Because this course looks at online media critically, you will be expected to write essays that reflect that approach. You will not be writing news stories; instead, you'll be writing critical essays based on research and analysis.

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