Chapter 15:Questioning the Media

1. What are you concerns or criticisms about the state of media studies at your college or university?

-I believe that media studies at schools are a good think. One thing they do is conduct polls. After every class, students have to evaluate teachers. This is a media poll, seeing how well the teachers did each semester. LR looks at these evaluations to see if they need to discuss certain issues with professors. There are also polls about silly things such as cafe food. Although it is silly, it helps LR know what to serve and not to serve. I believe that colleges should do media studies like this to help. As long as they do not abuse the power.


3. Can you think of an issue that media industry and academic researchers could study together? Explain.

- The thing that comes to mind when I think of this question is tragedies that happen at universities. For example, the Virginia Tech shootings. There was media coverage all over the place when this story occur ed. After this tragedy occur ed, VT probably used media researchers to add more cameras in the buildings. They also came up with a media technique to inform students when something like this was happening. Universities can also use the media to come to sporting events. If LR is playing a big football, they may get the local news show to come and show their game on their station. I think that colleges should use the media industry for some of their events.

4. In looking at media courses in a college curriculum, what do you think the relationship is between theory and practice? Do hands-on, practical skills courses such as news reporting, advertising copywriting, or TV production belong in a liberal arts college or in a separate mass communication college? Explain your answer.

- I believe 100 percent that liberal art colleges should offer these courses. If this is what students want to do when they get older, they should get the practice in school. I believe that our school has a great communication program. It is probably due to the fact that Dr. Harris is mainly in charge of everything I believe that media practices are somewhat an art. I do not see much difference in a theater class from a class working on news reporting. Although they have there differences, you are still performing in front of people. If a student wants to be in media one day, they should not be limited to where they do their studying. Every school should offer these media programs.