The Rise of Internet Media, New York University, Department of Media, Culture and Communication, Spring 2015
New York University
Department of Media, Culture, and Communication
The Rise of Internet Media
Course Description
This course examines the emergence of digital technology as a vehicle for the storage and retrieval of media, and the subsequent impact on society and culture. Rise pays particular attention to the various business models and practices employed by in media-related enterprises, tracing their development from the early 1990s to the most recent strategies and trends.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Discuss, compare, and contrast the historical development, current scope, regional influences, and global influences of digital media highlighted throughout this course.
- Name the organizations that are relevant to media and communications technologies, as well as their policies, current projects and scopes of influence.
- Discuss the impact of digital media on consumers, advertisers, and traditional ways of producing media content.
Course Culture
Rise is a collaborative, community-based course in which classes, assignments and various other activities are designed for collaboration with fellow classmates. I expect everyone to socialize, debate, create and participate throughout the semester.
Attendance: Class time is designed to emphasize shared learning, cognitive thinking and professional skill development. If you are not here, it will be hard to capture the essence of the class from someone else’s notes.
Class Design: Content will be delivered in various forms: guests, slides, oral presentations, discussion, projects. You should be willing to share your viewpoint and experience to each topic. Most classes will have a combination of guest speaker, lecture, slides, and projects.
Course Policies
Absences and Lateness: Unexcused absences and lateness could negatively affect grades.
Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: You are required to be familiar with NYU Steinhardt’s policy on Academic Integrity. Academic dishonesty may result in failure of an assignment, the entire course or in some cases, dismissal from Steinhardt. This policy can be reviewed at:
http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/policies/academic_integrity
General Decorum: Slipping in late or leaving early, sleeping, text messaging, surfing the Internet, doing homework in class, etc. are distracting and disrespectful to all participants in the course.
Students with Disabilities: If you require special consideration due to a documented disability, please contact the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities, 726 Broadway, 2nd Floor, (212-998-4980) and speak with me privately.
Writing Assistance: The Writing Center is located at 411 Lafayette, 3rd Floor. Schedule an appointment online at www.rich15.com/nyu/ or just walk-in. Or, schedule an appointment with me through email.
Readings
Required Newsletters/Feeds:
On The Media – subscribe to newsletter or go directly to the site:
Required books:
Bartlett, Jamie. “The Dark Net” (2014)
Thiel, Peter. “Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future” (2014)
Schmidt, Eric and Rosenberg, Jonathan. “How Google Works” (2014)
Required articles/videos/audio:
Additional articles will be assigned on a weekly basis as needed:
Brian Lehrer Show. “Why Did This Reporter Let Companies Track All Her Data” (October 30, 2014)
Davidson, Adam. “Welcome to the Failure Age”, New York Times, (November 12th, 2014)
Dewey, Caitlin. “36 Ways the Web Has Changed Us”, Washington Post, (March 12, 2014)
On The Media. “Real Story Behind the Dingo Ate My Baby” (November 21, 2014)
Owyang, Jeremigh. “2015: The Year of the Crowd”, SlideShare, (December 5, 2014)
Owyang, Jeremiah. “Sharing Is the New Buying”, SlideShare, (March 2, 2014)
Owyang, Jeremiah. “A Day in the Life of the Collaborative Economy”, SlideShare, (October 2, 2014)
Paul, Pamela. “How to be Liked by Everyone Online”, New York Times, (December 19, 2014)
Optional:
GarysGuide
Great resource for NY Tech scene (Sillicon Alley)
Mediapost: Online Media Daily
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/online-media-daily/
(other newsletters also available through mediapost.com)
New Tech City
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newtechcity/
NY Tech Meetup
you can sign up for the mailing list by clicking on your meetup profile the above page (as they are sent or a daily digest – I suggest the latter)
https://www.tumblr.com/search/Ny+Tech
Web-Strategist
web-strategist.com/blog
http://www.slideshare.net/jeremiah_owyang
Great resource for understanding the collaborative economy
Grading
Attendance and Participation: 10%
Quality of speaking is much more important than quantity of speaking. I will call on you if you remain sllent class after class.
Quizzes: 10%
We will have current event quizzes based on the newsletters/feeds that you are subscribed to as indicated above.
- available to take the Sunday before class
- done via NYU Classes
- 10 quizzes will be administered
- open book
Projects: mini: 10%
We will have mini projects within class based on the topic of the day or current events. These will vary from 2 to 5 people collaborating. Topics TBA during class.
Writing: Article: 20%
An opinion article on the rise of digital media that we will publish online. The topic should cover the current effect of the rise of digital media has on a particular part of culture or society in the world. You may concentrate on a particular area, like education, health, politics, etc. or a particular country or area of the world.
The topic you choose for your article is the same topic for your final project.
- Topic summary: 3-4 sentences
- Entire article: (500-700 words), single-spaced paragraphs
- Draft 1
- Final draft
Presentation: IGNITE: 20%
IGNITE is a presentation based on a 15 second per slide for 20 slides, 5 minutes total. Each slide automatically moves forward at 15 second intervals. These type of presentations take lots of practice and knowing the material cold. The topic will be the same as your opinion article topic but presented visually. Ideally themes from the class projects and/or readings will be incorporated into this presentation. The slides should be visually appealing with minimal words.
- Slide rubric: outline for presentation
- Slides draft
- Slides final
- Presentation to class
Project: final: 30%
The final project is a final expose on the original topic that was chosen for both the opinion article and the IGNITE slides where you choose your digital medium of choice to publish the final project. The final project should concentrate on the future effect of the innovation in digital media will have on the particular part of culture or society in the world that was chosen for the original topic.
- Thesis topic draft
- Digital medium choice and outline
- Final submission
Evaluation Rubric
A= Excellent
This work is comprehensive and detailed, integrating themes and concepts from discussions, lectures and readings. Writing is clear, analytical and organized. Arguments offer specific examples and concisely evaluate evidence. Students who earn this grade are prepared for class, synthesize course materials and contribute insightfully.
B=Good
This work is complete and accurate, offering insights at general level of understanding. Writing is clear, uses examples properly and tends toward broad analysis. Classroom participation is consistent and thoughtful.
C=Average
This work is correct but is largely descriptive, lacking analysis. Writing is vague and at times tangential. Arguments are unorganized, without specific examples or analysis. Classroom participation is inarticulate.
D= Unsatisfactory
This work is incomplete, and evidences little understanding of the readings or discussions. Arguments demonstrate inattention to detail, misunderstand course material and overlook significant themes. Classroom participation is spotty, unprepared and off topic.
F=Failed
This grade indicates a failure to participate and/or incomplete assignments
A = 94-100
A- = 90-93
B+ = 87-89
B = 84-86
B- = 80-83
C+ = 77-79
C = 74-76
C- = 70-73
D+ = 65-69
D = 60-64
F = 0-59
Schedule of Classes, Readings and Assignments
(Subject to change and guest additions)
February 2nd : Intro to Rise/Media and You
Reading: Dewey, Caitlin. “36 Ways the Web Has Changed Us”, Washington Post, (March 12, 2014)
February 9th: Media Companies Now
Reading: How Google Works
Guest Speaker: Jeff Keni Pulver, Nick Carlson
February 23rd: Innovation – Advertising
Guest Speaker: Andrew Pancer
March 2nd: Innovation – Startups
Reading: Zero to One
Reading: Davidson, Adam. “Welcome to the Failure Age”, New York Times, (November 12th, 2014)
Due: Article topic
Guest Speakers: Blake Aber
March 9th: Social Media and Journalism
Reading: Paul, Pamela. “How to be Liked by Everyone Online”, New York Times, (December 19, 2014)
Reading: On The Media. “Real Story Behind the Dingo Ate My Baby” (November 21, 2014)
Due: Article Draft
Guest Speaker: Ryan Foran
March 23rd: Social Good/Education
Due: Article Final – rolling admission.
Guest Speaker: Katie Palencsar, Brad Hargreaves
March 30th: Sharing/Collaborative Economy
Reading: Owyang, Jeremigh. “2015: The Year of the Crowd”, SlideShare, (December 5, 2014)
Reading: Owyang, Jeremiah. “Sharing Is the New Buying”, SlideShare, (March 2, 2014)
Reading: Owyang, Jeremiah. “A Day in the Life of the Collaborative Economy”, SlideShare, (October 2, 2014)
Guest Speaker: TBD
April 6th: The Dark Side
Reading: The Dark Net
Due: IGNITE rubric
Guest Speaker: James O’Shea
April 13th: Data & Privacy
Reading: Brian Lehrer Show. “Why Did This Reporter Let Companies Track All Her Data” (October 30, 2014)
Guest Speaker: Kate Kaye
April 20th: Branding/Communication
Due: Final Thesis – submit media vehicle (wordpress, tumblr, rebelmouse, etc.)
Due: Ignite rough draft- all 20 slides
Guest Speaker: Marc Rappin
April 27th: Social Good
Due: Final article – LAST date to submit
May 4th: Future of Media
Guest Speaker: Kathryn Koegel
Video: David Sable
May 11th: IGNITE presentations
May 18th: Finals Week
Due: Multimedia Final Project
DataQueen 