INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA STUDIES

This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to the study of mediated communication and the industries that make it possible. Drawing from a range of theoretical models, we will explore the media through various lenses: historical, economic, social, cultural, legal, regulatory and ethical. These different frameworks will then be applied to the examination of specific media industries and their increasing convergence with one another.

INNOVATIONS IN MARKETING: DIVERSITY IN MEDIA & ADVERTISING

This course takes a deep dive into how the digital revolution has splintered U.S. media, providing niche groups a sense of community centered around entertainment and news. From Univision to Breitbart, DramaFever to Bossip, HuffPo Queer Voices to BuzzFeed, advertisers now have a plethora of choices about where to share their brand messaging.

The class will provide an in-depth discussion and perspective on African-American, Latino, Asian-American, Queer (LGBTQIQ), Millennial/Gen Z, Urban, Rural, Progressive and Conservative market sectors via case studies, readings and guest lecturers working in the field. At the end of the class, students will understand the current media landscape, as well as how to market to these growing diverse segments.

SELLING YOUR PITCH: ESSENTIALS OF THE BUSINESS OF TELEVISION

This class offers a primer on the ways TV shows get financed and go from script to finished project. Taught by a senior TV executive, the course provides a theoretical understanding of the television and online video production business with the practical experience of a semester-end pitch. Topics include how to get a show on the air, what it means to be “in development,” the importance of POD deals, and how networks (linear and digital) view the current competitive landscape. At the end of the semester, students will have a clear grasp of how TV deals get made and closed, including the specifics of pilot production, casting, directing, and the Upfront and NewFront processes. Guest speakers may include TV writers, producers, agents, and development execs.