Teaching Mass Communication

This unique volume brings together original essays by well-known mass communication experts--master teachers--who provide practical information on teaching the communication and journalism courses in which they specialize. The authors make recommendations for practical/applied, theoretical, and advanced courses, representing every area of the mass communications curriculum. Its contributors include eminent specialists such as Maurine H. Beasley, who offers advice to teachers of media history; Dan Nimmo (political communication); Roy L. Moore (media law); Jay Black (media ethics); and John De Mott (media management). Chapter authors suggest course outlines, teaching strategies, and methods of testing, and provide reviews of current texts and supplementary materials such as films and other audio-visual aids. Chapter topics in part I, The Introductory Course, include The Beginning Course in Mass Communication, and introductory courses to broadcasting, public relations, the film course, and internship programs. Part II, Applied Coursework, includes chapters on writing news for print and broadcast, reporting, advertising campaigns, audio and video production, and teaching research methods. Part III, which deals with advanced coursework, includes chapters on courses in mass communication law, mass media management, and history, mass media and politics, media criticism, and media ethics. Teaching Mass Communication will prove vitally important to faculty with new preparations for mass communication courses (including senior faculty keeping up with changes), media professionals, and new faculty preparing their teaching assignments.

MICHAEL D. MURRAY is Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. He was nominated for an award as outstanding teacher in the central states while still a graduate student at Missouri-Columbia. Murray has been honored for teaching excellence at every institution with which he has been associated, including Virginia Tech and the University of Louisville. ANTHONY J. FERRI is Assistant Professor at the Greenspun School of Communication, University of Nevada at Las Vegas. He is the recipient of the Rita Deanin Abbey Teacher Award from the University. Ferri has also taught at Wayne State University and Indiana University-Purdue University.