Ahhh... the last blog of the semester. Like the midterm review blog this is simply an opportunity for you to ask and answer each other's questions and discuss anything that you think will be helpful in preparation for the final. I would suggest looking at your class notes, handouts from class, your reading assignments along with your review sheet. This is primarily an open forum for you so check back often during the week and comment/question/ponder/review as much as you would like.
One request: please take just a couple of minutes to complete your course evaluation if you have not done so already. I would really appreciate it. Just follow this link to go to Campus Connect.
Good luck with all of your studying!
Also you can find a digital version of the final review sheet here: http://mediaandamericanpolitics.wordpress.com/course-documents-and-syllabus/
We have addressed how the mass media and American politics affect one another in many different ways during this quarter. Though we have highlighted many areas of concern we have also discussed many methods used to improve the way political information is communicated and the increasing number of ways that individual citizens improve their voice within our democracy. One theme we have constantly touched on is how much has changed over time. Consider the following:
2 months ago: you started this class
10 months ago: the Federal Courts threw out net neutrality protections opening the door to FCC action
2 years ago ago: Obama reelected
2 years ago ago: Facebook topped 1 billion users
3 years ago: Arab Spring spreads, Occupy movement
4 years ago: FCC Open Internet Ruling
5 years ago: Green Revolution in Iran, TEA Party movement begins, Google starts personalizing searches
6 years ago: Obama elected with most innovative web based campaign in history
8 years ago: most people had never heard of Barack Obama, Twitter begins
9 years ago: YouTube and flickr
11 years ago: Facebook starts (for college students only for a few years)
13 years ago: wikipedia
14 years ago: innovative uses of campaigning online
16 years ago: MoveOn.org started, also this thing called Google
20 years ago: Clinton launches first White House website
34 years ago: CNN starts ushering in 24 hour cable news
46 years ago: Three networks devote 30 minutes to news 5 days a week, Cronkite the most trusted man in America
54 years ago: first televised debate - JFK vs. Nixon
61 years ago: television becoming commonplace across America
81 years ago: fireside chats begin
89 years ago: radios enter homes in record numbers
95 year ago: Woodrow Wilson was the first president broadcast on the radio
100 years ago: all mass media was still in print
238 years ago Common Sense was published and sold over 100,000 copies - most in American history
564 years ago: The printing press was invented
The point: much has changed, and often in a short period of time. Looking forward what do you predict will be the most important ways that the media will impact politics (and vice versa) two, five, 10, or even 20 years from now? What can and should be done to help make these changes as positive as possible?
One request: please take just a couple of minutes to complete your course evaluation if you have not done so already. I would really appreciate it. Just follow this link to go to Campus Connect.
