COMM 421/621: History of the Mass Media/History of Journalism
(formerly COMM 436/636)

Instructor: Ross Collins, North Dakota State University, Fargo.

Class Resources

Syllabus (pdf).

Begin with the video: Why study history?

Diagnostic quiz.

Journalism history: what do we know?

Class Lecture Synopses:

Introduction.
1991 Gulf War and censorship.
Vietnam.
Watergate.
Television.
Propaganda.
Radio/jazz journalism.
Historical interpretation.
Photography and photojournalism.
Public relations.
Muckraking and "yellow journalism."
Early photography.
U.S. Civil War.
Advertising.
Penny Press.
The "common man."
Partisan press.
American Revolution.
Conclusions.

Class readings.

PowerPoint presentations.

Midterm exam review.

Final exam review.

Final Lecture.

Assignments:

Watergate group assignment.

Penny Press exercise.

More information:

History show and tell: a picture gallery of famous journalism from 1974 to 1674.

Writing a historical research paper:

1. Topic ideas and sources.
2. How to write historical research.

How to read for historical research.

Writing history: what is plagiarism?

Informed consent document for oral history (interviews).

Interesting World War I illustrations.

A brief history of photography and photojournalism.

Gallery of famous photos.

Commercial and other web site resources:

• American Journalism Historians Association web site. Information on the world's best mass media history association. In my opinion.
• The PBS series: History of Photography.
• Listen to old radio programs on the net.

Return to class resources.