RTF303 Introducion to Media and

Entertainment Industries

Class meets Course Description

Monday, Media industries have been challenged by large social
Wednesday, & forces such as globalization and technological
advancements from analog to digital, wired to wireless,
Friday and desktop to cloud. Web 2.0 and social media facilitate
1PM - 2PM audience members to actively participate in media
production. While legacy media learn to adapt to a new
BMC 1.202 landscape, new media experiment with and search for
viable business models and legitimacy. Great challenges
bring unprecedented opportunities and risks for
organizational innovations, entrepreneurship, and social
change.
Drawing on literature from media studies, management,
sociology, and communication, this course helps students
to develop an understanding of media industries and
entrepreneurship. We start with a survey of key social
science theories and concepts from the media landscape.
We then examine the social, political, and economic
contexts in which media are produced, distributed, and
monetized. Special attention is paid to new media and
communication technologies such as Web 2.0, social
media, gaming, and mobile media and the implications of
these disruptive innovations for media organizations and
professionals. Case examples in old and new media
industries from different countries will be analyzed.

**This syllabus is subject

Syllabus Table of Contents:  to change. Changes will
be made to this document
Course Description -  Pg 1 in Canvas and announced 
in class.**
Course Objectives & Contact Info - Pg 2
Inclusion Statement, Attendance Policy, Reminders  - Pg 3
UT Resources - Pg 4
Books & Course Organization - Pg 5 For a PDF of this
Weekly Topics & Readings - Pg 6 - 11 syllabus click here. 
Grading Policy & Due Dates - Pg 12 (Note: Your PDF may become
outdated if the syllabus is updated!)
Assignment Descriptions - Pg 13 - 16
Course Policies (Honor Code, Plagiarism, etc) - Pg 17-18 1
 Course Objectives
Upon successful course completion students will be able to:
● Understand key social science theories, concepts and methods on the complicated interaction
between media and society.
● Recognize various opportunities, challenges, and responses media industries have to address due
to globalization and technological advancements.
● Understand government policies and industry practices that affect the formation and function  of
media organizations.
● Understand the trajectory and development of various legacy and new media industry sectors.
● Evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities, challenges, and process in the media industries
facilitated and constrained by institution and culture.

Contact Information

Maria Skouras - Richelle Crotty - TA

Instructor (she/her/hers) (she/her/hers)
        : maria.skouras@utexas.edu         : richelle.crotty@utexas.edu
Office Hours: W 2:15 - 4:15 PM in Office Hours: M/W 11:30 AM -12:30 PM
the lobby of CMA & by appointment in the lobby of BMC & by appointment

Cole Wilder - TA Andy Wright - TA

(he/him/his) (he/him/his)
        : cwilder@utexas.edu         : andy.wright@utexas.edu
Office Hours:  M 2:00 - 4:00 PM in the Office Hours: T 10AM - 12PM 
lobby of CMA and by appointment in CMA 6.156 & by appointment 2
 Inclusion Statement
Your success in RTF303 is important to us.  We will work together to create a
supportive, inclusive environment that welcomes all students, regardless of their
race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, religious beliefs, physical or mental
health status, or socioeconomic status. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging are all
core values of this course.

If there are circumstances that may affect your performance in this class, please
speak with me or a TA as soon as possible so that we can work together to
develop strategies that will meet your needs and the requirements of the course.

If you require particular accommodations, please let us know. For students with

documented disabilities, you can obtain specific accommodations through UT
Services for Students with Disabilities (https://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/). 
Please share your letter with us within the first few weeks of the semester so
that we can develop a plan together. 

Class Reminders Attendance

Complete all the readings for the Policy
week & watch assigned videos by
Monday to best be able to follow Your presence is valued in this
lectures. Information from the course! Regular attendance is necessary
optional readings will be included in to best understand the course concepts,
lectures as well.   make connections between the weeks,
and be successful completing the quizzes
Weekly emails with readings, updates and assignments.  
and reminders will be sent on Fridays
after class for the next week. To see
the visual part of these emails, you Attendance will be taken ten (10)
must click "View Announcement" and times throughout the semester and these
view them in Canvas.  dates will not be announced in advance.
Students who are absent for three or
Bring your name card to class - we more of these attendance checks will
want to learn your names!   have their final grade lowered one half
grade (for example, from a B+ to a B).
Any time that an assignment is due in Students who miss five or more of these
Canvas, make sure it has uploaded attendance checks will fail the course. If
properly.  You are responsible for you are ill or cannot otherwise make it to
making sure it is there. 
class, please contact your TA in advance.
Mark down due dates in your planner!
*MOST* assignments are due Sundays There will also be 5 random days
at 9:00 PM. Note the late policy for selected for an in-class activity where
assignments.   you will receive 1 point each for
completion. 
If you have questions and can't make
office hours, make an appointment
with one of us!   3
UT Austin Resources
Moody College Writing Support
Located in BMC 3.322, Moody College Writing Support offers one-on-one assistance
without charge to undergraduates seeking to improve their professional writing in all fields
of communication. Visit a specialist in Journalism, RTF, CSD, CMS, Communication &
Leadership and PR & Advertising. Students may guarantee their time by booking half-hour
appointments on our website for assistance during all stages of the writing process.
Writing coaches also will take drop-ins if they are not working with appointments For more
info, visit: http://sites.utexas.edu/moodywriting/.

Perry Castraneda Library (PCL)

PCL has subject librarians that can help with any part of the research process.  There is one
for Radio-TV-Film, Journalism, Communication Studies and other topics that are relevant
to our course.  In addition to PCL's helpful librarians, there are skill-building workshops and
research presentations (with free pizza!). PCL also features a Public Speaking Center for
practice and tips and a writing center, which is described further below.  If you can't make it
to PCL, you an also chat your questions to a librarian and receive real-time responses.  For
more information, visit https://www.lib.utexas.edu.

University Writing Center at PCL

The University Writing Center, located in the Learning Commons at PCL 2.330 (phone 471-
6222, http://uwc.utexas.edu/) offers free, individualized help with writing for any UT
undergraduate, by appointment or on a drop-in basis. The UWC consultants are trained to
work with you on your writing in ways that preserve the integrity of your work and help you
become a stronger, more independent writer.

UT Counseling and Mental Health Center

College and life in general present a number of challenges, both expected and unexpected.
UT Counseling and Mental Health offers counseling, wellness classes, and other services
that can help. A crisis hotline is also available 24/7 at (512) 471-2255.  To find out more,
visit: https://cmhc.utexas.edu

UT Outpost
UT Outpost offers support to students with food-related needs.  To learn more about this
resource or to make donations, please visit: 
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/emergency/utoutpost.php
4
Reading Materials
Online Introducion to Media and Entertainment Industries

All readings for this course will be provided.  Two of the main texts we use are:
Albarran, A. B. (2016). The Media Economy (2nd ed.): Taylor & Francis.
●   Hesmondhalgh, D. (2012). The Cultural Industries (3rd ed.): Sage.

To download the readings, 

hover your cursor over the
reading name and click!
Please complete the readings for the week by
Monday.  This will help you follow along and
understand the concepts covered!  The
optional readings will be referenced in the
lectures.
A weekly email with reminders and additional
short readings will be sent in advance of the
next week on Fridays after class.
Additional Resources (not required):
● Friedrichsen, M., & Mühl-Benninghaus,
W. (2013). Handbook of Social Media
Management: Value Chain and Business
Models in Changing Media Markets: Berlin,
Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
● Hollifield, C. A., Wicks, J. L., Sylvie, G., &
Lowrey, W. (2015). Media management: A
casebook approach: Routledge.
● Holt, J., & Perren, A. (2011). Media
industries: history, theory, and method (2nd
ed.): John Wiley & Sons.
● Picard, R. G. (2011). The economics and
financing of media companies (2nd ed.):
Fordham Univ Press.

● Vogel, H. L. (2014). Entertainment

industry economics: A guide for financial
RTF303 analysis (8th ed.): Cambridge University

Course  Press.

organization

Unit 1 - Media Landscape: Globalization, Tech, Policy

Understand theories and concepts of media industries
Recognize media industries opportunities and challenges
due to globalization and technology
Understand policies and practices that affect the
formation and function of media organizations
5
 8/28 WEEK 1: Introduction: Media Economy and Industries

DAYS READ TO DO
1. Hesmondhalgh Introduction Video - due
W - 8/28 Introduction   9/8 by 9:00 PM
Film 60 second introduction
video, upload in discussion
F - 8/30 forum, comment on another
student's video
REVIEW 
the Canvas site & syllabus to gain familiarity with the course &
assignment due dates; add them to your planner or calendar

9/2 WEEK 2: Introduction: Media Economy and

Industries Basic Theories and Concepts

DAYS READ  TO DO
1. Albarran - Ch 1  Introduction Video - due
M - 9/2* NO CLASS - 9/8 by 9:00 PM
Labor Day 2. Albarran - Ch 3  Film 60 second introduction
video, upload in discussion
W - 9/4 forum, comment on another
Optional student's video
F - 9/6
* Albarran - Ch 2 

9/9 WEEK 3: Media Globalization

DAYS READ  TO DO
1. Albarran: Ch7 Globalization Weekly Assignment -
M - 9/9 and Media Economy due 9/15 by 9:00 PM

W - 9/11 Optional
*. Picard: Ch12 Globalization in Media
F - 9/13 Product and Service
*. H&P: Curtin, “Thinking Globally:
From Media Imperialism to Media
Capital” 
WATCH 
guest speaker video by Joe Straubhaar, "Netflix in Latin America"

6
 9/16 WEEK 4: Media Old and New

DAYS READ  TO DO
1. Albarran: Ch6 Technology Weekly Assignment -
M - 9/16 and Media Economy  due 9/22 by 9:00 PM

W - 9/18
Optional
F - 9/20 *Hesmondhalgh: Ch9
Digitization and Internet

WATCH 
guest speaker video by Henry Jenkins, "The New Audience"

9/23 WEEK 5: Policies and Ownership: Law & Regulation

DAYS READ  TO DO
1. FCC: What We Do Weekly Assignment -
M - 9/23 2. FCC: Rulemaking Process
due 9/29 by 9:00 PM

3. Brookings: Revisting Broadcast Public

W - 9/25 Interest Standard in Communications
Law and Regulation 
F - 9/27
Optional
* Raboy, M. & Padovani, C. Mapping
Global Media Policy (2012)
WATCH 
the John Oliver Net Neutrality Videos

9/30 WEEK 6: Policies and Ownership: Markets,

Infrastructure, and Network
DAYS READ TO DO
1. Picard, R: Economic Approaches Weekly Assignment -
M - 9/30 to Media Policy due 10/6 by 9:00 PM
2. Pikard, V: Confronting Market Review Directions for
W - 10/2 Failure in American Media Policy Social Media Sleuth

F - 10/4 Optional
1. Albarran: Ch8 Regulation          
and Media Economy

WATCH - The Public's Interest vs. the Public Interest on PBS

7
 Unit 2 - Media Management and
Entrepreneurship
Understand key economic and
management theories and concepts on media
economy, management and organization
Understand and evaluate entrepreneurial
opportunities, challenges, and process in
media industries

10/7 WEEK 7: Media Management: Finance

DAYS READ TO DO
1.  Albarran: Ch10 Media Finance   Weekly Assignment -
M - 10/7 due 10/13 by 9:00 PM
Record Data for Social
W - 10/9 Media Sleuth - due
Optional 10/20 by 9:00 PM
F - 10/11 * Picard: Ch10 Capital
Market and Media Firms 

10/14 WEEK 8: Media Management: Organization and Labor

DAYS READ TO DO
1. Albarran: Ch11 Media Labor Weekly Assignment -
M - 10/14 due 10/20 by 9:00 PM
Complete spreadsheet
W - 10/16 and paper for Social
Optional Media Sleuth -  Due
10/20 by 9:00 PM
F - 10/18 * Hesmondhalgh: Ch7
Organization and Labor 

WATCH -Brooke Erin Duffy, "(Not) Being Paid to Do What You Love"

8
 10/21 WEEK 9: Media Entrepreneurship

DAYS READ TO DO
1. Hollifield et al: Ch4 Weekly Assignment -
M - 10/21 Entrepreneurship due 10/27 by 9:00 PM

W - 10/23 Group formation for final project -

Optional discuss what your media company
will be and look for sources for
F - 10/25 * Mollick: Dynamics of your paper. 
Crowdfunding
Submit paper proposal - due
LISTEN 10/27 by 9:00 PM (only one
group member needs to submit)
to podcast by Nienkerk & Stanush

Unit 3 - Legacy Media

Understand the development of legacy media sectors
Understand key terms used in legacy media industry
Understand business models, process and practices in
legacy media industry

10/28 WEEK 10: Film Industry

DAYS READ TO DO
1. Vogel: Ch3 Movie Weekly Assignment -
M - 10/28 Macroeconomics due 11/3 by 9:00 PM

W - 10/30 Optional Work on the group

paper - Due 11/17 by
* Mezias: The Community 9:00 PM
F - 11/1 Dynamics of
Entrepreneurship: The
Birth of the American
Film Industry ,1895-1929
WATCH 
video by Tom Schatz, "Conglomerate Hollywood & The Global Marketplace"

9
 11/4 WEEK 11: Television Industry

DAYS READ TO DO
1.  Vogel: Ch8 Cable Weekly Assignment -
M - 11/4 due 11/10 by 9:00 PM

W - 11/6 Optional Work on the group

paper - due 11/17 by
* Straubhaar, Joseph. (2007). 9:00 PM
F - 11/8 World Television: From
Global to Local. Sage. Ch 1

WATCH 
video by Amanda Lotz, "Evolution or Revolution: Television in Transition"

Unit 4:  Digital Media

Understand the development of digital media sectors
Understand key terms used in new media industry
Understand business models, process and practices in new
media industry
Understand how technologies change entrepreneurship

11/11 WEEK 12: New Media & Social Media

DAYS READ TO DO
1. Zuboff, S. (2015). Big other: Weekly Assignment -
M - 11/11 surveillance capitalism and the due 11/17 by 9:00 PM
prospects of an information
civilization. 75-89. Complete the group
W - 11/13 paper. Due 11/17 by
9:00 PM. (only one
F - 11/15 Optional group member needs to
submit)
* Chen Draft The Curious Journey
of Mark Zuckerberg in China 

WATCH 
guest speaker video by Siva Vaidhyanathan, "Antisocial Media"
10
 11/18 WEEK 13: Gaming

READ TO DO
DAYS
1. Chung, P., & Fung, A. (2012). Work on the visual
Internet Development and the project - Due 12/1 by
M - 11/18 Commercialization of Online 9:00 PM
Gaming in China.  (pp.233- 250).
W - 11/20
F - 11/22 Optional
*  Dyer-Witheford, Nick,
and Greig de Peuter. 2009.
Empire@Play: Virtual Games
and Global Capitalism.

WATCH
 CBS News - Esports: Inside the Relentless Training of Professional Gaming
Stars (2018)

11/25 WEEK 14: Mobile & Apps

DAYS READ TO DO
1. Chen, W. & Ling, R. (2014). Mobile Complete the visual
M - 11/25 Media and Communication.  project - Due 12/1
by 9:00 PM
W - 11/27 Optional Work on
NO CLASS - presentation
F - 11/29 Thanksgiving * Surname, J. & Cannon, C. (2018, preparation
Break May 23). Why China's Payment
Apps Give U.S. Bankers
Nightmares. 

8/19 WEEK 15: Wrap-Up and Review

DAYS TO DO
Finalize presentation
M - 12/2 Review & final questions 
Submit Peer
Assessment - Due
W - 12/4 Presentation Day 1 12/6 by 9:00 PM

F - 12/6 Presentation Day 2

11
 Introducion to Media and Entertainment Industries

Grading Policy
Grades are earned based on performance.
Grades will not be changed on the basis of need
or effort. The final grade uses a plus/minus
system according to the following scale:
93-100 A 73-76 C
90-92 A- 70-72 C-
87-89 B+ 67-69 D+
83-86 B 63-66 D
80-82 B- 60-62 D-
77-79 C+ 59 or lower F

Late Policy
RTF303

Assignment *Weekly assignment will not be accepted late.*

Otherwise, assignments submitted late will be docked
Scoring 5% each day.  Assignments more than 5 days late will
not be accepted and will receive a zero.

Assignment Points Deadline

Introduction video 5 pts Sunday, Sept. 8th by 9:00 PM
+ comment 

Attendance Activities   5 pts Random Days, In-Class

Details under Attendance Policy  

Weekly Quiz, or other 40 pts Weekly on Sundays by 9:00 PM

short assignment (9/15 - 11/17)
(10 total)

Social Media Sleuth 15 pts Sunday, Oct. 20th by 9:00 PM

Media Entrepreneurship  35 pts Proposal - Sun., Oct. 27th by 9:00 PM

Research Paper, Visual Paper - Sun., Nov. 17th by 9:00 PM
Project & Pitch Visual Project  - Sun., Dec. 1st by 9:00 PM
Pitch Presentation - Either Weds. Dec.
4th or Fri. Dec. 6th 
Peer Assessment - Fri. Dec. 6th by
100 pts 9:00 PM 12
RTF303

Assignment Check the assignment pages in Canvas

for more information on assignments.
Details

Who Are You? Introduction Video (5 pts)

Record a 30-60 second video on your phone or computer
Include an interesting fact about yourself
Include a connection you have to the media industries (For example:
what is your favorite text, creator, technology, etc.?)
Post in the "discussions" section of this site
Comment on at least one other student’s post and introduce yourself!
Your video is worth 4 pts + 1 pt for your comment on other student's
video 
DUE - Sunday, September 8th by 9:00 PM

Weekly Quiz/Assignment (40 pts)

From Week 3 until Week 12, you will have a short weekly assignment
Most weeks, it will be a quiz consisting of 8 multiple choice, true/false, or
short answer questions (each worth 1/2 point = 4 points total)
Quizzes will open at 2:30 PM after class on Friday and close by 9:00 PM
on Sunday
You will have 15 minutes to complete the quiz from the time you open it.
(It will be timed in Canvas and will shut off after 15 minutes.)
Questions will reflect the week's readings, videos, and lectures.
Feel free to use your notes, lecture slides, etc. but this is independent
work.
We may mix in creative assignments as well! You will be notified by
Friday what kind of assignment to expect.
Assignments that aren't quizzes will not be timed. 
Your lowest score from the 10 weeks will be dropped.  
DUE - Sundays by 9:00 PM

13
Social Media Sleuth (15 pts)
Choose which media company you'd like to follow: Disney, Netflix, Twitch,
the FCC, PBS, or A24.
1.   Track the company's social media activities 3x a day for 7 days
on 3 platforms: both Facebook and Twitter and you have a choice
of the third platform - Snapchat, YouTube, or Instagram
Record and categorize the posts in an Excel Spreadsheet
or Google Doc - you can come up with your own coding
categories for the "analysis section." (4 pts)  An example is
here.
Some things to note: their number of followers, who are
they following, who are their followers, is it an account for
the whole company or a subsidiary, what kind of content do
they post, what are the responses to the content?
Do you see any concepts from class represented? 
Globalization-related concerns?  Policy?  Financial aspects
like posts about ownership or stock market performances? 

2.   Find 10 recent articles of formal media coverage (no press

releases) about your company.  These can come from sources
like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington
Post, Time Magazine, Wired Magazine, etc.   
3.   Compare the social media messaging from the company itself
with the formal media coverage. How are they similar?  How do
they differ?
4.   Write a 3 page comparative analysis of the social media
coverage and the formal media coverage. (4 pts) Include 2 concepts
covered in class (4 pts)
5. 12 pt font, Times New Roman, double-spaced.  No cover page.
Proofread for clarity, grammar, etc. (2 pts)
6.   Cite the formal media coverage in APA - both in-text citations
when you refer to an article and a works cited page, which will be
the 4th page (1 pt).  You do not have to refer to all 10 articles in your
paper but you must include them in the works cited.
7.   Submit both your spreadsheet or Google doc link and paper. 
DUE - Sunday, October 20th by 9:00 PM.  

14
Media Entrepreneurship Research Paper,
Visual Project, & Pitch (35 pts)
For this assignment, you will develop a media company for American
customers and prepare a presentation pitch, as if you were going on
Shark Tank. If you are unfamiliar with the show, check out some
winning pitches here.
Here are some tips from the Shark Tank judges, too. 

1.  This is a group project; groups can be no larger than 5 students.

We are happy to connect you with other students to form a group or
you can post in the Group Finder discussion forum. 
Each group member will receive the same grade on all parts of
the assignment unless there is some reason to grade 
otherwise. There will be a Peer Assessment Form . 
2. Think about what kind of media company you'd like to develop. 
What kind of gap would it fill in the market?  Who would be your
customer base?  What companies would be your competitors? Use
this rationale sheet to help think through your company. 
3. Complete this project proposal sheet (2.5 pts), which includes
roles for your group members.  Everyone should contribue to the
paper. You will also need to provide 5 APA cited sources that you will
use to write the paper. You might want to include financial or annual
reports from your competitors, book chapters about their history,
and articles that can support why your company is needed. 
This sheet is due on Sunday, October 27th by 9:00 PM. Only one
group member needs to submit it. 

4. Research your company's competitors. How did they get their

start?  What is their financial model?  What are their strengths and
weaknesses?
CONTINUED - BELOW

15
Media Entrepreneurship Research Paper,
Visual Project, & Pitch (35 pts)
5. Breakdown of the 6 page paper: (15 pts)
Pages 1-2  Explanation of your product & business rationale (use
the rationale sheet as your guide to complete this part - touch
upon the 5 sections of the worksheet: background info, business
plan, media policy, management, key challenges. )
Pages 3 -5 Research on your competitors
Page 6 - Why your company deserves Shark Tank Funding
Page 7 - Works Cited Page in APA (include 5+ credible sources)

Use 12 pt font, Times New Roman, double-spaced. No cover page.

The research paper is due on Sunday, November 17th by 9:00 PM.
Only one group member needs to submit it (be sure all your names are
included.)  

6. Visual Project  (10 pts)

Create EITHER a power point presentation that includes at least 10
slides explaining and pitching your company OR a 3-4 minute video
that will help you make your in-class pitch.  
Be as creative as you'd like! 
The visual component is due on Sunday, December 1st by 9:00 PM.
Only one group member needs to submit it (be sure all your names are
included.)  

7. In-class Pitch (5 pts)

Using your visual project, create a 5 - 7 minute presentation
All group members must be present and contribute
Presentations will be held on Wednesday, December 4th and
Friday, December 6th
Your group's presentation day will be announced closer to the date.
We will likely have 2 classrooms.  Your attendance is required in
class on both days.

8. Peer Assessment  Form (2.5 pts)

This Peer Assessment form is due Friday, December 6th by 9:00 PM.  Each
group member is responsible for submitting their own form.  

16
 Course Policies and
Student Resources:

Services For Students With Disabilities

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations
for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, email ssd@austin.utexas.edu, call
512.471.6259, or visit:  https://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/. 
The University of Texas Honor Code
The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership,
individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the University is expected to uphold
these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.
Scholastic Dishonesty
The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration,
falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning
process.
Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, providing false or misleading information
to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment, and submission of
essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the
instructor. By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to these guidelines and must adhere to
them. Scholastic dishonest damages both the student’s learning experience and readiness for the
future demands of a work-career. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty
are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or
dismissal from the University. For more information on scholastic dishonesty, please visit the
Student Judicial services Web site at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs
Religious Holidays
Religious holy days sometimes conflict with class and examination schedules. If you miss a work
assignment or other project due to the observance of a religious holy day you will be given an
opportunity to complete the work missed within a reasonable time after the absence. It is the
policy of the University of Texas at Austin that you must notify each of your instructors at least
fourteen days prior to the classes scheduled on dates you will be absent to observe a religious holy
day.
University Electronic Mail Notification Policy
All students should become familiar with the University’s official e-mail student notification policy.
It is the student’s responsibility to keep the University informed as to changes in his or her e-mail
address. Students are expected to check e-mail on a frequent and regular basis in order to stay
current with University-related communications, recognizing that certain communications may be
time-critical. It is recommended that e-mail be checked daily, but at a minimum, twice per week.
The complete text of this policy and instructions for updating your e-mail address are available at
http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.html. In this course e-mail will be used as a means of
communication with students. You will be responsible for checking your e-mail regularly for class work and
announcement
Use of Canvas
This course uses Canvas, a Web-based course management system in which a password-protected
site is created for each course. 17
 Course Policies and
Student Resources Continued:

Copyright and Fair Use

You may find the need to use copyrighted material this semester: music, photographs, movie clips,
or any other expression. For many of your uses, you need to find the copyright holder and negotiate
a license. You own the copyright to the work you produce in this class. As a copyright holder
yourself, you understand the importance of copyright ownership. It is your responsibility to secure
music and archival footage licenses as well as artwork, location and personal releases. You will find
release templates on the RTF website.
For some uses, however, neither you nor anyone else needs to license copyrighted material. This is
because copyright law exists to encourage and support creativity. Copyright law recognizes that
creativity doesn’t arise in a vacuum. As creators, we all stand on the shoulders of giants. New works
of art (such as films, books, poems, paintings) all make use of what has gone before. Thus, copyright
law not only protects authors with a copyright that lets them decide who can use their works, but
also offers exemptions from the author’s control. For filmmakers, the most important exemption is
the doctrine of fair use. You can rely on fair use, where appropriate, in the film and media projects
you undertake for this course. If you are making a documentary film, consult the influential
Documentary Filmmakers Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use
(http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/files/pdf/fair_use_final.pdf), which was created by a group of
national filmmaker organizations, has been endorsed by the University Film and Video Association,
and is now relied on by film festivals, insurers, cablecasters, distributors and public broadcasters.
Fair use also applies in the fiction film environment, but not necessarily to the same extent or in the
same way.

As always, the central question is whether the new use is "transformative" -- i.e., whether it adds
significant value by modifying or recontextualizing the original. For more understanding, including
information on when you can use works for free
(http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/files/pdf/free_use.pdf) without even using fair use, why you
(mostly) don’t need to worry about trademarks
(http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/files/pdf/free_use.pdf), what is in the public domain
(http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/rock/backgrounddocs/copyrightterm.pdf), how fair use
lawsuits (http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/videos/sets/fair_use_case_studies) have been
settled, and on how fair use has been employed successfully
(http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/videos/sets/fair_use_case_studies) in documentary film, visit
centerforsocialmedia.org/fairuse.

18