Media, Truth and the Social Sphere

COMS 1002

Term: Fall 2023

Time: Tuesday / Thursday - 1:00 – 2:20 p.m.
Room: GHLT
Instructor: Dr. Dugan Nichols (call me “Dugan”) (he/him)
Office hours: Tuesday / Thursday 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. (HH207)
Email: dugan.nichols@unb.ca

“We respectfully acknowledge that UNB stands on the unsurrendered and unceded
traditional Wolastoqey… land.
“The lands of Wabanaki… people are recognized in a series of Peace and Freindship
Treaties to establish an ongoing relationship of peace, friendship and mutual respect
between equal nations” (UNB, n.d.a, paras. 1-2).

Course Description:
This course serves as a basic introduction to the social, cultural, political, economic and
technological aspects of communication. Particular attention is paid to media
representations of modern social life and conceptions of and their presentations of
"truth." Credit can only be obtained for one of COMS 1002 or ICS 1002.

Course Details:
We are inundated by communication on a daily basis. You are currently reading this
syllabus; you may have just texted a friend, scrolled Twitter, or checked your email with
Spotify playing in the background. As a social being, you have been talking to people
your entire life. So prevalent is communication that we have the following quotation to
consider: “One cannot not communicate” (Mattelart & Mattelart, 2004, p. 51). So even if
you’re not talking, texting, or gesturing, perhaps your silence, facial expression, or even
your posture are saying something instead. As smartphones, digital media, and social
networking sites contribute to the increase in communicative activity, they also introduce
a new problem—something we might refer to as the corruption of truth. While this
course aims to convey foundational lessons in Communication Studies, it is largely
geared towards the issue of truth in media. We will ask such questions as: Who can we
trust in media? How can we challenge mediated stereotypes? Who gets to speak for
whose experience? Whose truth is silenced? How has truth been threatened in the
digital age? Have we entered a “post-truth” (Jutel, 2019, p. 189) world, and if so, who
benefits, and who suffers? Each week we will look at a different topic under the ambit of
Communication Studies, beginning with the field itself. We will cover media technology,
the public sphere, popular culture, and the concept of power. We will also consider

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actors within the process of communication, such as media producers in the
entertainment industry, and the consumers who make it so lucrative. Students are
assigned one or two readings per week, each available on Brightspace (that means
there is no textbook to buy). The readings are short, accessible, and critical, asking
students to reflect on tough questions regarding capitalism, class society, inequality,
and how truth and communication fit into these social contexts. Assignments include in-
class responses, practical writing exercises, a take-home exam, and a final paper.
Detailed instructions on assignments will be provided nearer to the due dates.

Learning Outcomes:
On the successful completion of this course, students will:

• Understand what constitutes Communication Studies as a field.

• Be up-to-date on recent, real-world issues and debates that pertain to new media and
social life.
• Have a grasp on key agents within the Canadian media industry, from owners to
audiences.
• Understand the cultural and political uses of media by everyday people.
• Gain experience with different nonfiction writing conventions.
• Sharpen their critical thinking and critical consumption skills.
• Question who gets to determine truth and reality in our society.
• Write and defend an argument in essay form.
• Be able to challenge media stereotypes regarding people’s social identities, such as
gender, race, class, and sexuality.

Course Format:
Classes will be held in person twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Class time is
comprised of interactive lectures that offer regular opportunities for dialogue, Q&A, and
participation. The communication model for our class is transactional, as opposed to a
transmission. While lecturing represents a monologue, there will be regular
opportunities for students to converse. Put another way, your participation helps create
the class as a dialectic between the students and the instructor. For these reasons, you
are asked to attend lectures each week. It is difficult to learn if you are not in the
classroom.

Assignments:
In-class Response x2 (10%): Due on Sept. 14 and Dec. 7
This component of your final mark hinges on in-class attendance; in other words, you
are asked to be in the classroom to complete two responses (each worth 5%). I will
pose a question at the start and the end of the term that reflects on your learning
trajectory in this course. I will designate time in each class for you to respond.

Writing Genre Exercise (20%): Due Oct. 5

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Writing does not come naturally to most people. In fact, famous twentieth-century author
Ernest Hemingway said that writing is “a perpetual challenge and it is more difficult than
anything else that I have ever done” (Malone, 2022, para. 5)—and he was a World War
I soldier! Therefore, I believe writing well takes practice. Additionally, it is important for
students to get a sense of the various genres and styles of nonfiction writing. Being able
to command different styles will be beneficial when submitting material for other
classes, applying to graduate schools, and/or working in media. This assignment will
ask students to answer an essay prompt in two distinct genres of writing (of their
choosing). If the student wishes, they can use Generative AI for this one assignment
only(!). More detailed instructions will be posted to Brightspace.

Take-home Exam (20%): Due Oct. 26

Students will be given an exam in the form of 15 short-answer questions. They are
asked to choose and answer only 10 questions from the list, leaving five blank. They will
have a week to complete the exam and submit their answers on Brightspace. The
questions are based on assigned readings and central themes discussed in class. If you
keep up with the material, you will do well; the questions will be on more prominent
themes we cover, as opposed to obscure or overly nuanced topics.

Media Literacy Exercise (25%): Due Nov. 23

A sarcastic meme says: “If it’s on the Internet, it must be true!” The meme is poking fun
at the idea that (1) Anybody can jump on the Internet and spread false information, and
(2) There is no shortage of credulous people who will accept, believe, and share that
information. The reality is that governments around the world—from South Africa to
Cuba to Canada—have found the pervasion of “fake news” and disinformation to be
dangerous to democracy. Governments, organizations, and academic figures argue that
types of disinformation—such as conspiracy theories—erode the public’s trust in
institutions. Because of this threat, the Government of Canada (2022) wants you to
become a more critical media consumer. This call represents the motivation for this
Media Literacy Exercise, which takes the form of a multipart essay. The Exercise will
ask you to consider your experience with false information online, reflect on the
consequences of an anything-goes Internet, and propose a potential solution.

Final Essay (25%): Due Dec. 14

This essay asks that you look over the whole of COMS 1002 and reflect on what you
learned. Then, you will choose two weeks from the semester that most interested you,
such as the Public Sphere and the Audience weeks (for example). Citing lecture
material, class conversations, and the assigned readings, you will lastly compile a
written assignment that explains (1) what those weeks entailed (2) the insights you
gained, and (3) how you foresee lessons from class applying to your academic,
professional, or civic life. More detailed instructions will be provided ahead of the due
date.

Note:

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Assignments will be marked according to how you apply course themes, cite required
material, answer questions correctly, and follow the guidelines established by provided
rubrics.

Late policy:
Our exam and essays are all due on a Thursday by 11:59 p.m. This gives you later in
the week to submit your work, as well as the full day to do so. Without a doctor’s note or
other legitimate excuse, late assignments will lose 5% per day. Please inform me ahead
of time if you face difficulties completing a particular assignment by the due date.
Please also note that the COMS Department does not permit students to do extra-credit
work to make up for missed assignments.

D2L Brightspace:
Brightspace is UNB’s primary LMS, or “Learning Management System.” Therefore,
Brightspace serves as a hub for our course. The Brightspace page connected to COMS
1002 will contain all of the information you need to stay up-to-date on our class. The
page will contain all of the PDFs and URL links for weekly readings, as well as
assignment instructions and a record of your grades.

Readings:
One to two readings are assigned for each week (if there are two, they will be shorter
sources). All materials are made available for free on Brightspace. Please read the
assigned reading(s) before Tuesday classes, where we will begin to evaluate it.
Thursday classes will expand on initial concepts introduced beforehand.

Communicating with Instructor:

You can email me at any time at dugan.nichols@unb.ca. I will respond within 36 hours
at the latest, though usually it will be faster than that. In addition, you can attend in-
person office hours on campus after class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can ask
questions about course material, assignments, class expectations, clarification, and/or
why a grade was administered. If you wish to dispute a grade, please include a written
rationale as to why the assignment should be re-evaluated.

Campus Resources:
UNB Libraries
Did you know that the library can be a fantastic supplement to your university learning
experience? In fact, our library is there to help you find resources in order to succeed in
your classes. Librarians can: help you distinguish between a scholarly and non-
scholarly source; assist you with their databases; and find ways to access a source that
may not be in their holdings. David Ross is the designated librarian for our discipline of
Communication Studies (along with Classics, Education, History, Political Science, and
Sociology). He can meet with you in person or online in pursuance of your research
needs. His profile page can be found at this URL: https://guides.lib.unb.ca/profile/drross.

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Find additional details about UNB’s library network here: https://lib.unb.ca/what-to-
expect.

Writing Centre
Located on the main floor of the Hans W. Klohn Commons, the Writing Centre is there
to help students their various writing objectives, from term papers to cover letters. This
quote is directly from its website: “The Writing Centre provides one-on-one writing
support as well as group workshops and tutorials to current UNB students in all
disciplines and at all stages of the writing process” (Student Services Saint John, n.d.,
para. 1).

Office Hours
University administrators have reported that students do not always know what
professors’ office hours are for. This is especially the case for newer students. These
hours represent a designated time for instructors to go to their office and make
themselves available for students’ questions or concerns about the class. Appropriate
topics include: how to do better on the next assignment; reviewing what went wrong on
a previous assignment; discussion of an issue that will cause a late submission;
discussion of a concept, theory, or thinker for a better understanding; brainstorming a
topic to pursue for a paper (sometimes it helps to converse out loud and bounce an idea
off someone). For these and related questions, you are welcome to visit office hours on
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Or, if you are unable to make that time,
you can request an alternate appointment over Teams.

Academic Honesty:
Please do not cheat or plagiarize. Please do not take credit for other people’s work,
either. Instead: Cite your sources and avoid misattribution. UNB takes academic
misconduct seriously, and I am obligated as an instructor to enforce university policy.
“Students may use generative AI in this course in accordance with the guidelines
outlined [for a single assignment: The Writing Genre Exercise], and so long as the use
of generative AI is referenced and cited following citation instructions... Using generative
AI outside assessment guidelines or without citation will constitute academic
dishonesty. It is the student’s responsibility to be clear on the limitations for use for each
assessment and to be clear on the expectations for citation and reference, and to do so
appropriately” (Centre for Enhanced Teaching and Learning, n.d., para. 10).
Details on UNB’s official position regarding academic offenses can be found here:
https://www.unb.ca/academics/calendar/undergraduate/current/regulations/universitywid
eacademicregulations/viii-academicoffences/

Student Accessibility Centre:

The Student Accessibility Centre (n.d.) “provides a variety of on-campus services and
supports to UNB students with disabilities” (para. 1). The Centre notes that most
services may require prior registration. The staff can be reached through email at

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unbsac@unb.ca. More information about the Centre can be found at:
https://www.unb.ca/fredericton/studentservices/academic-success/accessibility-centre/.
If there are any special needs you have, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the start
of the term. I am here to help.

Attendance policy
As per university general regulations I.A) “Students are expected to attend all classes,
laboratories, tutorials, or other class meetings officially designated for a particular
course. They are expected, also, to complete all assignments.” Attendance will be
monitored on a periodic basis. See
http://www.unb.ca/academics/calendar/undergraduate/current/regulations/universitywid
eacademicregulations/i-generalcourseregulation/a.classattendance.html

Requests to complete extra work

The COMS program does NOT allow students to complete extra work in order to make
up for failing a test or course assignment. In exceptional circumstances (such as
documented illness), alternate arrangements may be made. Such arrangements must
be equivalent to the work of the rest of the students in the course.

Review of grades
If you receive a test or assignment and have concerns about your grade, you should
contact the instructor and explain your concerns in writing (e-mail is sufficient). If there
is an error in the calculation of your grade on a test or assignment, you should bring that
to the attention of the instructor as soon as possible.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI):

A central pillar of the university experience is to learn about people different from you,
as well as the world beyond one’s own social setting. Higher education ideally
contributes to the shattering of discriminatory beliefs that circulate through society, and
which wrongly malign such social identities as ethnicity, race, class, gender, and
sexuality. This class will not tolerate discriminatory and divisive language, and students
who engage in it will be asked to leave. COMS 1002 respects students’ pronouns,
name, and gender identity, and it rejects homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, and
racism. It moreover abides by the UNB’s (n.d.b) EDI policy, which begins with the
following statement:
UNB is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which to study and work.
We understand that seeing and celebrating our diversity is a key pathway to
achieving that goal (para. 1).
More information about UNB’s commitment can be found here:
https://www.unb.ca/initiatives/equity-diversity-inclusion/

Experiential Learning in COMS courses

COMx: In 2015 our programme began a long-term project to model Partnership for
21st Century Skills “4 Cs” (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity),

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critical media literacy, along with elements of DIY culture and the Makers movement in
our curriculum as a pilot for other programmes at UNB.

We formally incorporate experiential learning into all COMS courses under the heading
COMx emphasizing: eXperience, eXploration, eXperimentation,
and eXpression through collaborative and individual exploration of media, technology
and the DIY ethos.

In the production courses the assignments already focus on creative expression. In

courses that do not incorporate specific experiential and creative coursework you will
have the opportunity to allocate a portion of your grade (up to max 20%) for
independent creative work that falls within the COMx framework. You must still
complete all the usual work assigned in the course, but you can seek approval for
some experiential creative work that could be swapped in for that portion of the
grade. Consultation with the professor is required for you to undertake this
option. Such arrangements must be made with the instructor prior to experiential work
being undertaken and not all projects will be accepted for such substitute
credit. Experiential assignments will be accepted based on their applicability to each
particular course. Students may elect to do an internship with campus media or a similar
organization for their COMx credit. All COMx projects and internships MUST be
accompanied by written work that reflects upon the learning experience. Specific
projects and requirements will be determined on an individual basis. You must
negotiate your COMx project with the instructor by September 29th. All elements of
the project will be due no later than December 7th.

Course Schedule:

Week Readings and Assignment Due Dates

Course Introduction N/A

Sept. 7 (Thurs)

The Communication Studies Discipline Miller, “Conceptual Foundations”

Sept. 12 (Tues) **In-class Response due**

Sept. 14 (Thurs)

Media Histories and Technologies Marcetic, “Silicon Valley’s Vast Data

Collection”

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Sept. 19 (Tues)
Turkle, “Alone Together”
Sept. 21 (Thurs)

Media Industries McChesney, Ch. 5 (Digital Disconnect)

Sept. 26 (Tues) Watson, “Media Concentration Climbs in

Canada as Newsrooms Shrink”
Sept. 28 (Thurs)

Advertising Fisher, “Why Online Ads Follow You

Around the Web”
Oct. 3 (Tues)
Langman, “Advertising”
Oct. 5 (Thurs)
**Writing Genre Exercise due by 11:59
p.m. on Thursday Oct. 5**

Truth in Media I: Brin & Charlton, “Canadians’ Trust in the

Whom Should We Trust? News Media Hits a New Low”

Oct. 10 (Tues) Davie, “Framing Theory”

Oct. 12 (Thurs)

Truth in Media II: Kibby, “Email Forwardables”

Hoax Emails to Deepfakes
Resnick, “False News Stories Travel
Oct. 17 (Tues) Faster and Farther on Twitter Than the
Truth”
Oct. 19 (Thurs)
**Take-home Exam uploaded to
Brightspace**

Truth in Media III: Lee, “Black Twitter”

Representation, Erasure, Stereotypes
UN, “Breaking Media Stereotypes with
Oct. 24 (Tues) Indigenous Storytelling”

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Oct. 26 (Thursday) **Take-home Exam due by 11:59 p.m. on
Thursday Oct. 26**

The Public Sphere Delanty, “Public Sphere”

Oct. 31 (Tues) Foust & Pratt, “Social Media Finally Broke

the Public Sphere”
Nov. 2 (Thurs)

READING WEEK / NO CLASS

Nov. 7 - 9

The Audience Ang, “Audience-as-Market and Audience-

as-Public”
Nov. 14 (Tues)
KCAL, “Study Finds the Many Streaming
Nov. 16 (Thurs) Choices Overwhelm Audiences”

Popular Culture and Media Use “Fandom and Participatory Culture”

Nov. 21 (Tues) Zevallos, “bell hooks on Critical Thinking”

Nov. 23 (Thurs) **Media Literacy Exercise due by 11:59

p.m. on Thursday Nov. 23**

Communication and Power Warren and Fassett, “Language and

Power in Cultural Lives”
Nov. 28 (Tues)
Khawaja, “Consequences and Remedies
Nov. 30 (Thurs) of Indigenous Language Loss in Canada”

Review and Reflect Hu & Cui, “An Exploration on Humboldt’s

Philosophy of University”
Dec. 5 (Tues)
“Paulo Freire (1921-1997)”
Dec. 7 (Thurs): Last day of class
**In-class Response due**

**Final Essay due by 11:59 p.m. on

Thursday, Dec. 14**

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Evaluation Summary:
In-class Response x2 (10%)
Writing Genre Exercise (20%)
Take-home Exam (20%)
Media Literacy Exercise (25%)
Final Essay (25%)

UNB Grade Scale:

A+ (90-100%) – 4.3
A (85-89%) – 4.0
A- (80-84%) – 3.7
B+ (77-79%) – 3.3
B (74-76%) – 3.0
B- (70-73%) – 2.7
C+ (66-69%) – 2.3
C (60-65%) – 2.0
D (50-59%) – 1.0
F (0-49%) – 0.0

References

Centre for Enhanced Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Academic integrity and generative
AI. UNB.
https://unbcloud.sharepoint.com/sites/CETL/SitePages/Academic-Integrity-and-
Generative-AI.aspx

Government of Canada. (2022). Canada’s efforts to counter disinformation – Russian

invasion of Ukraine. Retrieved from:
https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-
enjeux_developpement/response_conflict-reponse_conflits/crisis-crises/ukraine-
disinfo-desinfo.aspx?lang=eng

Jutel, O. (2019). Civility, subversion and technocratic class consciousness:

Reconstituting truth in the journalistic field. In R. Overell and B. Nicholls (Eds.).
Post-truth and the mediation of reality: New conjunctures (pp. 177-202). Cham,
CH: Palgrave Macmillan.

Malone, M. (2022). 20 most inspiring Ernest Hemingway quotes on writing. Hooked to

Books. Retrieved from:
https://www.hookedtobooks.com/ernest-hemingway-quotes-on-
writing/#:~:text=Writing%20is%20something%20that%20you,when%20I%20do%
20it%20well.

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Mattelart, A., & Mattelart, M. (2004). Theories of communication. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.

Student Services Saint John. (n.d.). Writing centre. Retrieved from:

https://unbcloud.sharepoint.com/sites/SJStudentServices/SitePages/WritingCentr
e.aspx

UNB. (n.d.a). Acknowledgments and references.

https://www.unb.ca/initiatives/sustainability/climatechange/ccap/acknowledgeme
nts.html

UNB. (n.d.b). Equity, diversity and inclusion. Retrieved from:

https://www.unb.ca/initiatives/equity-diversity-inclusion/

Acknowledgments:
Special thanks to Dr. Wade Nelson and Dr. Daniel Ahadi for their materials in
preparation of this syllabus.

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