Political
Communication
COMM 342/642 Fall 2015
Allan
D. Louden, louden@wfu.edu
EVALUATION:
Major Research Project, 50% - Mid-Term 15%; Final Examination, 20%; Participation, 15%Midterm Due Nov 5
Final Exam - distributed by Nov 29, Due by Dec. 11
Final Project Due Dec 7-11
TOPICS AND READINGS
Week 1 - Introduction, Political awareness Quiz
Readings: Jamieson, Packaging the Presidency, 1st third
Week 2 - Topic: Politics as Symbolic Action - Overview
Readings: Jamieson, Packaging the Presidency, 2nd third
Video: Television and the Presidency (on hold)
Week 3-4 - Topic: Getting Elected Part I - Media & Elections and Getting Elected
Readings: Jamieson, Packaging the Presidency, Last 3rd
Video - Vote for MeWeek 5-6 - Political Advertising
Video: A number of examples will be presented and critiqued
Week 7 -- Media Coverage of Campaigns
Video: "Journey's with George"
Week 8 - Getting Elected - Part II - New Technologies, & Direct Mail
Video: Movie - "Taking on the Kennedy’s"
Should have been Midterm Due Oct ? - take home
Week 9- New Technologies and politics on the web
Readings to be sent
Weel 10-11 Political Debates
Video: - doc film on pol debates
Week 12 - Candidate Assessment
Powerpoints
Readings:
Popkin, S.L. (1991). The Reasoning Voter: Communication and Persuasion in Presidential Campaigns (pp. 72-95).
Louden, A.D., & McCauliff, K. (2004) The “Authentic Candidate”: Extending candidate image assessment. Presidential Candidate Images (pp. 85-103), K. Hacker (Ed.). Praeger.Week 13 - Consultants
Panel of Political consultants
Week 14 - No class Nov 15 - National Comm Assoc Convention)
we do meet balance of week, Nov 17, 19
Rhetorical ImplicationsWeek 15 - Last week of classes
Report on papers