Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for COMM 228 Winter 2025


Course Number:
COMM 228
Course Title:
Mass Communication and Society
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Explores mass media and the social, cultural and political influences and effects on society and the individual. Introduces the history, development and technological advances of mass communication systems. Includes an analysis of print and broadcast journalism, advertising, public relations, television, film, new media and digital convergence. This course is also offered as J 201; a student who enrolls in this course a second time under either designator will be subject to the course repeat policy. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to: 

  1. Explain the effects of mass media on diverse media consumers and society as a whole to further develop media literacy. 

  2. Identify the connection between journalistic/media freedoms and democracy in order to understand how and what type of content is created and distributed.

  3. Discuss the political, legal, and economic influence of media industries and the balance between business interests and serving the public.

  4. Analyze media messages and their impact on society and the individual through a critical lens.

  5. Recognize the purpose and influence of different media messages on diverse audiences.

Integrative Learning

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to reflect on one’s work or competencies to make connections between course content and lived experience.

General education philosophy statement

Communication is essential to being human and mediated communication is essential to how humans organize in community. Journalism/communication courses study media message systems and mediated messages and how they both build and reflect the cultural, political and economic systems of societies. This course examines how media has affected our collective and individual perceptions of the world, as well as values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors of community members.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

The forms of assessment will be determined by the individual instructor. 

Assessment strategies may include:

  • Qualitative examinations      
  • Quantitative examinations
  • Essays 
  • Journals
  • Research papers
  • In-class participation
  • Portfolios
  • Projects
  • Oral presentations
  • Group work
  • Reaction papers
  • Service Learning

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  • Histories and growth of different media
  • Connections between types of media
  • Print media
  • Radio
  • Electronic media
  • Persuasive Professionals
  • International Media
  • Connection between media and society
  • Political Economy analysis of media
  • Media literacy
  • Media and democracy

Competencies and Skills: Students will: 

  • Be able to analyze the functions of mass communication systems and their effect on society.
  • Be able to explain the histories and connections between different media.
  • Be able to see how the dissemination of information influences individual perceptions.
  • Be able to identify the differences and similarities in the broad range of mass media.
  • Be able to make connections between and among the different elements influencing mass media.

SAC Approved Textbooks:

  • Mass Media Revolution, Sterin,  Pearson
  • Media Essentials, Campbell.  Bedford-St Martin
  • Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication (https://open.lib.umn.edu/mediaandculture/)