COMM 121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: First Lady Of The United States, Michelle Obama, Carpool Karaoke
7 Sep 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
9/6/16 - Introduction: Media and Democracy
U.S. Constitution:
1. First Amendment
Not absolute
Limited by its own exclusions (incitement)
Speech is free elsewhere without a constitutional guarantee
But our (U.S.) free speech is protected by the amendment
Excludes private control over expression - Ex. Corporate boss can limit what you
say at work.
Contested system - Who has the power to speak?
Ownership and Commerce
-Model [Media system] is run by corporate sponsorship
Not true of all national systems (BBC in the UK, CBC in Canada)
If you don’t have access to the press, how can you get your word
out?
Media and Power
1. How is media expression channeled through commercial systems?
2. With what consequences for the range of content, messages, meanings, and truths that we
take from the media?
See: Michelle Obama Carpool Karaoke
1. Why is FLOTUS on entertainment television?
2. What difference does it make that she and Corden are singing?
•Normals can relate to Michelle. Makes her more approachable.
•Coordinated with DNC speech.
•Promoting - Education for girls
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