This course will examine mass media and democracy through a political communication lens. Beyond the basic issues and theories in political communication that will be covered in this course, topics such as the decline of social capital, the rise of the permanent campaign, values and trends within journalism and popular culture, the political strategies employed by political leaders and the effects of media coverage on political and electorial processes will be discussed in this class. PREREQ: 18 credits in COST or permission of the Department Chair. (lec 3) cr 3.
