About

Course Background

 

The way we consume and create media and content continue to evolve at a rapid pace. The Demystifying Media seminar series, which the SOJC launched in January 2016, explores the impact of these changes across the communications landscape and finds new ways to move forward.

 

Each term, leading media practitioners, academics, and researchers—working on the cutting edge of these global changes – come to campus to discuss the impact of the 21st-century media revolution with students, faculty, and staff.

 

See the archive of lectures, podcasts, interviews and more: http://journalism.uoregon.edu/demystifyingmedia/

 

What’s new for Spring 2018?

 

The Demystifying Media speaker series was expanded in Winter 2018 to include an associated 2-credit workshop, allowing for further exploration of the themes and ideas to emerge from these guest lectures, as well as other important industry issues.

 

New for Spring 2018, I’ve expanded the scope of the associated class to focus on guest speakers.

There will be guest speakers each class this term, except for Weeks 1 and 10.

 

Talks from guests in Weeks 3, 5, 7 and 8 are open to all, but there will be more detailed discussions – and additional networking opportunities with our guest speakers – are only available to workshop participants. Guests sessions in Weeks 2, 4, 6 and 9 are only open to this class.

 


 

Guest Speakers for Spring 2018

 

These are always subject to change, but here’s the current line-up of confirmed speakers:

 

  • David Ewald, Chief Design Officer at Uncorked Studios in Portland.
  • David Bornstein, CEO and Co-Founder, Solutions Journalism Network.
  • Jessica Clark, Director, Dot Connector Studio, Research Affiliate, MIT Open Documentary Lab, Editor http://immerse.news/

 

  • Will Grant, Cuba correspondent, BBC
  • Joy Mayer, Director, The Trusting News project, Audience Engagement strategist.
  • Tom Arviso Jr., CEO and Publisher, Navajo Times
  • Erin Krug, Vice President, Quinn Thomas Strategic Communications (Portland and Seattle)

 

You can find out more about this in the detailed class schedule outlined on the following pages.

 

Learning outcomes

 

The class will look at the rapidly changing media landscape, exploring market trends, strategies and changes in both content consumption and content creation.

 

In doing this, the class will equip students with a richer understanding of the wider media and business world. These trends are applicable to students across the SOJC and beyond.

 

Whatever your major (Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations or Media Studies) you’ll learn up to date market knowledge which will inform your wider studies and career goals.

 

By the end of term, you will be able to:

 

  • Understand and describe some of the major strategic challenges being faced by news and other media outlets, particularly related to: business models, audience behaviours, distribution and content Innovation, and the changing media industry.

 

  • Demonstrate examples of your own written research and analysis in this space.

 

  • Have a working knowledge of current industry “hot” topics that will allow you to sound smart at interviews for job and internships.

 

  • Know where to look for relevant industry information/data/analysis.

 

  • Have networked, in-person, with leading industry thinkers.

 

Alongside this, you will also have a clearer understanding of:

 

  1. What employers are looking for in job hires.

 

  1. How job roles, sectors and markets are changing.

 

  1. Tips for networking, interviewing, and job search.