Tentative Outline

Examining the visual images, texts, and production of news in U.S. newspapers and their expression of civic culture, as well as the ways scholars can study the same.

Unit 1. Overview

April 19, Introduction

April 26, Forms of News Through History

Wiki Reading: Barnhurst & John Nerone, The Form of News, A History, Chapter 1, Introduction, pp. 1–25.

Unit 2. The Role of Pictures

May 2, Civic Picturing

Wiki Reading: Barnhurst & Nerone, The Form of News, A History, Chapter 4, “Civic Picturing, 1856–1901,” pp. 108–139.

May 3

Assignment. Turn in a proposal for a research topic. The proposal should be no longer than two pages and must include the following items: 1. Indicate the issue or problem and why it matters; 2. Describe any relevant writing you have found related to the problem or issue; 3. State the specific research techniques you will use; 4. Explain why the issue matters or has importance; and 5. List complete references for the literature mentioned in the text.

May 9, Pictures & Journalistic Values

Wiki Reading: Barnhurst & Nerone, The Form of News, A History, Chapter 5, “The President Is Dead, 1881–1963,” pp. 140–177.

May 10, Visual examples. Bring an example of journalism values seen in pictures.

Unit 3. The Rise of Modernism

May 16, Phases of Modernism

Wiki Reading: Barnhurst & Nerone, The Form of News, A History, Chapter 6, “The Front Page, 1885–1905,” pp. 180–218.

May 17, Visual examples. Bring an example of modern design and mark its characteristics.

May 23, Modern Design & Cultural Authority

Wiki Reading: Barnhurst & Nerone, The Form of News, A History, Chapter 7, “Visual Mapping, 1920–1940,” pp. 219–254.

May 24

Assignment. Turn in a 10–12-page draft of the research paper, using the five headings above.

Unit 4. After Modernism

May 30, Americanization and Its Consequences

Wiki Reading: Barnhurst & Nerone, The Form of News, A History, Chapter 8, “Americanization, 1910–2000,” pp. 256–297.

May 31, Visual examples. Bring an example of a visual element that shows Americanization.

June 6, Forms of Knowledge & Power

Wiki Reading: Barnhurst & Nerone, The Form of News, A History, Chapter 9, Conclusion, pp. 298–310.

June 7, 13–14, Research Presentations

Assignment. Turn in the completed research paper on the day of the presentation.

June 27, Final Exam