Questioning the media ch. 15

Q1:  What are your main concerns or criticisms about the state of media studies at your college or University?

A:  At Lenoir-Rhyne University, there do not seem to be a whole lot of media studies in effect.  However, every once in a while there will be a survey being taken on campus that usually supplies incentive to take it.  What these organizations are trying to find out is what is effective in marketing.  They want to know how to better reach out to students in order to sell more of their product.  They may say it is to improve it or make life better, but ultimately these companies are looking after their own self interest.

Q3:  Can you think of an issue that a media industry and academic researchers could study together?  Explain.

A:  When thinking about what media  industries and academic researchers could study together, many issues come to mind.  Research could be conducted to find out purchasers buying habits, as well as what particular devices attract buyers.  With properly conducted trials, a vast amount of information could be attained by researchers.  This information could then be reported to media companies and utilized in their marketing.  Both of these profesions could go hand in hand to benefit the market.

Q4:  In looking at media courses in a college curriculum, what do you think is the relationship between theory and practice?  Do hands on, practical skills courses such as news reporting, advertising copywriting, or TV production belong in a liberal arts college or in a separate mass communications college?  Explain your answer.

A:  I believe that you must practice a theory in order to prove its effectiveness.  If all you do is simply talk about something, one cannot truly grasp the feel for it.  I think it is important to do hands-on activities in classes at the college level in order to give someone experience in their career field.  Communications courses not only benefit communications majors, but also people going into any field where they must relate with other people.  It is for this reason why I feel these types of courses not only belong in mass communications colleges, but also in liberal arts schools.