J8052: Case Studies in the Digital Globe
(Section 1) (Fridays 2:00-4:50 p.m.)

Winter 2010

Instructors: Fritz Cropp and Randy Smith
Offices: 76 Gannett Hall; 310H Reynolds Journalism Institute
Phone: (573) 882-1930; (573) 882-9738
E-mail: croppf@missouri.edu; smithrandall@missouri.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment

Course Description

Case Studies in the Digital Globe: 3 credits.

Some evening, take a quick look at the clothes in your closet. In this simple exercise, you’ll take a quick trip around the globe. The garments represent a worldwide story – from Italian wool tailored in Hong Kong for American consumers or African cotton woven into shirts in the Maldives for European fashion.

The story of textiles easily relates to a multiplicity of fields of study. Lawyers in America are going to trials in South Africa. Journalists are headed to Kabul at a moment’s notice. And businesses have seen the flattening of the world move many of the accounting and finance skills to places like India or the Philippines.

This inter-departmental course will discuss the impact of technological change and globalization from the perspective of business, law and journalism. Students will examine electronic commerce, digitization and globalization to prepare them to respond to the challenges of the digital globe. Students will acquire a working understanding of how digital technologies function, effective Internet communication strategies, and legal aspects of the Internet.

The course is designed to further develop the levels of understanding and skills obtained in the introductory class “Exploring the Digital Globe.” In this class, students will achieve a better understanding of how new media are different from print or broadcast media and the consequences of those differences. Students will be introduced to the principles, opportunities, and ethical use of electronic commerce. Students will critically analyze issues raised by technological change, including globalization, political boundaries, access, ownership and uses of information, marketing, etc.

This course will have a decidedly international flavor, with anticipated guests from Europe, Asia, Africa and elsewhere – along with campus experts with research or practical experience in issues surrounding the impact of digital technology.

This course is the final course necessary toward fulfilling the requirements for the interdisciplinary university-wide certificate offered by the Center for the Digital Globe.

Course Requirements

All students must (1) complete all reading and display a command of the material in discussion and in group work; (2) prepare written materials in support of oral analysis of case problems unfolding in various news media; (3) prepare an annotated bibliography with a short oral briefing; and (4) participate as a team member in presenting a case study analysis

Specific assignment sheets will be provided for the following.

Current affairs case discussions

Annotated bibliography with short briefing
Others, as warranted

Course Materials

In this course, reading materials will be partially determined by current events. This tends to assure that the course will be current. It also requires your flexibility.

In addition, we will assign additional readings, including:

The World is Flat

1491

The Kenyan Journal

Economist articles. Social Networks. Mobile Marvels. 9/26/09. Carbon economy 12/5/09 China and America 10/24/09 Business and finance in Brazil 11/09 World Economy 10/09.

Class Rules

Attendance is mandatory. You may miss class with an excuse only once during the semester. Your grade will be reduced by one-half of one letter for each additional unexcused absence after the first one. Check with me first to be excused – standards for after-the-fact excuses are particularly high.

Deadlines are real. If you miss a deadline, your grade will be reduced by one letter for each 24-hour period or portion thereof. No assignment will be accepted more than three days late. Student presentations cannot be made up at a later date.

All written work should be turned in using proper format and style. Correct grammar, punctuation, spelling and usage are expected.

The focus of this course is on active learning. Thus, there are no scheduled exams. In the early weeks, discussion sessions, written work and presentations by students will supplant exams. In the second half of the semester, we will be tested by the development of the strategic campaign plan.

Evaluation

Evaluation is necessarily subjective. My commitment is to keep you apprised of expectations. In particular, you should pay close attention to the assignment sheets and participate actively in class and team efforts. You will be asked to confidentially evaluate the effort of your team members during the second half of the semester.

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. All members of the academic community must be confident that each person's work has been responsibly and honorably acquired, developed and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful.

Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to the following:

Use of materials from another author without citation or attribution.

Use of verbatim materials from another author without citation or attribution.

Extensive use of materials from past assignments without permission of your instructor.

Extensive use of materials from assignments in other classes without permission of your instructor.

Fabricating information in news stories.

Fabricating sources in news stories.

Fabricating quotes in news stories.

Lack of full disclosure or permission from editors when controversial reportorial techniques, such as going undercover to get news, are used.

When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting or collaboration, consult with your instructor. For closed-book exams and exercises, academic misconduct includes conferring with other class members, copying or reading someone else's test and using notes and materials without prior permission of the instructor. For open-book exams and exercises, academic misconduct includes copying or reading someone else's work.

Classroom Misconduct

Classroom misconduct includes forgery of class attendance, obstruction or disruption of teaching, failure to turn off cellular telephones leading to disruption of teaching, playing games or surfing the Internet on laptop computers unless instructed to do so, physical abuse or safety threats, theft, property damage, disruptive, lewd or obscene conduct, abuse of computer time, repeated failure to attend class when attendance is required and repeated failure to participate or respond in class when class participation is required.

Under MU policy, your instructor has the right to ask for your removal from the course for misconduct or excessive absences. The instructor then has the right to issue a grade of withdraw, withdraw failing or F. The instructor alone is responsible for assigning the grade in such circumstances.

Dishonesty and Misconduct Reporting Procedures

MU faculties are required to report all instances of academic or classroom misconduct to the appropriate campus officials. Allegations of classroom misconduct will be forwarded immediately to MU's Vice Chancellor for Student Services. Allegations of academic misconduct will be forwarded immediately to MU's Office of the Provost. In cases of academic misconduct, the student will receive at least a zero for the assignment in question.

Professional Standards and Ethics

The School of Journalism is committed to the highest standards of academic and professional ethics and expects its students to adhere to those standards. Students should be familiar with the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists and adhere to its restrictions. Students are expected to observe strict honesty in academic programs and as representatives of school-related media. Should any student be guilty of plagiarism, falsification, misrepresentation or other forms of dishonesty in any assigned work, that student may be subject to a failing grade from the instructor and such disciplinary action as may be necessary under University regulations.

University of Missouri-Columbia Notice of Nondiscrimination

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action institution and is nondiscriminatory relative to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or status as a Vietnam-era veteran. Any person having inquiries concerning the University of Missouri-Columbia's compliance with implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, or other civil rights laws should contact the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resource Services, University of Missouri-Columbia, 130 Heinkel Building, Columbia, Mo. 65211, (573) 882-4256, or the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.

Accomodations

If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and need assistance, please notify me immediately. The school will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your special needs. Students are excused for recognized religious holidays. Please let me know in advance if you have a conflict.

ADA Compliance

If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and need assistance, please notify the Office of Disability Services, A038 Brady Commons, 882 4696, or the course instructor immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.

Religious Holidays

Students are automatically excused for recognized religious holidays. Let your instructor know in advance if you have a conflict.

Tentative schedule

January 22: Course introduction and getting acquainted

January 29: Guest speaker#1 - Reuters (Randy)

February 5: Group 1 leads discussion

February 12: Guest#2 - Apple (Fritz)

February 19: Group 2 leads discussion

February 26: Europe speaker (Fritz)

March 5: CDiG guest #3 (Randy)

March 8: Group #3 leads discussion

March 12: Attend CDiG Special Event

March 19: Guest #4 South America (Fritz and Randy)

March 26: Group #4 leads discussion

April 2: No Class - Spring Break

April 9: Guest #5 China (Ernest)

April 16: Group #5 leads discussion

April 23: Fellows Panel

April 30: Group #6 leads discussion

May 7: Course wrap-up

May 14: Schedule final exam. Final papers due.

NOTE: THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE UNIVERSITY AND/OR THE PROFESSOR.

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