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London College of Communication

School of Media

BA (Hons) Journalism

Contextual Studies Year 1

2010/11

MODULE HANDBOOK

SECTION C

Terms 2&3 lectures and seminars

The making of the modern press

BA Journalism Contextual Studies 1, 2010/11

Module handbook Section C, terms 2 and 3

CONTENTS

Page

Overview…………………………………………..5

Lecture & seminar schedule, term 2……….6-13

• J.S. Mill: liberalism and the press................................6

• US Penny Press………………………………………6-7

• W.T. Stead and the first ‘New Journalism’………...7-8

• The press barons…………………………………… 7-9

• The Russian Revolution…………………………… 8-10

• The Great Depression and the New Deal ………..9-11

• The rise of Nazism…………………. .....................10-12

• The BBC and public service journalism……….....11-13

• The history of periodicals (lecture)………………...... 12

Schedule, term 3

• Periodicals (seminar) & research essay brief……14-15

• Examination……………………………………....……..16

• End of term brief…………………………………....…...16

Terms 2 and 3: The making of the modern press

The programme this term looks at the conditions that surrounded the phenomenal growth of the press in the 19^th century, some of the key developments and ideas that influenced and preoccupied journalists through the early 20^th Century up to the Second World War, and the changes in style and content of British and American newspapers during this time.

The programme incorporates historical documents, literature and original press coverage, and places the changes in journalism against their social, political, economic and philosophical background. It encompasses the roots of the American popular press, the sensationalist campaigning newspapers of 1880s London, the role of the early press barons and the emergence of broadcasting. We will consider the impact of the Russian Revolution and the growth of Nazism, with a look at the role of the media in both cases.

The final element of the teaching programme will cover the history of periodicals and the development of media aimed specifically at either men or women.

Towards the end of Term 3, there will be an unseen timed examination covering the seminar and lecture content over the three terms.

Assessment

All students will complete four seminar essays in term 2, including the mandatory one on John Stuart Mill and ‘liberal journalism’. Everyone is also required to do the periodicals research essay, which has to be handed in at the start of Term 3.

You will be allocated the topics for the Term 2 essays: lists will be put up on the Year One notice board. Each of these essays must be about 1,500 words long and typed

Whether or not you are writing an essay for a particular week, you are required to complete the reading and attend the seminar. You are expected to make a contribution to all the seminar discussions: this is assessed and goes towards your final mark for the year. The seminars will also help you prepare for the end-of-year exam.

On those weeks when you have written an essay, bring it with you to the seminar, use it as a prompt for discussion and then give it to the tutor at the end of the seminar. It will be marked and returned as soon as possible.

Remember - you must reference all your sources using the Harvard system: see separate document, ‘Guidance on essay writing at degree level’. You must also include a bibliography and a word count at the end; and please ensure that your name and the title are always at the top of the first page.

The periodicals essay must be 2,500 words long. Full details of this assignment can be found in the Term 3 schedule later in this section of the module handbook.

Essay research:

Books listed below as ‘key texts’ are essential reading. ‘Background Reading’ will increase your general understanding of the subject and help you to obtain a good mark. The lists are not fully comprehensive – you should be able to find others in the LCC library or elsewhere. The general reading list in Section A of the module handbook is still relevant.