Monday, March 31, 2008

Audience and Ratings


For the weblog entry due for this week, look up the Nielsen ratings on one of your favorite prime time network television shows. If you don’t like any network shows chose something that one of your friends watches. How many television households watched that program in the recent week and how’s it compare to other shows in its timeslot. How does your show do when it comes to ratings versus share? What do you think would happen to the ratings if you move the show to a different time night and time period? What kind of competition would it face? How do you think the ratings would change and why?

Write a 400 to 450 word analysis using the questions mentioned int he above paragraph. Please have a coherent thesis (an idea which hold the entry together). Use examples. Write like professionals. Write like you in fact have an audience outside of this class.

This entry should b e posted on YOUR blog before 11:59 PM Sunday, April 6th.

Ratings information abounds on the internet, but here are some links you might find useful:

Monday, March 3, 2008

Review Postman Amusing Ourselves to Death


This assignment is due on YOUR blog by 11:59 PM, Monday, March 10th.

You will write a 350 to 400 review of this book that you will post on your blog. remember that you should approach the tone of this not as if you were responding to a class assignment. Assume that you are a media critic and that you came across this book recently and read it upon the recommendation of a colleague. You read the book and have some thoughts about it's relevance to the media today.

As you write this you need to keep a couple things in mind. First review the previous post on this blog about writing better posts. Also review the post for the last assignment which had some good links in it about writing critical opinion pieces. Also, here are some more specific requirements for this assignment:

  • You want to focus your comments. You can't write 400 words without a focus. Develop a thesis (an idea you want to support and go from there).
  • You don't have to agree with him and you can argue that there is or isn't relevance to the media landscape today. It's your choice, you'll just need to...
  • Support your thesis with specific examples from what is happening today in the media landscape. Cite some other sources other than the book.
Remember the due date mentioned above and and please post comments to at least two other blog next week.

Postman Discussion Part II

It's time! We will discuss part two of the Postman book in class on Friday. By 11:59 PM on Wednesday March 5th. Post one idea or statement you agree with and why you agree with it and one statement or idea you disagree with and why.

Ten points for this toward your blogging grade is done on time...no (zero) points if late.

Post your response to the comments section of THIS post.