Symbolic Expression Prezi

PDF here. 

Test I Grades are Posted

Record time, no? The testing center must have been working extra hard today. Visit the grades page to see how you did. Remember, you will need your confidential J3060 ID number to find your grade. Please store this number somewhere safe as you will need it throughout the semester. Posted grades reflect a 9 point curve (added to every test), plus any extra credit you earned. The highest score on the test pre-curve was a 91. Combining my two classes (100 students total), 22 students scored between a 90-100, 22 scored between an 80-89, 31 scored between 70-79, 11 between 60-69 and 3 below a 60. The zeros reflect students who missed the test entirely. There were no substantial variations between the two classes, either, FYI. 

Congrats to those who met or exceeded their expectations. To those that didn't, don't panic. The Professor is here to help! 

Reminder (Tue-Thu students): No Class on Thursday

I'm presenting at the International Studies Association convention. Please, please take the morning and work on term papers!! Will see you next week!

Test tomorrow is still a go, as long as GSU is open. But be SAFE.

Hi Tuesday/Thursday Folks: I'm receiving lots of emails and figured it may be helpful to post here for all to read. GSU has announced a "delayed opening tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 11am." That is also the same time we are scheduled to take the first exam of the semester.

I don’t have a lot of wiggle room in these situations, and if school is open at 11:00 AM (as is planned), then I will be giving the test as planned.

All of this said, I would never want any student to take a risk by driving in truly difficult weather. So, if you don’t feel safe getting to campus in time for the 11 am exam, then we’ll work out a make-up (see syllabus for make up policy). I will ask any student who requires a make up exam to provide verification of their address, so I can know that there was a legitimate reason for skipping the exam. This is to say, if you live on campus, or near campus, or near functioning public transportation, or your commute is one we would consider otherwise safe, you should plan on being here tomorrow @ 11am.

Again, your safety is my absolute and primary concern. Hope this is helpful, and I hope you all are warm and dry! I biked home from campus tonight. Wouldn't recommend anyone else try that!

Need Motivation to Study?

Somewhat unrelated to media law, but entirely related to your lives and the importance of finishing your degree, is this story:

Last month’s federal jobs report showed a rock-bottom unemployment rate of 2.8 percent for workers who hold at least a four-year degree. The overall unemployment rate is 5.7 percent...“Presumably, these educated workers are the most productive in our information economy,” wrote Guy LeBas, a financial analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott, in a report Bloomberg Businessand other media outlets cited. “At some point in the coming year, we’re going to risk running out of new, productive people to employ.” Anthony P. Carnevale concurred with LeBas. As director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce and a top expert on the labor-market returns of degrees, Carnevale has long railed against dubious arguments about the payoff from college being overrated. “We’re headed for full employment” of bachelor’s-degree-holding workers, he said.

This is to say, the best way to secure a good job is to graduate from college. So study! Own this first test! If you have trouble, come see me so I can help! Let's get you graduated!

T-minus one week (or less) until our first test!

A couple of helpful tips: download the lectures sooner rather than later go going here and saving the audio files to your computer or mobile device. This will avoid any last minute problems with Dropbox. 

Study!! Better to be over-prepared than under prepared. Use your notes, the book, and my lectures to try and triangulate your notes on each item on the study guide. 

If you have questions, get in touch. I was lonely during my office hours today, but that's okay. I'll make time with anyone who wants to meet before the test. 

When you take the test next week, pay attention to detail. Read questions carefully, and multiple times. You will have plenty of time. This class is about the law, and, thus, linguistic precision matters A LOT. So, please, pay attention to detail. 

Also, please bring a #2 pencil to next week's test. Need motivation? I've got you covered. 

Internet Policy Prezi

Download a PDF copy here. 

Reading on Internet Policy

Also linked from the syllabus, but just in case, here is Lessig (1999) Law of the Horse. This is in addition to the textbook, of course. 

Broadcast & Cable Regulations Prezi

Download the PDF version here. 

Amazing Study Abroad Opportunity!

Folks, I've had a few students drop out of my Maymester study abroad program at the last minute due to financial reasons and thus have a few openings. If you are interested in a trip that will change your life, please let me know ASAP so that I can get you admitted into the program. I need to move fast as we're buying plane tickets this week or next, but I'd love it if a few of your could join us on our adventure to Istanbul and Budapest.

Some additional details: The program runs during the Maymester and includes trips to Istanbul and Budapest. Students receive 6 credit hours for participating in the intensive month long course. From the brochure: "Global Business and Media offers students a remarkable opportunity to learn about, explore and analyze an important topic: international business and global dimensions of an important industry— media and communications. In particular, we spend a full day at CNN, meeting with executives, touring facilities, and learning about business and media related careers in CNN. Several workshops are held in March and April in order to acquaint ourselves with the economy, business, political, and cultural environment of Turkey and Hungary. Studying business and journalism in the context of two emerging economies, Turkey and Hungary, in contrast to the U.S., provides participants a comparative perspective in an increasingly interconnected global economy. Students also develop an appreciation of cultural differences and how they may affect business and society. 

We spend the first week in Atlanta, meeting with professors, local business leaders and media organizations to deepen their knowledge of the economic aspects of media and journalism industries. We then travel to Istanbul and Budapest for the next twelve nights. In these two vibrant cities, they will meet with an impressive array of business leaders, political and civil society leaders, and educators. While in Istanbul, Georgia State students study with peers – a group of undergraduate students from Marmara University who participate in all activities and serve as cultural ambassadors. This cross-cultural interaction provides a unique experience which makes learning more meaningful and pleasant. Organized visits in Istanbul include leading local companies (e.g. Turkcell) and multinational companies (Coca-Cola, CNN and UPS). Field tours include visits to several media organizations, including Al Jazeera Turk, Bloomberg, Fox and NTV studios. In Budapest, students will visit Central European University, Turner Broadcasting System, Kitchen Budapest and Prezi. We also explore Budapest on a bike tour, and enjoy a cruise on the scenic Danube River."

I'm especially proud of the success of program alum. Former students have gone onto work at CNN (International and Español), Coca Cola, HP, Deloitte, AT&T and CBS/Fox affiliates throughout the southeast (including on-air anchors in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi). 

For additional details, including photos from previous trips and sample syllabi, please visit: http://gsu-sa.blogspot.com/