A scholar of political socialization, Prof. McDevitt explores influences of family, media, and schools in the cultivation of youth civic development and ideological identity. This research highlights the value of conflict seeking and deliberation in youth expression, rather than adopting the prevailing view of political development as internalization and conflict avoidance. He is currently writing about adolescent attraction to authoritarian ideologies. In a second area of political communication, Prof. McDevitt studies how journalism operates as a political institution during democratic backsliding. He was recently editor of a special issue of Mass Communication and Society: Media and the Future of Democracy. He is the author of Where Ideas Go to Die: The Fate of Intellect in American Journalism (Oxford, 2020). The book documents how anti-intellectualism is encoded in routine news and channeled in more spectacular cases of media ritual. Chapters draw evidence from a national survey of journalism students, interviews of 'dangerous professors' targeted by vigilante groups, and case studies that document journalistic complicity in the rise of authoritarian populism.
keywords
political communication, political socialization, youth civic engagement, political identity, journalism studies, media sociology, anti-intellectualism, populism, deliberation, authoritarianism
The Crisis of the Institutional Press.
Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly: devoted to research and commentary in journalism and mass communication.
606-607.
2021
APRD 7003 - ProSeminar in Mass Communication Theory II
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Continues introducing and discussing theoretical and methodological points of view in areas of communication, journalism and persuasion. Discusses the most important qualitative and quantitative methodological points of view, and from theoretical viewpoints that range from social science to critical studies. The idea is to develop an appreciation for theories and methodologies that can be employed depending upon the research question. Same as JRNL7003.
APRD 7030 - Media Sociology
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2022
Examines a range of theories for how media messages and media institutions turn out the way they do. 'Media sociology' refers to theorizing about the media as the 'dependent variable;' even though many of the 'independent variables' explored are not narrowly sociological. It connects media actors, organizations, and institutions to sociological concepts such as socialization, interaction, roles, and structures. Same as JRNL 7030.
APRD 7061 - Quantitative Research Methods
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
Introduces graduate students to concepts and applications in quantitative research methods. The course prepares students fordissertation writing through hands-on experience in developing research designs and conducting independent quantitative research. Same as JRNL 7061.
JRNL 3201 - Critical Perspectives on Journalism
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Spring 2021
Introduces students to the critical perspectives most often employed in qualitative analysis of journalistic texts and practice: Marxism, psychoanalytical criticism, semiology, sociological criticism, structuralism, etc. Emphasis is upon texts from contemporary print and broadcast media, although students may also explore documentary film and literary journalism.
JRNL 3651 - Media Law and Ethics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018
Studies state and federal laws and court decisions that affect the media in order to develop knowledge of media rights and responsibilities and an understanding of the legal system. Provides students with an overview of the theories, ethics, codes, and analytical models that are used in journalism, and introduces students to a variety of ethical issues that can arise in journalism.
JRNL 4002 - Reporting 2
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020
Assumes mastery of basic reporting and writing skills. Students produce more sophisticated stories on a variety of topics.
JRNL 4602 - Opinion Writing
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023
Concentrates on several of the subjective areas of journalism. Emphasizes editorial and column writing, editorial pages and blogging. Same as JRNL 5602.
JRNL 4931 - Internship
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Summer 2019 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Summer 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Summer 2023 / Spring 2024
Internship
JRNL 5602 - Opinion Writing
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018
Concentrates on several of the subjective areas of journalism. Emphasizes editorial and column writing, editorial pages and blogging. Same as JRNL 4602.
JRNL 5651 - Journalism Law & Ethics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019
Explores the legal and ethical frameworks of journalistic practice and media production. Covers historical as well as current frameworks used in examining the legal and ethical issues that arise in newsgathering and publication. Examines the relationships between ethics and the law in various media context.
JRNL 7003 - ProSeminar in Mass Communication Theory II
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Continues introducing and discussing theoretical and methodological points of view in areas of communication, journalism and persuasion. Discusses the most important qualitative and quantitative methodological points of view, and from theoretical viewpoints that range from social science to critical studies. The idea is to develop an appreciation for theories and methodologies that can be employed depending upon the research question. Same as APRD 7003.
JRNL 7030 - Media Sociology
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2022
Examines a range of theories for how media messages and media institutions turn out the way they do. 'Media sociology' refers to theorizing about the media as the 'dependent variable;' even though many of the 'independent variables' explored are not narrowly sociological. It connects media actors, organizations, and institutions to sociological concepts such as socialization, interaction, roles, and structures. Same as APRD 7030.
JRNL 7061 - Quantitative Research Methods
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
Introduces graduate students to concepts and applications in quantitative research methods. The course prepares students fordissertation writing through hands-on experience in developing research designs and conducting independent quantitative research. Same as APRD 7061.
MDST 7061 - Quantitative Research Methods in Media
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019
Examines various methods of quantitative data gathering methods and analysis in the mass media context. Formerly CMCI 7061.
PSCI 4341 - Media and Politics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019
Examines aspects of political communication as it applies to citizens, political decision makers, and specific public policies. Recommended prerequisite: PSCI 1101.
