COMM:2086:0002 — Global Media Studies The University of Iowa The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Fall 2026 · 3 semester hours Course Information Item Details Meeting time & place Monday / Wednesday / Friday, 2:30–3:20 p.m., 203 BCSB (Becker Communication Studies Building) Delivery mode In person Department Department of Communication StudiesLinks to an external site. — 105 BCSB, (319) 335-0575 Course ICON site Log in to Iowa Courses Online (ICON)Links to an external site. with your Hawk ID and password. All readings, assignments, and announcements live on ICON. Administrative home College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Instructor Akintunde Babatunde (Primary Instructor) Email: akintunde-babatunde@uiowa.edu Office: BCSB 118 Student drop-in hours: Mondays & Wednesdays 12:30–2:00 p.m., and by appointment. If these hours conflict with your schedule, email me to arrange another time (in person or Zoom). Course Supervisor Logan Brown, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies Email: logan-brown-2@uiowa.edu Departmental Executive Officer (DEO) / Department Chair Kembrew McLeod, Professor, Communication Studies Email: kembrew-mcleod@uiowa.edu Description of Course Media connect people across borders, shaping how cultures, economies, and politics interact in an interconnected world. This course explores the global dimensions of media production, distribution, and reception, with a focus on how traditional forms of media (such as radio, film, and television) have been transformed by digital technologies. We will also examine the rise of streaming platforms, social media, podcasts, and algorithms, asking how global audiences, industries, and cultures are reshaped by these changes. Course sessions include lecture, discussion, screenings, and collaborative projects. The week has a rhythm built around the textbook: Mondays introduce the concept of the week which will be developed through case studies, guest practitioners, and workshops on Wednesdays. On Friday, we will run the Media Forum through discussions and debates anchored in media the class has watched, read, or listened to together. Students are expected to engage actively with the textbook, contribute to discussions, and connect media theories to real-world examples. The Media Forum (Fridays). Most weeks, a team of 2–3 students will curate the Media of the Week. It could be a documentary, podcast episode, video essay, news feature, or streaming title related to the topic of the week. Curators post the selection on ICON by Monday at 5:00 p.m.; all students watch, read, or listen to it before Friday; and the curators open Friday’s discussion with a short framing and two questions. Sign-ups take place in Week 1. Why take this course? Global Media Studies equips you with tools to critically understand the international media landscape while also offering practical experience in podcasting and media research. It prepares students for careers and further study in media, communication, international relations, cultural studies, and related fields. Statement on Course Content This course approaches global media as an analytical subject focused on media systems, industries, and communication processes. Contemporary international examples—including elections, conflicts, and platform controversies—are discussed for instructional purposes only. Students are never evaluated on their political viewpoints, and respectful, evidence-based discussion is expected at all times. Learning Objectives By the end of the semester, students will be able to: Analyze the opportunities and challenges of globalization in the information age. Explain how global media influence politics, economics, and cultural identity. Compare media systems, industries, and policy regimes across national and regional contexts. Critically evaluate the roles of platforms, algorithms, and artificial intelligence in shaping global information flows. Conduct original comparative research on international media phenomena and communicate findings in writing and public presentation. Develop technical skills in podcasting and media analysis, including recording, editing, and transcript production. Each class meeting in the Course Calendar (below) lists session-level objectives that build toward these course objectives. Learning objectives align with class activities and assessments and with the Communication Studies program outcomes in the General Catalog. Communication Studies Department Learning Outcomes This course also advances the learning outcomes of the Department of Communication Studies. Students in departmental courses will: Explain the significance of the communicative process across personal, familial, organizational, civic, and mediated contexts. Demonstrate effective written, oral, and/or digital communication skills. Plan, evaluate, and conduct basic communication research using qualitative, quantitative, and critical cultural methods. Think critically about the role of communication in the production, maintenance, and transformation of culture. Apply and reflect upon the skills and theories of communication in communities, professional settings, and a global context. Develop the ability to discuss controversial issues of public importance in a way that demonstrates intercultural competence and personal and social responsibility to a dynamic and globalizing world. Outline of Course Topics Introduction to global media (and how the Media Forum works) Communication and empire: how global media began Big ideas: theorizing global communication Deregulation, privatization, and the global media market American television abroad: Hollywood and global culture The local strikes back: hybridity and soft power Information disorder: misinformation, fact-checking, and OSINT Podcast production (studio week) Contraflow: China’s media, Bollywood, Nollywood, and the telenovela circuit The digital age: platforms, AI, and synthetic media Media, democracy, and global crises: elections, press freedom, climate Who controls the internet? Infrastructure and power The future of global media Global Media Symposium: student research presentations Required Textbooks, Readings, and Other Materials The required textbook for this course is: Thussu, Daya Kishan. International Communication: Continuity and Change, 3rd edition. Bloomsbury Academic, 2019. ISBN 978-1-78093-265-1 (paperback). The textbook is provided as an eText through ICON DirectLinks to an external site. and will be available in the course ICON site at the start of the semester. Students enrolled in this course are automatically charged for the ICON Direct course material unless they opt out during the designated opt-out period. Students who opt out are responsible for obtaining their own copy of the required textbook (any format of the 3rd edition) before the course begins. Information about opting out of ICON Direct is available hereLinks to an external site.. Weekly Preparation Weekly preparation consists of two items, listed at the top of each week in the Course Calendar under “Prepare this week”: One assigned reading from Thussu, matched to the topic of the week. The remaining sections of each chapter are optional. In weeks without a textbook reading, a short report summary or guide is assigned instead. The Media of the Week (20–60 minutes of viewing, reading, or listening), posted on ICON by Monday 5:00 p.m. It is discussed at the Media Forum on Friday and may appear on the midterm. A free alternative is provided for any title that requires a subscription. Assigned textbook sections by week Assigned Thussu sections Pages Week Ch. 1 — Communication and empire → radio and international communication 1–16 Week 2 Ch. 2 — Free flow of information → Cultural Studies perspectives 41–56 Week 3 Ch. 4 — Convergence; global media conglomerates 109–125 Week 4 Ch. 5 — American consumer culture → Global English 153–174 Week 5 Ch. 5 — Regionalizing media cultures → culture as “soft power” 175–190 Week 6 Ch. 6 — China’s media; the Indian film industry; telenovelas 191–213 Week 9 Ch. 7 — Digital capitalism → how the web affected journalism 228–246 Week 10 Ch. 7 — Infotainment; governance and regulation; surveillance 247–258 Week 11 Ch. 3 — Infrastructure for internet → implications of liberalization 94–108 Week 12 Ch. 7 — Communication for development; “Chindia”; continuity and change 259–268 Week 13 Items listed under “Optional extras” in the calendar are not required and will not appear on the midterm; they are useful starting points for the Comparative Research Paper. An optional film list for research inspiration is posted on ICON. Workload expectations: approximately 1.5–2.5 hours of preparation per week, in addition to assignment work. Week 1 has no assigned preparation, and weeks with major deadlines (midterm, podcast, symposium) carry little or no new preparation. Technology: podcast production uses free tools (Audacity or comparable editors) and University equipment; you do not need to purchase software or hardware. UI Libraries’ One Button Studio and media equipment lendingLinks to an external site. are available for recording. Types of Assessments This course uses a mix of assessment types so that no single format determines your grade: Active participation in discussions, labs, debates, and simulations (ongoing). One short written analysis applying course theory to a global media object (Media Analysis Brief). One midterm assessment (multiple choice, concept matching, and short applied analysis). One collaborative creative project (Group Podcast Project) with technical workshops and studio time. One individual research project completed in stages (proposal, annotated bibliography, final comparative research paper). One formal public presentation at the end-of-semester Global Media Symposium. Grading System This course uses the University’s plus/minus grading system. An A+ is awarded only for work of extraordinary distinction (97% or above and consistent excellence across all course components). Final grades are assigned on the following percentage ranges: Grade Range Grade Range Grade Range A+ 97–100 B+ 87–89.9 C+ 77–79.9 A 93–96.9 B 83–86.9 C 73–76.9 A− 90–92.9 B− 80–82.9 C− 70–72.9 D+ 67–69.9 D 63–66.9 D− 60–62.9 F Below 60 For CLAS undergraduate grading guidelines and procedures, see the CLAS grading policies pageLinks to an external site.. Course Grades: Components and Deadlines Component Weight Key dates Attendance & Participation 15% Ongoing; formative check-in at midterm Media Analysis Brief (3–4 pages) 15% Assigned Mon., Sept. 14 · Due Fri., Oct. 2 Midterm Assessment 15% In class, Fri., Oct. 9 Group Podcast Project 20% Assigned Mon., Oct. 12 · Due Fri., Nov. 20 Comparative Research Paper (8–10 pages) 25% Proposal Fri., Sept. 25 · Outline + annotated bibliography Fri., Oct. 23 · Final paper Wed., Dec. 16 (finals week) Global Media Symposium Presentation 10% In class, Dec. 7–11 Late Work Policy Written assignments submitted late lose 5 percentage points per 24-hour period, and are not accepted more than 72 hours after the deadline without prior arrangement. The midterm and symposium presentation can be made up only for excused absences (see Attendance below). One flexibility exception: each student may use a single no-questions-asked 48-hour extension once during the semester on the Media Analysis Brief or a research paper milestone (not the final paper); email me before the deadline to use it. Podcast deadlines are firm because peer listening sessions depend on them. Statement on Paper Formality All written assignments in this course are formal academic work. Papers should be written in a clear, professional tone and follow standard academic conventions, including proper citation and formatting (APA 7th edition) as specified in each assignment. Informal language, conversational writing, or unedited drafts are not appropriate for submission. Assignment Attendance & Participation (15%) Because this course runs on discussion, labs, debates, and simulations, your presence and preparation matter. You are expected to come having completed the assigned reading, to contribute meaningfully to discussion and applied activities, and to engage respectfully with diverse perspectives. More than three unexcused absences may reduce your participation grade; please report absences through the absence form in ICON (Student Tools). A formative participation check-in with feedback is provided at midterm so there are no surprises. Media of the Week curation: in Week 1, each student signs up (in a team of 2–3) to curate one week’s Media of the Week. Curators select an accessible piece of media related to the week’s topic, post it on ICON by Monday 5:00 p.m. with a short note, and open Friday’s Media Forum with a brief framing and two discussion questions. Curation and forum participation count toward the participation grade. A list of suggested selections is posted on ICON. Media Analysis Brief (15%) — due Fri., Oct. 2 Prompt: Choose a non-U.S. media object—a film, television or streaming series, music video, podcast, social media phenomenon, or news outlet—and write a 3–4 page analysis (double-spaced, APA style) that answers: how does this object circulate globally, and what does its circulation reveal about power in the global media system? Your brief must: Introduce the object and justify its significance in one paragraph. Apply at least two course concepts from Weeks 1–6 (e.g., dependency, hegemony, cultural imperialism, conglomeration and convergence, Hollywood hegemony, Global English, hybridity, soft power) so that they do real analytical work. Support claims with specific evidence: textual details, industry data, or reception evidence. Conclude by assessing what your case suggests about global media flows more broadly. Submit via ICON by 11:59 p.m. See the rubric below. A model brief is posted on ICON. Midterm Assessment (15%) — in class, Fri., Oct. 9 The midterm is administered via ICON Quizzes (bring a charged laptop; a paper backup will be available). It covers Weeks 1–7 — the assigned Thussu sections from chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5, lectures, and the weekly Media of the Week selections; optional readings are never tested — and includes multiple-choice questions, concept matching, and two short applied-analysis items in which you read a brief global media scenario and analyze it using course concepts. A review guide is posted in Week 6, and Wednesday, Oct. 7 includes structured review. Students with SDS testing accommodations should schedule with me at least one week in advance. Group Podcast Project (20%) — due Fri., Nov. 20 Prompt: In teams of 3–4, produce a 15–20 minute podcast episode that investigates one contemporary global media issue for an intelligent general audience (examples: streaming quotas and cultural sovereignty; content moderation labor; a platform ban and its aftermath; AI in a non-U.S. newsroom; the global journey of a music genre). Episodes must incorporate at least one interview or substantive primary source and engage at least two course readings. Deliverables (all submitted on ICON by 11:59 p.m., Fri., Nov. 20): The audio episode (MP3/WAV), 15–20 minutes, with clean levels and edited structure. A complete transcript (auto-generated then corrected) for accessibility. A 2-page production statement documenting each member’s role, key editorial decisions, sourcing ethics (consent and attribution), and how course concepts informed the episode. A confidential peer evaluation of teammates’ contributions (form on ICON). Support along the way: Week 8 is a dedicated studio week (project launch, an asynchronous technical workshop, and a team planning session); Friday, Nov. 13 includes reserved studio time; episodes premiere at the listening parties on Nov. 18 and 20. All members receive the group grade, adjusted where peer evaluations and the production statement document unequal contributions. Comparative Research Paper (25%) — final due Wed., Dec. 16 Prompt: Write a 5–7 page research paper (double-spaced, APA style) that examines one global media phenomenon comparatively across at least two national or regional contexts.

グローバル・メディア研究 授業の概要 メディアは国境を越えて人々を結びつけ、相互につながった世界の中で文化、経済、政治がどのように相互作用するかを形作っています。この授業では、伝統的なメディア形式（ラジオ、映画、テレビなど）がデジタル技術によってどのように変容したかに焦点を当てながら、メディアの制作、流通、受容のグローバルな側面を探求します。また、ストリーミングプラットフォーム、ソーシャルメディア、ポッドキャスト、アルゴリズムの台頭を取り上げ、これら変化によって世界のオーディエンス、産業、文化がどのように再構築されているかを検証します。 授業は、講義、ディスカッション、映像視聴（スクリーニング）、共同プロジェクトで構成されています。毎週のスケジュールは教科書を中心に組み立てられています： 月曜日：その週のコンセプトを導入し、水曜日のケーススタディ、ゲスト実践者、ワークショップを通じて発展させます。 水曜日：ケーススタディやワークショップを行います。 金曜日：クラス全体で視聴・読了・聴取したメディアをベースに、ディスカッションやディベートを中心とした「メディア・フォーラム（Media Forum）」を実施します。学生には、教科書に積極的に取り組み、ディスカッションに貢献し、メディア理論を現実世界の例と結びつけることが求められます。 メディア・フォーラム（金曜日） ほとんどの週で、2〜3人の学生チームが「今週のメディア（Media of the Week）」をキュレーションします。今週のトピックに関連する、ドキュメンタリー、ポッドキャストのエピソード、動画エッセイ、ニュース特集、ストリーミング作品などが選ばれます。 キュレーターは月曜日の午後5時までにその選択作品をICONに投稿します。すべての学生は金曜日までにそれを視聴・読了・聴取し、金曜日のディスカッションはキュレーターによる簡単な導入（フレミング）と2つの質問から始まります。グループ登録は第1週に行います。 なぜこの授業を取るべきか？ 「グローバル・メディア研究」は、国際的なメディア環境を批判的に理解するためのツールを身につけるとともに、ポッドキャスト制作やメディア研究の実践的な経験を提供します。メディア、コミュニケーション、国際関係、文化研究、および関連分野でのキャリアやさらなる学びに備えることができます。 授業内容に関するステートメント この授業では、グローバルメディアを「メディアシステム、産業、コミュニケーションプロセス」に焦点を当てた分析対象として扱います。選挙、紛争、プラットフォームをめぐる論争など、現代の国際的な事例は教育目的でのみ議論されます。学生の政治的見解が評価されることは一切なく、常に敬意を持って証拠に基づいた議論を行うことが期待されます。 学習目標 学期の終わりまでに、学生は以下のことができるようになります： 情報化時代におけるグローバル化の機会と課題を分析する。 グローバルメディアが政治、経済、文化的アイデンティティに与える影響を説明する。 国や地域の文脈に沿って、メディアシステム、産業、政策体制を比較する。 グローバルな情報流通を形作る上でのプラットフォーム、アルゴリズム、AIの役割を批判的に評価する。 国際的なメディア現象についてオリジナルの比較研究を行い、文章や公開プレゼンテーションで成果を伝える。 録音、編集、トランスクリプト作成など、ポッドキャスト制作とメディア分析の技術的スキルを身につける。 トピックの概要 グローバルメディア入門（およびメディア・フォーラムの仕組み） コミュニケーションと帝国：グローバルメディアの始まり 大きなアイデア：グローバル・コミュニケーションの理論化 規制緩和、民営化、そしてグローバルメディア市場 海外におけるアメリカのテレビ：ハリウッドとグローバル文化 逆襲するローカル：ハイブリディティ（混種性）とソフトパワー 情報の混乱：誤情報、ファクトチェック、OSINT ポッドキャスト制作（スタジオ週） カウンター・フロー：中国のメディア、ボリウッド、ノリウッド、テレノベラのサーキット デジタル時代：プラットフォーム、AI、合成メディア メディア、民主主義、地球規模の危機：選挙、報道の自由、気候変動 誰がインターネットを支配しているのか：インフラと権力 グローバルメディアの未来 グローバルメディア・シンポジウム：学生の研究発表 必要な教科書、リーディング、その他の教材 指定教科書： Thussu, Daya Kishan. International Communication: Continuity and Change, 3rd edition. Bloomsbury Academic, 2019. ISBN 978-1-78093-265-1 (ペーパーバック). 教科書はICON Directを通じてeTextとして提供され、学期開始時にコースのICONサイトで利用可能になります。オプトアウト期間中に手続きをしない限り、自動的に課金されます。オプトアウトした場合は、各自で教科書を入手する責任があります。 毎週の準備（Weekly Preparation） 毎週、コースカレンダーの各週の上部に記載されている2つの項目を準備します： Thussuの指定された読書課題（1つ）。残りの章のセクションは任意です。教科書の読書がない週は、代わりに短いレポートの要約やガイドが課されます。 今週のメディア（20〜60分の視聴・読了・聴取）：月曜日の午後5時までにICONに投稿されます。金曜日のメディア・フォーラムで議論され、中間試験に出題されることもあります。サブスクが必要な作品には、無料の代替手段が提供されます。 評価の種類（Types of Assessments） 出席・積極的な参加（15%）：ディスカッション、ラボ、ディベート、シミュレーションへの参加。 メディア分析レポート（Media Analysis Brief）（15%）：非米国のメディアオブジェクトを選び、グローバルな流通と権力関係を分析する3〜4ページのレポート（10月2金曜日締切）。 中間試験（15%）：第1〜7週の範囲からの多肢選択問題、概念マッチング、短答式の応用分析（10月9日金曜日、授業内）。 グループ・ポッドキャスト・プロジェクト（20%）：3〜4人のチームで15〜20分のポッドキャストエピソードを制作（11月20日金曜日締切）。 比較研究論文（25%）：グローバルなメディア現象を2つ以上の国・地域で比較する5〜7ページの論文（最終提出：12月16日水曜日、期末試験週）。 グローバルメディア・シンポジウム発表（10%）：学期末の公開プレゼンテーション（12月7〜11日、授業内）。 成績評価システム 大学のプラス／マイナス評価システムを採用しています。 A+: 97–100（例外的な優秀さ） A: 93–96.9 A−: 90–92.9 B+: 87–89.9 B: 83–86.9 B−: 80–82.9 C+: 77–79.9 C: 73–76.9 C−: 70–72.9 D+: 67–69.9 D: 63–66.9 D−: 60–62.9 F: 60未満 遅れて提出された場合のポリシー 文章課題：締切から24時間ごとに5%減点されます。事前の取り決めがない限り、締切から72時間を過ぎた課題は受け付けられません。 特例：メディア分析レポートまたは研究論文のマイルストーンのいずれか1回に限り、質問なしで48時間の延長を1回だけ利用できます（締切前にメールで連絡すること）。ポッドキャストの締切は、ピアリスニングセッションがあるため厳守となります。