1. Butler Cain
West Texas A&M University
BEA IGNITE
International Journalism Dialog
Dialogue, Twitter & Geo Quize
2. D I A L O G U E , T WI T T E R A N D G E O Q U I Z Z E S
INTERNATIONAL
JOURNALISM
WJEC-3 Ignite
Butler Cain, Ph.D.
West Texas A&M University
3. COURSE TITLE AND OBJECTIVES
MCOM 3392: Special Topics – International Journalism
Summer II 2012
Primary Academic Objectives
Develop an understanding of the emergence and
influence of global digital media
Become adept at recognizing different cultural
perspectives in foreign news programming
Develop an understanding of and appreciation for the
important role Twitter plays in disseminating information
about developments in global journalism
Become more knowledgeable about global geography
4. TEXTBOOK AND DISCUSSION
Hachten, William A. and Scotton, James F. (2012). The World
News Prism: Challenges of Digital Communication, 8th
edition. Wiley-Blackwell.
Class sessions included discussion of the
day’s chapter assignment. Tables were
arranged into a large rectangle to
encourage face-to-face dialogue.
Students led the conversation, and the
instructor followed up on topics that
needed some more examination.
5. FOREIGN NEWS PROGRAMMING
The course introduced students to eight English-language
foreign news organizations during the summer semester.
Press TV (Iran) – http://www.presstv.ir
Al Jazeera (Qatar) – http://www.aljazeera.com
France 24 (France) – http://www.france24.com/en
NHK World (Japan) – http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld
CCTV (China) – http://english.cntv.cn/01/index.shtml
RT (Russia) – http://rt.com
Link TV – “Mosaic” (Middle East)
http://www.linktv.org/mosaic
Voice of America – “In Focus” (Africa)
http://www.voanews.com
7. WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSES
Students watched
four English-
language
international
newscasts in class
each week. They
examined these
programs for their
cultural and
journalistic
perspectives.
Students wrote five weekly analyses throughout the course of
the summer semester. Each was two pages, double spaced.
8. TWITTER ENHANCED THE COURSE
Twitter served multiple
classroom purposes
Engaging with the
international news
broadcasters the
students were analyzing
Recruiting guest speakers
Promoting the course
and WTAMU to a larger
online audience
9. TWEETING FOR SPJ
Students researched
current events related to
international journalism
and then wrote tweets
that included hyperlinks
to the web-based
reports.
Their tweets were then
retweeted by the Society
of Professional Journalists’
International Journalism
Committee.
10. YOU CAN’T STUDY
INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM …
… without studying the world’s geography.
There were five geography quizzes
featured in this course, one per week.
Straight from the syllabus:
Geography Quizzes
Stop freaking out! You’ll be given the opportunity to study
long before you take the quizzes. Think about it as an
opportunity to learn more about your world and to become
a better global citizen. Quizzes will focus on
Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central and South
America.
11. STUDENT REACTIONS
Responded to the course’s “open format” and
vigorously participated in daily discussions
Were impressed with the types of news stories
covered by the international broadcasters
Were surprised by the occasional presence of anti-
American or anti-Western points of view expressed
on the international programs
Used the course to enhance their Twitter skills
Accepted the geography quizzes as a fun
challenge
12. THANK YOU!
Butler Cain, Ph.D.
Department of Communication
West Texas A&M University
Canyon, Texas
Email: bcain@wtamu.edu
Twitter: @ButlerCain
