USSO 260 - Spin, P.R., and America Today

Institution:

Case Western Reserve University

Subject:

Description:

e live today surrounded by spin---corporations don't fire, they downsize; government pronouncements are assumed to be cynically slanted and misleading; even scholarly medical articles are written by public relations (p.r.) flacks. The guiding principle isn't truth or reality but the right message and staying on it. How and why has p.r. become such a seemingly potent force in our time? What does this say about America and its values--about even the meaning of truth? In this seminar we will explore the role of public relations and image-making, in American society today. Our objectives are (1) Examine the users of p.r. today in business, politics and popular culture to shape images and define reality; (2) explore the tools used to construct and sell those messages and perceptions and (3) Analyze the values underlying these activities--to the end of deepening our understanding society today. This seminar explores these issues through reading, both academic and popular writing, discussion, and research. The writing assignments will be both academic and various forms of media and public relations formats. We will use class time to discuss and review student writing. Prereq: Passing letter grade in a 100 level first year seminar in USFS, FSSO, FSCC, FSNA, FSSY or FSCS. Prereq or Coreq: FSTS 100.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.case.edu

Phone Number:

(216) 368-2000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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