Media & Social Issues - Candid discussions & analysis by graduate students.

In The News...

12/14 Industry-Leading Men Weigh In:
Sexual Harassment Epidemic
(Video) 'CBS This Morning' discussion with five accomplished diverse men
across various industries reacting to the "tidal wave" of reports
of sexual misconduct.

Growing Reports of Sexual Assaults

The Atlantic Magazine: 12/15
CA Community-College 'Segregation Machine'
holds back disproportionate numbers of students of color
Hundreds of thousands of Black and Latino students are placed in remedial
classes every year.

Inspirational:

12/14 NFL star Chris Long donates his entire 2017 salary
to support children in diverse communities.
CBS Sports video.

Dec. 12th - Alabama Election Analysis:

Evidence of women's #MeToo impact nationwide.
A 17% edge in a normally solid Republican state.

Democrat took 96% of African American vote

12/13 CBS This Morning (Video)

12/12      Mayor Dies of Heart Attack
                    San Francisco's first Asian American Mayor.

12/12   Trump's 'gross tweet' about NY Senator
             Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand calls it a �sexist smear� and added,
              �I will not be silenced on this issue.�

Former SNL star resigns U.S. Senate Seat

12/07 Blasts GOP hypocrisy on sexual misconduct

CBS: Know Your Rights (Video)
Attorney offers insights on workplace harassment.

12/6 Time Magazine Announcement
#MeToo

Happy Holidays / Happy New Year!

Our #JMCGrad Chat videos will eventually be linked
here, and shared with the JMC School
for posting on the department website.

The progress you've made with communicating
about timely social issues was most impressive.

Thanks for being great role models for future students.
Keep it up! Remember what Old Abe said...

Breaking News: Wednesday, Nov. 29th

12/13 'Today Show' now beats 'Good Morning America'
in national TV ratings

11/29 Today Show Anchor Terminated
Matt Lauer, the anchor of "Today" for two decades, was fired after a
detailed complaint about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.

The Growing List of Sexual Misconduct

Recently In The News...

11/21 CBS Fires Charlie Rose
After numerous sexual assault allegations.

MUST SEE: 'CBS This Morning's' extensive coverage
candidly addresses stunning news.

Iconic newsman released by two TV networks for
unwanted sexual advances to eight women.

11/21 CBS This Morning Co-hosts Remarkable Response:
"I'm Not Okay"

11/20 PBS and CBS suspend Charlie Rose
after eight women charge sexual misconduct

Washington Post first to focus on the respected TV newsman

Commentary by Prof. Bob Rucker

Privately Funded - Special Commemoration:

Details Online: New Web Address

11/15 SJSU President's Office was excited about this unique
learning experience to be completely privately funded.
Read about student application process and costs.

Private fundraising efforts now underway!

People from a wide range of cultures talk candidly about their
personal and workplace experiences to help raise public awareness.

News Updates:

"I didn't understand what it was like to be groped, to be harassed, to be interrupted, talked over,
paid less, pushed around,
belittled.
All the things that women deal with
that for me, as a man, I had the privilege of not having to deal with."
- Ben Affleck

11/16 TV interview with Stephen Colbert
Affleck, accused of sexual misconduct himself, apologizes and responds.

A female radio news anchor says
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken groped and "forcibly kissed" her without her consent during an overseas USO tour
in 2006, two years before Franken
was elected to the U.S. Senate.
Leeann Tweeden is now
a morning news anchor on
TalkRadio 790 KABC in Los Angeles

11/16 Senate GOP leaders call for ethics investigation of Franken

Growing list of sexual assault claims
Tracking the nationwide scandal affecting many professional fields.

11/20 GLAAD's 'Transgender Day of Remembrance'
Honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts
of anti-transgender violence.

Looking for a timely thesis or project idea?

TOPICS: ROUNDTABLE RESEARCH
Continue to gather updated research for TV tapings
immediately after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Recent News Headlines:

11/14 Financial Lives of Millennials
"Millennials trust banks, financial institution values and technology
more than most." A CBS News special series on the issues.

11/14 Former Penn State fraternity brothers face
new hazing charges

Special Coverage:

Growing number of sexual assault reports

11/14 Fifth woman accuses Roy Moore of sexual misconduct
Republican Senate candidate denies behavior 40 years ago.
Top GOP leaders in Washington calling for Moore to step aside.

11/10 Comedian responds to sexual misconduct accusations

11/8 Former TV news anchorwoman accuses Kevin
Spacey of sexually assaulting her teen son

MAVY, an offering of The Agency at the University of Florida,
is a way for Millennials to reclaim the narrative of our generation.

Video: Millennials deal with Baby Boomers at work
"Cut us some slack!"

11/9 Lawmakers alarmed at the push to sell CNN
AT&T�s proposed mega-merger with Time Warner facing concerns
Trump�s Justice Department is intervening in the deal because
he dislikes the network.

11/5 At least 26 killed in Texas church massacre
Suspected shooter was ex-military court marshaled for domestic violence.

One Year Later

11/7 Why It Still Resonates In America

11/2 Information sites shut down when workers try to unionize

11/2 Puerto Rican journalists laid off in Hurricane's wake

10/26 The Harvey Weinstein effect reaches journalism
Five women had accused veteran political journalist Mark Halperin (left bottom)
of sexual harassment when he was in a powerful position at ABC News.

10/25 Behind the Miami Herald's 'inescapably powerful'
juevenile justice investigation.

11/3 More Americans turning to multiple social media
sites for news
Pew Research Center report: About a quarter of all U.S. adults (26%) get news
from two or more social media sites, up from 15% in 2013 and 18% in 2016.

New opportunities from expanding domain names
By investing in a new TLD, consumers and businesses could determine
their own way of leading users to the wealth of information, goods, and
services available online.

10/31 Terrorist Attack in NYC
Eight people killed, 11 injured. The suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov,
an immigrant from Uzbekistan, plowed his truck down a crowded bike path,
going nearly a mile before being shot and wounded by police.

In-Depth Special Stories:

11/5 12 year old prodigy knows language of Mozart
Inspirational!

San Francisco Leaning Tower of Lawsuits

11/1 Kevin Spacey scandal widens as Netflix suspends
production on his series 'House of Cards."

11/1 High profile movie director accused of sexual harassment

10/31 The Majority of Girls Face Sexual Harassment
with No Hashtags From Psychology Today

Media Updates: Growing Revelations of Harassment

World Series News Headline

10/28 Houston player's offensive insulting gesture on TV
provokes outrage among Asian Americans
Suspended five games at the start of the 2018 MLB season.
Why did the commissioner not impose suspension during the World Series?

More Media Coverage

Participation Project

Study Examples: TV Roundtable Social Issue Discussions

Nov. 7th - Nominate Social Issues for grad student taping sessions.
Bring a TYPED/PRINTED list of topics to share with classmates.
Develop ideas from timely topics in our semester long
study of current events and social issues.

This course provides a broad overview of the popular, professional reporting and academic literature in mass communications on social issues. The readings and videos are designed to provide a limited, update on timely issues in the media, and a basic introduction to the literature and content of the field in terms of social issues. The purpose of the course is to provide graduate students with a foundation on which to draw for contemporary studies in mass communications.

When looking of a topic or focus for your masters research effort,
carefully review the many timely social issues on this page.

Prof. Rucker's Office: DBH 125 408-924-3249
Email: robert.rucker@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: By appointment before & after class.

MCOM 210 SYLLABUS Click Here
SJSU Masters Thesis Guidelines
Tutorials: Masters Degree Proposals
TV Examples: Roundtable Social Issues Discussions

New Opportunity For Students:
Matinee Scholarship - Jan. 5th Deadline To Apply

Timely Social Issues:

A Provocative Online Video Series:

Forbes: Millennials in workplace don't need trophies
"They want reinforcement."

Is there something here for graduate student study???

Extraordinary National News Alert:
10/25 NAACP issues travel advisory to black passengers
flying on American Airlines

10/26 Kellogg accused of race insensitive advertising
The breakfast food company is redesigning the Corn Pops Boxes
so they're not racist

Special Coverage:

What will be left of rural TV stations?
Federal Communications Commission quietly propose
reshaping a key way rural Americans stay informed.

TV's Most Influential News Program:

50th Anniversary
Why millions watch this in-depth TV news magazine show.

10/16 Explosive CBS News 60 Minutes Report
on Drug Companies & Opioid Crisis

DEA Responds to 60 Minutes Report

Recent News Headlines

10/24 New Niger Ambush Timeline

10/23 Widow talks about call from President Trump
ABC Good Morning America exclusive interview

10/22 Coverage of La David Johnson's return home

Gold Star Father "disheartened" by Trump call to widow

Changing Public Responses to Social Issues

10/21 How Do Americans Feel About Automation?

Instagram "Technology for Kindness"

Is Instagram Going Too Far?

A Snapshot Into Mental Health?

Online Social Networking & Mental Health

Where are all the women in tech?

Background Information

Pew Research Center:
http://www.pewresearch.org

Center for Intercultural New Media Research:
http://www.interculturalnewmedia.com

Media Research Center:
http://www.mrc.org

Additional Media Research Organizations

Timely Issue Topics of Interest:

Media Updates

10/9 U.S. favors coal while China
goes solar energy

10/5 Trump's Justice Dept. reverses policy
protections for transgenders

10/5 GOP Anti-Abortion Congressman resigns
after suggesting a friend have one

Special Thanks to 10/3 Guest Speaker:

Dr. Shaun Fletcher,
Apple Manager and
Distinguished JMC School Public Relations Graduate

Important Advisory:
Dr. Fletcher was kind enough to share his
contact info with you. Take advantage of that after you
have given considerable thought to your academic goals
and planning. His schedule can be very demanding at Apple.
Do your research and be prepared for discussions.

Topic: Writing a Masters Degree Thesis

Review These Materials:

Original Scholarship Writing
Choosing a Topic
Collaboration Requirements
How to Structure a Thesis
Masters thesis vs Ph.D dissertation

Dr. Fletcher offered his email contact info
through Prof. Rucker.

Profound Sadness - Calls To Act In The Media

On the worst mass shooting in modern American history.

America Stunned Again

Automatic weapon sprays 22,000 at an outdoor concert.

10/1 More than 500 injured. 59 Dead.
Gunman: 64 year old Nevadan Stephen Paddock killed himself.

President Trump orders flags lowered to honor victims.
FBI: No known ISIS terrorist connection.
Las Vegas hospitals need blood donors.

CNN CBSN MSNBC

Video: Moving response by President Trump

SJSU President Letter on Las Vegas Shooting

Recent Gun Violence in American History

Extraordinary Response to Racism Incident
in the U.S. military:

9/29 Air Force Lt. General's powerful speech
on racial slurs in their ranks.

Special thanks to Rodney Knox, former
SF 49er Media Relations & Sports Marketing Executive
for visiting class Tuesday, 9/26 to discuss:

9/23 Trumps triggers national firestorm in
response to race protest

9/18 LGBTQ student leader at Georgia Tech
shot and killed by police

9/15 Public Outrage Growing
143 million Americans Social Security numbers and other personal
data hacked. Those trying to lock down their credit blocked.

How bad is this Equifax hack? Protect yourself.

Hillary Clinton opens up while promoting her new book:
Rachel Maddow Anderson Cooper 'The View'

2017 Emmy Awards

Outstanding Writing in Comedy Series
(Diversity Message)

Nicole Kidman Wins Outstanding Lead Actress
('The Bigger Message')

Past Class Info: MCOM 210 Archive
Find and review previous class postings this semester.

MCOM 210: ARCHIVE

Historic Foundation:

Constitution of the United States

Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government
for a redress of grievances.