The Daily Bulletin Archive

Bruce Bryski, associate professor of communication, regularly teaches a course on media criticism. But he’s waited four years to switch the focus. And during tonight’s class, he and his students will have an unforgettable discussion.

As part of Bryski’s SPC 424: Media Criticism and Presidential Campaigns class, offered only once every eight semesters, students will discuss the demographics of Tuesday’s historic vote and how they feel about the political system now that voting is over.

Bryski hopes students will learn to become more astute observers, consumers, voters, and critics of presidential and political campaigns by taking the class.

“We study how the media affects the outcomes of campaigns, as well as politics in general,” he said. “We investigate its role in shaping perceptions of the voter and question any bias or favoritism.”

Students examine different genres of political messages, analyze television ads and political cartoons, keep a journal of daily media observations, make team presentations on chapters of the Road to the White House textbook, and complete a 10- to 12-page research paper. Bryski encourages students to ask themselves whether they observe balanced or biased communication in political messages, and whether those messages are meant to be informative, persuasive, entertaining, or any combination of the three.

“There’s a real anticipation that comes with teaching this class only once every four years,” Bryski said. “It’s gratifying to have a full class this year. And it’s indicative of how young people have really gotten into politics.”

Bryski has taught the class since 1996. He remembers the frustration students felt in 2000 when having to wait weeks for the final outcome of the Bush-Gore vote.

But this year, he said, there is renewed energy for the political process. When he asked students last week who planned to vote in the election, all 22 hands immediately shot up.

“There’s a nice mix of students in the class,” Bryski said. “Some are Democrat; some are Republican; some are Libertarian. Two students are working on political campaigns; others want to become better news broadcasters.”

One highlight of the class was a joint appearance from local representatives of both the McCain and Obama campaigns.

“Students engaged in a lively debate with them,” Bryski said. “It was nice for the students to see what politics looks like as opposed to just reading about it.”

Bryski isn’t surprised at how engaged young adults have been with politics this year. He said students have worried about tuition and textbook prices because of the economy, and that many have friends and family serving in the military overseas.

“Besides analyzing media messages, we talk about the political system, the process of electing, public financing, and a host of other issues,” Bryski said.

Bryski thinks media outlets have had a relatively partisan tone during this political year.

“They’re reinforcing what their audiences want to hear,” he said. “And they’ve been quick to pounce on the smallest of issues. We’ll see if these trends continue in 2012. All in all, it’s hard to talk about politics today without talking about the media.”