SJSU's Best Class
Diversity is a hot topic these days. Being able to identify the correct ways to write without bias is an important part of this industry.
Before taking MCOM 105, Diversity in Media, I was unaware of the ways that media can often frame stories against minorities or people with less power.
Almost every week, different speakers from the journalism field came to class to tell us their different perspectives and experiences.
I still remember one story from after Hurricane Katrina. The writer was told to change the language about a white family pillaging homes to them "surviving," while a similar story about a black family was said to be looting.
Professor Rucker is the one who teaches this class, and he has a wide perspective about diversity in the media because he is African American, gay, Catholic, a former newscaster and took care of his disabled sister.
He pretty much has experienced it all.
The textbook outlined the ways that minorities had been disenfranchised in the past, sometimes in more ways than I had ever learned in a history class, and how those things effect how people are being treated currently.
I think this class is extremely beneficial for those who seek careers in media. It is not a required course, but it teaches important lessons about your own inherent bias that you may not have even realized was there.
On the other hand, the worst class I ever took at San Jose State was Art History 70B.
For every test, she would give us over 50 paintings to study and memorize the title, artist, century, location and medium for each. Then, she would only actually test us on five.
The worst part is that after I changed my major, I didn't even need the class anymore.
Before taking MCOM 105, Diversity in Media, I was unaware of the ways that media can often frame stories against minorities or people with less power.
Almost every week, different speakers from the journalism field came to class to tell us their different perspectives and experiences.
I still remember one story from after Hurricane Katrina. The writer was told to change the language about a white family pillaging homes to them "surviving," while a similar story about a black family was said to be looting.
Professor Rucker is the one who teaches this class, and he has a wide perspective about diversity in the media because he is African American, gay, Catholic, a former newscaster and took care of his disabled sister.
He pretty much has experienced it all.
The textbook outlined the ways that minorities had been disenfranchised in the past, sometimes in more ways than I had ever learned in a history class, and how those things effect how people are being treated currently.
I think this class is extremely beneficial for those who seek careers in media. It is not a required course, but it teaches important lessons about your own inherent bias that you may not have even realized was there.
On the other hand, the worst class I ever took at San Jose State was Art History 70B.
For every test, she would give us over 50 paintings to study and memorize the title, artist, century, location and medium for each. Then, she would only actually test us on five.
The worst part is that after I changed my major, I didn't even need the class anymore.
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