URBS-653-01 Management
Seminar
URBS 485-50 Community Based
Problem Solving
URBS 585-50 Community Based
Problem Solving
Spring 05
Instructor:
Dr.
Janet Cherrington – (Dr. “J”) [a] Office:
106b MH Phone/Voice Mail: 507-389-5031
Office
Hours: As posted on my office door &
web page. http://www.intech.mnsu.edu/cherrington
Text(s) (T1, T2):
(T2)=Media
Relations: The Manager’s Role 1999 ICMA Service Report #42546; Vol. 31, No. 12
;
(T1)=Media
Relations for Local Government, ISBN 0873261178
Morris
Hall Copy Shop (CS):
Class
packet with field project assignments, ICMA public awareness campaign tool kit,
and various articles.
Reserve Materials (RM): Oral
Presentations for Technical Communication, Laura J. Curak (2000) ISBN
0205294154 (Library Reserve Desk)
Course
Purpose: The purpose
of this course is two-fold. The first is
to increase public and non-profit managers’ overall understanding of media
relations. The second is to learn how to
build public awareness of the value that professional management brings to
communities and non-profit organizations.
The following topics will form the theory basis of this course:
This course is designed to help public managers put the media in an appropriate context, emphasizing how employee communication and direct citizen contact must work in order to improve media relationships. The primary focus will be developing a personal approach to building successful media relationships and learning how to design a public information campaigns. It will be geared to public and non-profit managers, department heads, elected officials, planners, public information officers or anyone else who regularly interacts (or should interact) with the media. The course will include lectures, readings, and case studies with class discussions. Lastly, guest speakers will discuss their real-world experiences and offer tips for dealing with the media.
Course Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to do the following:
Personal Skill Development Goals: In addition to the specific course outcomes,
there are 4 additional goals that are most common to all other URSI graduate
courses at MSU. They are:
·
to develop your creative and critical thinking powers in addressing
public sector problems and opportunities.
·
to develop your personal communication skills, both written and oral.
·
to improve your ability to work and interact with others in a team
approach.
·
to improve your understanding and use of technology.
Instructional Methodology and Teaching Strategies:
A variety of instructional
methodologies and teaching strategies will be employed throughout this
course. Above all, my teaching style in
this course is based on an “adult-centered” model wherein students are active
participants responsible for their own learning. Student motivation is a key factor in
learning. The instructor is a
facilitator and resource person who (along with guest speakers) will attempt to
lead you into discussion. However, meaningful
involvement is your responsibility and you will be graded on your attempt to
participate (or not participate) by the instructor and your peers. Attendance is critical. A major portion of the class involves a “studio” project. This will be a public awareness campaign in
which students will work with a small city, and its staff to gather
information, develop a media campaign, and disseminate it through various media
forms. Many assignments will be out-of-class field projects that will be
completed as a team.
Public Awareness Campaign Media Project: The class will work collectively to assemble
and present a public information campaign.
A Point Person (PP) who will facilitate student communication will be
elected early on. At the start of each
class we will update via our action item
list the status of various project components. Specific details will be made available the
first class meeting. Graduate students will be expected to take
the lead in field projects related to completion of the brochure and fact
sheet.
City Council Presentation: The class will design and present a
Powerpoint presentation at a city council meeting of the project community
. All students must participate in the
actual presentation.
Course Grading:
Brochure/Fact Sheet studio project (graduate
students will act as team leaders for F.P.’s) 50
(FP#1, #2, #3,)
City Council Outreach 20
(FP #6, #7)
Exercises 15
Attendance/Participation/Team Evaluation 15
100
* N.B. A percentage of the points you will earn on team evaluation will be determined by your co-team member’s evaluation of your willingness and contribution to the PAC project.
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See
instructor for weekly schedule.