Former Tags: Summer 2014, MCDM

Course Description:

Over 500 million photographs a day get shared on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and Instagram as photography has taken center stage on today’s social media platforms. Those early inventors of photography would have found it hard to imagine the relative ease and speed with which today’s average Joe or June can snap, pick, and publish. This course will explore of the impact of the photographic image on social media, reportage, and visual storytelling, as well as create an understanding about the use of information design in data visualization and infographics. A few of the topics to be explored will include the “Social Psychology of the Selfie”, the “Seven Types of Social Photography”, “Photography as User Interface”, “Cellphone Photojournalism”, “User-generated Imagery vs. Professional Imagery”, and how data and information can be “Beautiful and Useful”. Students will gain an understanding of key design principles and knowledge about how to effectively use visual elements and graphics to complement and enhance storytelling. There will be readings from practitioners and thought leaders in the field, as well as discussion of applicable communication theories. The class will engage in some hands-on design and photography work, but no special equipment or graphic design skills are needed. True to the nature of this course, if you have a cellphone you have a camera.

Student Testimonial:

“Robin Avni’s class covers a range of topics involving the power of imagery; everything from the history of photography and photojournalism to the influence of visuals in social media. Not only do we gain a new appreciation for photography, but we learn about the principles and aesthetics of what it takes to create a memorable image—a great skill to have professionally and personally. For the final project, Avni allowed us so much creative freedom. It was a terrific opportunity to explore personal passions, and because of that freedom, everyone’s projects were so unique and interesting. The physical and digital world is so saturated with images—it’s hard to compete. Learning the technicalities of what truly resonates with a viewer and how a single image can tell a story was inspiring. It helped me make more deliberate decisions in the kind of visuals I use both at work and within my personal networks. Avni’s passion for photography and imagery was evident throughout the class. Her breadth of knowledge and experience is so rich. Avni also goes above and beyond for her students; her feedback was thorough and she helped individuals identify a specific challenge that would directly apply to their final project as well as work-related assignments.”

Former Tags: Summer 2014, MCDM, Law and Ethics

Course Description:

Digital and social media raise new and profound ethical questions even as they provide novel and innovative answers to longstanding ethical challenges. At the same time, more informed consumers and profoundly impactful technologies are changing how businesses succeed, in large part because consumers, employees, and vendors now have the power and the knowledge to make decisions to align themselves with companies that share their values. From the bus protests in San Francisco to revelations of NSA collaboration by many tech companies, from conflict-free metals in Intel chips to the collapse of net neutrality, the importance of ethics in the digital industry landscape has never been more important when understanding business decisions, nor when making consumer decisions, because these days you vote for the future of the Internet with your dollars or your data.
This course tackles the ethical challenges of digital media from both sides of the spectrum, trying to highlight the good and the bad, the promise and the problem, of digital and social media. Topics will include microfinancing, crowdsourcing, personal branding, cyber-bullying, collaborative consumption, privacy, security, the nature of content, the nature of ownership, marketing, community, doxxing, representation, participation, and more. Many of these issues have a legal component, to be sure, but legal compliance and ethical behavior are rarely ever the same circles in the Venn diagram of human behavior. By making explicit our ethical perspectives, we can both identify more productive ways of thinking and exploring what digital can do, and about how we wish to position ourselves as both consumers and creators, users and media professionals. The class will entail reading, viewing, discussion, and a final project that can take multiple forms: written paper, media content, web project, etc.
If there are any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Ken Rufo @ kenrufo@uw.edu.

Student Testimonial:

“Ken Rufo takes the complicated idea of ethics and provides practical and relevant context that can be applied directly to fields of communications and business. Citing current real-world examples, Rufo challenges students to question conventional ideas in an attempt to understand where the idea of ethics has been and where it is headed. For our final project we were asked to address an ethical issue of our choosing. My group decided to take an in-depth look at the ethical context of sport from the standpoint of technology, looking at the idea of how advancements from steroids to Google Glass impact the authenticity of competition. It was a challenge to take the concepts learned in class and apply them to a subject of interest. Given the freedom to explore the various ethical implications was fascinating and caused me to question some of my preconceived notions. I have taken several classes from Rufo and I have enjoyed each one. He keeps his students engaged with relevant examples delivered in an entertaining fashion and challenges people to come armed with ideas. I would recommend any class taught by Rufo.”

Former Tags: Summer 2014, MCCN, MCDM, Track Neutral

Please Note: COM 587 is a neutral class and while offered in different tracks different quarters, can be taken by either MCCN or MCDM students as part of their core electives, regardless of the track that particular quarter. It does not count as as the option all students have to take two courses in the alternative track.

Course Description:

A practical understanding of key business fundamentals is essential in being able to create and implement digital communications strategies in today’s organizations. This course will be useful for students that are employed in large and small businesses, wanting to start their own business, or for those working in or with NGOs/non-profit organizations. The learning focus will be on business fundamentals within the world of digital communications companies and departments within organizations. We will cover the following subjects: Marketing/Sales, basics of Finance and Accounting (including understanding ROI), operations, and implementation. Students will apply key business concepts by building a business plan of their own design, either solo or on a team that is of interest to several students. The business plan serves as a comprehensive vehicle for putting into practice the central teachings of the class. Plans can reflect a range of possibilities: new small-business ventures, initiatives from students’ workplaces, a new nonprofit organization or plans that reflect the interests of students who choose to pursue a plan within a sub field they hope to pursue as a career. As a result of taking this course, students will have a better understanding of the underlying issues facing business and be able to develop more relevant strategies and tactics to leverage the opportunities and challenges that digital media presents. At the completion of the class, students will be able present their ideas and initiatives in a more persuasive way to the decision makers in organizations by aligning their suggestions with the needs and issues facing the organization.

Student Testimonial:

“Rick’s class took my understanding of business to the next level. As someone whose spent most of my collegiate career in communication courses, this business fundamentals class lived up to the name. Further, Rick’s examples were often straight from news headlines, and his career experience brought the concepts to life. The deliverables were time intensive, but working in a team made the workload comparable to other courses. The tools and know-how to build a strong business plan made this course one of the most valuable I’ve taken in the program thus far.”