Dave Nourse, a counselor turned radio jockey turned professor, knows a little something about change. Nourse is an assistant professor in residence and the internship coordinator at the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies.
In his course, Media, Innovation, and Society, students learn about how the media landscape is transforming, requiring them to have a grasp of all formats, no matter their intended concentration. To become a well-rounded practitioner in writing, digital content creation, marketing, and public relations, students need to understand how all forms of media converge, Nourse says.
Nourse is a self-proclaimed “geek” and says he teaches this class so that he can keep up with the media’s evolution.
"I've been fascinated by the intersection of technology and media ever since a class I took in middle school that introduced me to the concept of the 'hyperlink'. This course gives me the perfect excuse to nerd-out on the latest tech advances and media disruptions,” Nourse says.
What is this course about?
It is important for students to understand the current responsibilities of media professionals, Nourse says. This course looks at various media platforms and how they have affected the way humans interact with one another.
Topics include the decline of television, the streaming music industry, and TikTok’s influence on video production. By exposing students to different kinds of media and giving them the critical thinking skills to analyze platform success, Nourse says this course helps students build an expansive toolkit needed for the journalism and digital media fields. The class covers what these platforms are designed for, how these platforms lead trends and conversations, and how to create content that is engaging.
Who’s teaching it?
Dave Nourse is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s in criminology and master of education in counseling. He received a Ph.D. in educational technology from UNLV’s College of Education in 2017.
This jack-of-all-trades also has a background in radio and was the operations manager among many other roles for KUNV 91.5 FM Radio housed in the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. Nourse also teaches classes in audio production and audio storytelling.
Who’s taking it?
This course is offered to undergraduate students as JOUR 450 an upper division class, so the majority of students are juniors or seniors. Undergraduate students must be admitted to the journalism and media studies program in order to enroll in this class. This course is also mandatory for students studying digital and social media and creative media production. The course is also offered at the graduate college level as JMS 650.
What students might be surprised to learn?
Nourse explains that while the media landscape is always changing, it takes the alignment of multiple factors to create a successful impact. “Only under the right circumstances, the right time, and the right technology can a monumental change be made,” Nourse said.
This is explained in depth in the podcast “To the Moon.” Nourse, who is an avid podcast listener, assigns his students to listen to the five-episode podcast throughout the semester. For example, the podcast covers the unexpected alignment of events that generated the meme stock revolution.
What is the class format?
Students can expect a variety of material such as pop culture articles, YouTube videos, podcasts, and lectures. Each week, students can log online to complete modules at their own pace and answer discussion questions.
Where do students go next?
Students who want to strengthen their ability at cross-platform content creation are recommended to take Social Networks and Media (JOUR 347), Mobile Storytelling (JOUR 209), and Entrepreneurial Journalism (JOUR 488).
