< "The Barry Melrose Incident   or. what is he saying?" >

           due no later than ____[check with Professor for due date]  via typed/doublespaced hard copy

 

The best way to approach this assignment is via the mindset of a communication consultant. This also means you will have to look BELOW the surface in order to analyze & apply course concepts.

 

 Extra credit points possible  =  from 0-12 points.  If your score on this analysis is higher than your lowest BLACKBOARD Assessment score  it will replace that low score.  If not, your score on this analysis will be averaged in to the overall Attendance, Participation, add'l Assignments portion of  your semester grade.

 

  Carefully read the case summary below.  Also, conduct your own research to seek out as much of the transcript, archives, and/or online postings that you can find. Write 2-3 paragraphs in which you discuss:

3  SPECIFIC course/text concepts [ OTHER THAN STEREOTYPING ] that are operating in this scenario - either within Melrose's message (his statements & behaviors) or within the feedback (reactions & behaviors) by Newark city officials and by the public in general.  

2 SPECIFIC recommendations you would make to Barry Melrose on how to manage the conflict situation that has been created.  These recommendations should be grounded in concrete, text-based rationale.

Refer to  (and cite from) relevant material in the text (e.g. Conflict & Conflict Management, Communication Rich/Lean,  Perception, Diversity-Culture, Verbal Communication (Language), high/low Context, IPT, etc. etc.).

Don't always go for the obvious.

 

THE SCENARIO---

          Recently,  (In a video segment posted on ESPN.com approximately 4-5 months ago)  former hockey player  & radio sports commentator named  Barry Melrose made a comment during his radio broadcast in reference to patrons who might be attending events in the New Prudential Center sports arena in downtown Newark, NJ.  You will need to research exactly what he said & the context in which it was said.

           You may recognize some similarity to the situation with Don Imus but try not to be distracted by the speaker's protestations of "not meaning anything by it". As your studies this semester have reinforced, it is the IMPACT of a message that has the communication effect-- not its INTENTION.  You also are aware that even stereotypical, humorous statements originate with an element of truth and generally represent the speaker's actual, personal "standpoint".

 

 

 

 

 

orig. = 11/14/07 / updated 3/19/08