SYLVIA ROBERTS sroberts@sfu.ca Communication librarian CMNS 230: Case study SYLVIA ROBERTS sroberts@sfu.ca Communication librarian

Choose an entity from the following Topic A: Media or cultural organization Topic B: Regulatory/policy organization Topic C: Media advocacy organization Conduct an analysis of a past or recent moment of change the organization has been facing. This change can be: a) structural b) monetary c) technical d) strategic nature Who has already selected an organization? Think about a media organization that you know something about. Can you tell which category that it falls into? Check with the person sitting next to you to see if they agree. Okay, let’s get some examples out there for each category Now think about who might produce information about the entity – who do they have to report to? Regulatory agencies? Customers? Investors?

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting CBC CRTC TELEVISION INDUSTRY CityTV Friends of Canadian Broadcasting

Research requirements “…investigate the chosen organization in some depth, to gain an understanding of its operation and contribution to the wider media industry within the particular country context” A minimum of 5 academic sources and 5 organizational sources are required. More and effective sources will help your grade. CMNS 230 research guide links to sources and suggests research strategies (excerpted from assignment)

Sources for in-depth investigation Organization as author: Organizational web site Annual reports Social media, interviews Planning documents Organization as subject Books, reports and articles about your organization by other authors Sources about the cultural industry/sector in which your organization operations Most organizations will produce information about themselves, through a web site and/or an annual report. Sometimes organizations are also required, by law, to file reports with other agencies. For example, if an organization is a not-for-profit society, they have to file with provincial authorities. Charitable organizations need to file with Revenue Canada’s register of charities. Publically owned corporations need to file an annual report with securities (e.g. stock market) regulators, to protect investors. Government bodies file accountability reports. Social media will give you information by your organization and also show how your organization is viewed. The size, age and nature of your organization will influence how much information has been produced about them. Newer or smaller organizations may not have a large body of background information about them so you may need to consider whether to select a different agency for your focus. Sector specific sources include both academic and trade publications history, regulatory scope, future of institution, stakeholders

EXAMPLE: Example – focus on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – case study is the moment in time when CBC Radio 2 began accepting advertising

Public broadcasters are funded in different ways in different countries CBC is funded primarily through taxes gathered by the federal govt

Consider the source AND the audience What is the purpose of a source of information? Who is the intended audience? Consider how might audience and purpose might affect what kind of information is shared and how it is presented? In some senses, corporations are similar to people. When an organization (rather than an individual) takes responsibility for creation of a work, it’s known as a corporate author. Just as we take pains to present ourselves in the best possible light, corporate authors tend to show their best selves in their own documents Definitely start with the web site for your organization but don’t stop there – continue to find additional sources to add depth and balance to your analysis

News release links to CRTC consultation and decision documents

Trade / industry information Trade or industry journals reflect news & views of industry participants (e.g.) Include discussions of factors impacting the whole industry, such as technological change, legislative changes or economic factors Articles and reports included in business and sector specific databases: Business source complete CBCA Complete (Canadian sources) Communication and mass media complete Music Index International Index to the Performing Arts (theatre, dance) MLA international bibliography (publishing) Film and television literature index Design and applied arts index (gaming) Google Association Canada gaming

Industry statistics

Trade or Industry Associations Trade or industry associations formed of organizations that operate in a specific industry Promote industry, do research, lobby legislators (XXe.g. ) Associations Canada directory or Google search to find Web sites, social media used to communicate with membership and others in the industry ANYONE BELONG TO A TRADE ASSOCIATION?

Questions? CMNS 230 guide Ask a Librarian Sylvia Roberts: sroberts@sfu.ca