Midterm Assignment: Media Dossier & Pitch Proposal

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Final Project Overview: In this final project for our Global Media Cultures course, you will step into the role of a showrunner or producer. Your task is to pitch a media project—whether a TV show, film, podcast, or album—specifically designed for a non-American audience. This assignment will challenge you to think critically about the complexities of creating media on a global scale, considering cultural nuances, audience expectations, and the global media landscape.

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The midterm assignment is designed to help you solidify your ideas for the final Media Dossier & Pitch and to ensure that your project is on track. This assignment will require you to choose your topic, develop a rough plan, and begin engaging with course materials and relevant outside sources. The goal is to provide a clear and focused foundation for your final project in about 900 words.

Assignment Overview

Your midterm submission will consist of the following components:

1. Project Overview: A concise description of your media project, including its format (TV show, film, podcast, album), the non-American target market, and the core concept.
2. Initial Analysis: A brief analysis of your project’s cultural relevance and global appeal.
3. Annotated Bibliography: A theoretical engagement section where you will create an annotated bibliography. This should include at least two sources from our class texts and at least one outside source. Each annotation should summarize the source and explain how it will inform your project.
4. Timeline: A detailed timeline that outlines your plan for completing the final project. This should include key milestones, deadlines, and any anticipated challenges. The timeline should cover the remainder of the semester.

Detailed Instructions

1. Project Overview (100 words)
   • Project Description: Clearly describe your media project, including its format (e.g., TV show, podcast), genre, and core concept.
   • Target Audience: Identify the specific non-American market you are targeting. Explain why you chose this market and what makes it an interesting or relevant choice.
2. Initial Analysis (300 words)
   • Cultural and Global Appeal: Analyze the potential cultural impact of your project within the target market. Consider how your project aligns with local tastes, traditions, and social norms.
   • Global Strategy: Begin to explore how your project could be adapted or marketed to appeal to a global audience. What elements might resonate with audiences beyond your target market? What challenges do you foresee in making your project globally appealing?
3. Annotated Bibliography (400 words)
   • Class Texts: Select at least two texts from our course that are most relevant to your project. For each source, provide an annotation that summarizes the key arguments and explains how the source will inform your project.
   • Outside Source: Find at least one relevant outside source. This could be a scholarly article, book, or other credible source that contributes to your understanding of the project. Provide an annotation that explains how this source supports or challenges your approach.
   • Application of Theory: Within each annotation, discuss how the theories and concepts from the sources will influence your project’s genre, cultural representation, or global strategy.
4. Timeline (100 words)
   • Planning: Create a timeline for the remainder of the semester that outlines the key milestones and deadlines for your project. Include dates for when you plan to complete research, start production (if applicable), finalize your pitch, and complete the Media Dossier.
   • Challenges: Anticipate any potential challenges or obstacles you might encounter and include strategies for addressing them within your timeline.