Paper topic must be related to subjects from the class, for example, media and democracy or politics, communication and democracy; media and human rights, public-private distinctions, publicity; etc. Ideally, you should draw on theoretical concepts from class and academic readings, and apply them to real world communication situations. For example, you may want to apply Habermas' theories about ideals of participation and rational critical discussion to the modern mass media. This would involve consideration of the idealized role of the press in the formation of public opinion, the realities of the relationship between public opinion formation and the press/television, and assessment of whether we should try to move toward the ideals in practice.