Performances of Understanding, Rationale, and Time-line. After reading Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle students will synthesize what they learned about the world of the 1900’s packinghouse Chicago with what they learn about the world of today’s global media giants. Many students are unaware that in the past decade, the number of corporations controlling most of America's daily newspapers, magazines, radio, television, books, and movies has dropped from fifty to ten to six; and that the media are big businesses and as business they have certain agendas and bottom lines. As students of the Academy of Finance, they should be aware of the finance of media and how and if this relationship is conducive to coexistence of media and democracy. It is essential for students to understand these factors so that they may better understand the broader communication/business infrastructure. Students will determine whether the marriage of big business, media and democracy is positive. Students should start to question the agenda of the mega news media if indeed it is not reflecting what the constitution intended.