module specification

This module will critically examine the democratic role of the mass media, audio-visual and communications services in contemporary national political environments.

Please note: This module supersedes GI2042/GI3027

• To consider whether the media has a democratic purpose in disseminating free information through plurality and diversity.
• To assess the political economy of media institutions, the public policy questions concerning their development and status, and the impact of the new forms of communication and information transfer.
• To consider how political messages are communicated by political elites to the public during elections and periods of government.
• To consider how political issues are represented through the news media and popular fictions.

The Media and Democracy:  The media as a ‘Fourth Estate’.

The Political Economy of the Media: Technological reform; Corporate growth; new delivery systems; the Internet, Web 2.0 and the social media; public regulation of  converging communications.

Political Communication in Liberal Democracies: Propaganda; Modern Election Campaigns; Spin Doctoring and News control; the decentralisation of political communications and rise of social networks.

Cultural Politics in the Media, Film and Communications arena:  Ideology, identities and meaning; News bias and production; Celebrity Politics; the representation of politics and ideologies in popular fictions.

The module’s learning and teaching strategy includes traditional methods: face-to-face teaching via lectures and seminars. It will include blended learning through the University Blackboard system in which the syllabus, lecture notes, web-links and specific readings will be made available.

At the end of this module students will be able:

• To critically assess the role of the media and information services in enhancing or eroding the democratic process.
• To understand the reforms which are occurring in the political economy of the communications industries.
• To possess a firm grasp of national public relations and marketing techniques in the utilisation of modern political communications strategies.
• To understand how cultural and political practices have been defined by a range of media representation

Students will develop effective transferable skills in writing, the presentation of ideas, time management and competence in defining academic analysis in a logical and coherent manner.
 

The assessment will be conducted through:
An essay of 2500 words with summative feedback. Title to be provided by tutor.
Weekly seminar assessment. 
 

Kuhn, R. 2007: Politics and the Media in Britain. Basingstoke, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Lilleker, D. 2006: Key Concepts in Political Communication. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi:
Sage Publications.
Louw, P.E. 2005: The Media and Political Process. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage
Publications.
Scott, I. 2011: American Politics in Hollywood Film. Second Edition. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press.
Street, J. 2010: Mass Media, Politics and Democracy. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (Second
Edition).
Wheeler, M. 1997: Politics and the Mass Media. Oxford: Blackwells.
Wheeler, M. 2006: Hollywood: Politics and Society. London: British Film Institute.
The British Broadcasting Corporation:   http://www.bbc.co.uk
The Guardian:     http://www.guardian.co.uk
The Financial Times:     http://www.ft.com
Broadcast:      http://www.produxion.com
The Campaign for Press and
Broadcasting Freedom:     http://www.cpbf.org.uk/
Hansard Society:     http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/
Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences: http://www.oscars.org