PTC5062 - Politics and the Media

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of the media in contemporary politics.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of significant recent developments in the political management of the media.
Critically evaluate the tensions within the contemporary political media between reporting, commentary, commerce, and entertainment.
Identify and critically evaluate the consequences of the rise of social media on political media.
Present findings clearly and persuasively, using appropriate methods and communications technologies.

Content:

This option module forms part of a suite of modules on political behaviour. These modules are designed to explore agencies that mediate between political institutions / agencies and the broader social body. It develops themes raised PTC 4032 Polling and Public Opinion and both develops them and applies them to the media.

The module focuses on arguments about media power by exploring the changing and expanding nature and significance of the media and political communication and by addressing questions of media bias. The first part of the module considers the nature of international media corporations as a rival to political power and the role of the state in using and controlling the media and the developing art of media management. The second part of the module investigates the expanding and developing nature of the new media and their democratic role, present and future.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Seminars/workshops will be the principal modes of delivery. Learning will be supported by material and resources placed on Moodle in advance of each session, and by 'directed activities': preparation and reading before each seminar as directed by the tutors. The focus of the classes will be on student-led discussion and debate, and the discussions of pre-structured case studies and debates will drive the engagement with the key texts and contemporary criticism. In line with the content focus on creativity and persuasion, the assessment will feature negotiated forms of assessment. Support will be provided for this within the workshop sessions, including consideration of the relevant methods for presenting arguments / information and lecturer input on the assessments as they are developed.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Nathan Uglow
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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