Introductory description

The module explores interdisciplinary perspectives in order to understand how the media and communication industries operate. In this module you will gain an overview of the various disciplinary approaches taken in the academic understanding of the global media. Drawing on perspectives from Sociology, Cultural and Communication Studies, amongst others, the module will deepen your understanding of the historical, social and political contexts in which the media industries are located, and help to shed light on the contemporary landscape in which they operate.

You will also examine the place of the media industries in creating a 'global' society and engage with debates about economic and cultural globalization. The latter part of the module you will consider the role of the global media in shaping and transforming a global public sphere. Further examination of the structure and organisation of the media and cultural industries will help to reveal what is at stake in the proliferation of channels and flows of media messages around the globe.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module is organised around weekly 2 1/2 hour seminars, each based around a discrete topic in the field of global media. Readings are provided each week through the library extracts page.

This is a 30 CAT points module. The bulk of student time should be spent on reading and research, for seminar preparation, preparation for assessed presentations and preparation for the assignment.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Work collaboratively with others in seminars and assessed presentations
• Appreciate the place of historical and theoretical forms of knowledge about global communication in applied situations
• Construct a theoretically and empirically informed argument
• Recognise the role of a range of inter-disciplinary research traditions in understanding the global media
• Identify and choose between competing theoretical perspectives on globalization and global communication
• Analyze the role of national and international institutions in shaping global cultural flows

Indicative reading list

Allan, S. and Thorsen, E. (2009) Citizen Journalism: Global Perspectives, New York: Peter Long.
Allan, S. (2010) News Culture, Maidenhead: Open University Press
Appadurai, Arjun (1996) Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalisation. London and Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Baym, N.K (2010) Personal Connections in the Digital Age, Cambridge: Polity
Briggs, Asa and Burke, Peter (2009) A Social History of the Media: From Gutenberg to the Internet, 3rded, Cambridge: Polity.
Castells, M. (ed) (2004) The Network Society: A Cross-Cultural perspective, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Castells, M. (2009) Communication Power, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Castells, M. (2010) The Rise of the Network Society (2nd ed.), Oxford: Blackwell.
Castells, M., Fernandez-Ardevol, M., Linchuan Qiu, J., Sey, A. (2007) Mobile Communication and Society, Cambridge Mass: MIT Press.
Cottle, Simon (ed.) (2003) Media Organization and Production, London, Sage
Couldry, N., Hepp, A. & Krotz, F. (eds.) Media Events in a Global Age, London: Routledge
Couldry, N, Livingstone, S. and Markham, T. (2010) Media Consumption and Public Engagement, London: Palgrave
Dayan, Daniel and Katz, Elihu (1992) Media Events: The Live Broadcasting of History, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press.
Elliott, A. and Urry, J. (2010) Mobile Lives, London: Routledge
Held, D. McGrew, A. Goldblatt, D., Perraton, J. (1998) Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Jenkins, H. (2013) Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture, London: Routledge
Lewis, J., Inthorn, S. and Wahl-Jorgensen, K. (2005) Citizens or consumers: what the media tell us about political participation, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Lievrouw, L. A. and Livingstone, S. (2006) The Handbook of New Media (student edition), London: Sage.
Maras, S. (2013) Objectivity in Journalism, Cambridge: Polity
Miller, Toby et al. (2005) Global Hollywood 2, London: BFI.
Morley, D. and Robins, K. (1995) Spaces of Identity: Global Media, Electronic Landscapes and Cultural Boundaries, London: Routledge
Muhlmann, G (2008) A Political History of Journalism, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Papacharissi, Z. (ed.) (2011) A Networked Self, London: Routledge.
Papathanassopoulos, S. (ed) (2011) Media Perspectives for the 21st Century, London: Routledge.
Ragnedda, Massimo (ed.) (2020) Blockchain and Web 3.0: Social, Economic, and Technological Challenges, London: Routledge
Sparviero, Stephan et al. (2017) Media Convergence and Deconvergence, Palgrave McMillan
Stevenson. N. (2002) Understanding Media Cultures (2nded), London: Sage.
Thussu, D. K (ed.) (2007) Media on the move, London: Routledge.
Tomlinson, J. (2001) Cultural Imperialism, London: Continuum.
Turkle, S. (2011) Alone Together, New York: Basic Books.
Turner, B.S. (ed.) (2010) The Routledge International Handbook of Globalization Studies, London: Routledge.
Webster, F.(ed.) (2004) The Information Society Reader, London: Routledge
White, Andrew (2015) Digital Media and Society, Basingstoke: Palgrave
Wise, J. M. (2008) Cultural Globalization: A user’s guide, Oxford, Blackwell.
Zimmerman, P. (2015) Thinking Through Digital Media: Transnational Environments and Locative Places, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Subject specific skills

Recognise the role of a range of inter-disciplinary research traditions in understanding the global media and understand theoretical perspectives on globalization and global communication. Question assumptions about global media.

Transferable skills

Construct a theoretically and empirically informed argument and work collaboratively with others in seminars and assessed presentations