Core modules
Approaching Global Media
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.
Creativity, Communication and Technology
In this module you will evaluate the impact of creativity, communication and technology upon personal, local, national and global issues. Creative media communication is central to most innovation today, and is an effective way of researching the power of media and exploring new levels of value creation. The latest research exploring alternative media, community media, digital media, open source and new communication dynamics will update your understanding. From crowd sourcing to citizen journalism, mobile connectivity to convergence, peer-to-peer and civic participation, you will investigate the creative use of communications and technology in the current globalized media ecology. Engagement with innovative media studies research methods will provide the tools for investigating global media and communication in more depth.
Whilst paying attention to the impact of creativity and technology on media discourses, forms, practices and industries, you are also expected to be creative in this module. Our sub-focus is on creating communication for personal, local, national and global impact. Using simple media tools, you will develop your ideas on how personal, local, national, or global issues can be constructed creatively for private, public or third sector political and cultural economies.
Applied Communication Project
In this practice based module you will focus on contemporary challenges in media and creative industries. You will engage with professionalsand practitioners and respond to their inputs by developing a creative media project. You and your group will address that challenge through research, creative and strategic thinking and communication planning/research. This module is one of our Applied Practice Modules. It is project-based, and gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in situ or in practice related contexts.
Research Design
This module aims to prepare you for your Major Project, which is a substantial piece of independent research on a topic of your choice. The module will equip you with a broad understanding of relevant research methods from which to select an appropriate approach for your own project. It will introduce you to ethical dimensions of research. It will equip you to write an effective proposal (including research questions, rationale, explanation and justification of research methods, identifying relevant literature and data sources).
By the end of the module, you should be ready to submit your proposal and be equipped with a broad understanding of research methods in the cultural, creative and media industries field.
Plus the following:
Major Project
The Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies is an interdisciplinary centre for teaching and research in the fields of cultural and media policy and the creative industries. The commitment to interdisciplinarity is reflected in our Major Projects, where you will be encouraged to draw on approaches from across the humanities and social sciences in producing your work. Successful projects can emerge from creative engagement with scholarly debates, from the design and analysis of original empirical work, or from some combination of these. This openness of approach is also reflected in how Major Project research can be represented.
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
- The Global Audience
- Marketing and Markets
- Media, Policy and Markets
- Cultural Entrepreneurship
- Developing Audiences for Cultural Organisations
All students will take one optional module. There are four core modules, which also includes their course-specific applied management module. The bespoke applied management module for this MA is ‘Applied Communication Project’ (as above). This module gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in practice- or industry-related contexts.
Read more about the MA in Global Media and Communication on the Centre's website.Link opens in a new window
