The module aims to give students an appreciation of how questions of the media are placed within political studies and how questions of politics are placed within media and communication studies. It also aims to develop skills both of political and media analysis and to encourage students to understand the media-political relationship within a context of change in political culture and in media and information technology. The module will also equip students with the skill to assess and examine the power dynamics, contested representations, and consequences of media reporting of selected contemporary political conflicts. A further aim is for students to become able to scrutinise the underlying rationale for media representation and reporting of politics.

(LO1) Students will acquire advanced knowledge and understanding of key theories and debates relating to the relationship between media and politics.

(LO2) Students will be able to critically analyse the theoretical approaches to media/politics relationship.

(LO3) Students will be able to evaluate media power through a focus on selected contemporary cases and controversies.

(LO4) Students will acquire an advanced understanding of different models of the relationship between media, society and the state.

(S1) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis.

(S2) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills).

(S3) Research skills - Awareness of /commitment to academic integrity.

(S4) Critical thinking and problem solving - Evaluation.

In the first part of the module, the focus will be theories that explain the relationships between the political system on the one hand and various forms of media representations (e.g., mainstream news, social media communications). Topics covered may include theories of media-state relations, media and democracy, agenda-setting, media framing, and the logic of news values.

The second part of the module will focus on particular cases of medialised conflicts and debates. Topics covered may include media and election campaigns, media and international politics, or media and immigration.

All library resources will be made available through the module reading list while other key learning resources (e.g., lecture slides, videos, podcasts, online articles) will be made available via the Canvas VLE.

Students will be expected to engage with current political debates and the way they are being represented in mainstream, alternative, and social media contexts.

Teaching method: Workshop
This activity may be online or on campus and could be subject to changes.
Description: In workshops students are expected – through formal presentations, contributions to discussions, and background reading – to play an active role in creating a conducive and productive atmosphere of debate and criticism.
Scheduled directed student hours: 24
Unscheduled directed student hours: 126
Attendance recorded: YES

Notes: -
Description of how self-directed learning hours may be used: Reading the key texts, reading a selection of recommended texts, critically evaluating current affairs in media and politics that relate to module content, preparing and working on assessment tasks.