Assessment: critical bibliography of one form of media e.g. the development of TV, radio, the press (1200 words) [50%], online test [50%] [all pieces to be attempted; overall pass required]
This module will provide an engaging and comprehensive introduction to the development of the mass media, with a particular focus on the British context, and the recent appearance of multimedia forms. This will be done by exploring the varying commercial, structural and cultural differences between different media, and to address issues such as what is British about the media in Britain and the products they generate, who owns and controls them, how they are regulated and how these factors have influenced their content, impact and reception? The module will also explore the relationship between the mass media and new multimedia forms and will question if technologies like the internet might mean the end of centralised mass media forms.

*Course content subject to change