Postgraduate - UnitAPG5640 - Journalism and society

This unit explores the ways in which the philosophical basis, role and activities of journalism have developed in relation to social context. It takes a comparative approach to historical and contemporary forms of journalism in western liberal democracies, post-colonial multi-party states and single-party states, and relates professional and community practice in journalism to developments in the political, economic and coercive fields. Among other themes it will consider internationalisation of news flows, development journalism, policy initiatives such as NWICO (the New World Information and Communication Order), free speech and censorship, and public/private sector media. It emphasises the specificity of historical and geographic factors within larger structural developments, and takes a comparative and critical approach to the use and evaluation of social theory.