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1. Prerequisites

At the start of this course the student should have acquired the following competences:

• Competences corresponding the final attainment level of secondary school

An active knowlegde of :

• Dutch
• English

Dutch is the language used in the lecture

English is needed to understand the texts in the reader

• General knowledge of the use of a PC and the Internet

General notion of the basic concepts of:

working with blackboard

being able to follow current affairs in the field of media policy and to look for additional information online

Specific prerequisites for this course:
genearl for MA Mass Communication

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2. Learning outcomes

Critical reflection on media policy - being able to analyse existing policy into its determinate parts (stakeholders, views on communication and society behind it) as well as being able to reflect on future policy options.

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3. Course contents

Media function within a policy environment at three levels: 1. policy of relevant governments (at a European, federal, regional and local level) vis a vis the media; 2. at the level of the branch (according to type of medium) and 3. at the micro level (internal policy). This course focusses on the level of govenrment policy. First, it pays attention to theoretical views on medoa policy,, both from an historical and contemporary perspective. This general question about the what, why and for what purpose of the government policy, is made more specific with regards to the Flemish situation as well as the international context. The circumstances within which this policy is being fulfilled are discussed from a critical perspective. This should enable students to understand where certain priorities come from and to interpret any changes within these priorities.

After a more general orientation (what is policy, what is media policy) national and international media policy is studies from four angles: technology, economics, politics and culture. On the one hand general concepts and processes are being studied while, on the other hand, specific case studies help to clarify these general insights.

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4. Teaching method

Class contact teaching:

Lectures

Personal work:

Exercises

Assignments:In group

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5. Assessment method and criteria

Examination:

Oral with written preparation

Open-question

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6. Study material

Required reading

a reading list with all relevant texts is made available. Students must also read Donders, K. & Van den Bulck, H. (2012) De VRT in de 21ste eeuw: overbodige luxe of maatschappelijke meerwaarde. Antwerp: AUP.

Optional reading

The following study material can be studied on a voluntary basis:
Nihil.

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7. Contact information

hilde.vandenbulck@ua.ac.be

Meerminne building M 183: by appointment or after class

(+)last update: 03/02/2012 09:59 hilde.vandenbulck