Department of Media and Communications REF 2014 Results

REF 2014

Top ranked! The Department of Media & Communications was delighted to have been ranked first in the UK in Unit of Assessment 36: Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF): 47% of our outputs were world-leading as were both impact case studies (see below), our impact environment and our general research environment.

Via Polis and the Media Policy Project, the department encourages its academic staff to engage with policy makers and other stakeholders by fostering an environment that positively values outreach activities, sustaining these throughout our research projects. See here for faculty publications.

See here for research foci, themes and projects.

Impact Case Studies

As part of its submission to REF 2014, the Department of Media & Communications submitted two Impact Case Studies to Unit of Assessment: 36: Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management. Both were ranked world-leading.

Protecting and empowering children in digital environments

Video

Professor Sonia Livingstone OBE

Email: s.livingstone@lse.ac.uk

LSE research has helped shape children’s internet literacy and safety policy. In the UK, the research informed the establishment of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) and the creation by the Council of the UK’s first Child Internet Safety Strategy. Based on the research, the Council tasked industry to improve safety tools, and raised awareness among parents and teachers. This has enhanced children’s online opportunities, digital literacy and ability to cope with online risks, thereby reducing the probability of harm. In Europe, the research informed the European Commission’s Safer Internet Programme’s work on industry guidance, safety tools and awareness campaigns, shifting the emphasis from protecting children to empowering them to use the internet safely and with confidence. Policy and practical initiatives around the world draw on the methodology and findings of the research.

Resources related to this case study.

Preserving citizens' interests on the Internet

Professor Robin Mansell

Email: r.e.mansell@lse.ac.uk

Robin Mansell’s research has impacted on government policy and corporate strategy in the areas of copyright and the Internet, investment in broadband networks, and arrangements for achieving network security and individual privacy protection. These are all key components of what has come to be known as information society policy. Her work has challenged policy makers to respond to the legitimate interests of citizens as well as to those of government and corporate stakeholders. These impacts are particularly visible in shifts in information society policy at the international level to include greater attention to citizen interests and in national policy debates about the future of copyright and business and government responses to the need for secure networks that also protect citizens’ privacy.

Resources related to this case study.