Dr Damian Tambini FAW 7.01J

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Media and Communications (Media and Communications Governance). This course is available on the MPhil/PhD in Data, Networks and Society. This course is not available as an outside option.

Should the internet be governed? How should law and policy on the press and the media be reformed in the light of technological change? This course lays the foundation to enable students to approach these and related questions in an informed, authoritative way. Communication governance includes all attempts by public bodies to fund, licence or otherwise regulate or govern communication services or the providers of those services, usually for an alleged public benefit. The process of governance includes public policy debate and discussion and the processes of self-regulation and legal regulation. The term 'governance' refers to the norms, rules and resources together with their theoretical underpinnings that inform the production and consumption of media and communication services. The course covers the key concepts required to gain an understanding of the processes through which public authorities, corporations and the public are involved in setting rules, building institutions and providing public resources for the provision of media and communication services. This course begins from the assumption that media and communication can only be fully understood if their governance and its implications for citizens and consumers as well as producers, are understood. Illustrations are drawn from UK, European and international developments, thereby presenting a multi-levelled analytical approach to governance issues in the field. The first half of the course maps key elements of communication governance including key concepts and institutions. The second half of the course examines contemporary issues and debates in communication governance.

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the MT. 1 hour of lectures in the ST.

All students are expected to complete advance reading, prepare seminar presentations, and submit one essay of 1,500 words.

Moore, M. and Tambini, D (eds) (2018) Digital Dominance:The Power of Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple.  Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Mansell, R. and Raboy, M (eds). (2011). Handbook of Global Media and Communications Policy. Wiley Blackwell. London;

Michael, E. J. (2006) Public Policy: The competitive framework. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Esp Chapter 5. 'Market failure and intervention';

Puppis, Manuel. Media Governance: A New Concept for the Analysis of Media Policy and Regulation Communication, Culture & Critique 3 (2010) 134-149;

Richards, E., Foster, R. and Kiedrowski, T. (eds) (2006) Communications: The Next Decade. A Collection of Essays prepared for Ofcom;

Satola, D. (2007) 'Legal Aspects of Internet Governance Reform' Information Polity, 12(1/2): 1570-1255;

Stein, L. (2004) 'Understanding Speech Rights: Defensive and empowering approaches to the First Amendment', Media Culture and Society, 26(1): 103-120;

Tambini, D. (2009). Transformation of the Public Sphere: Law, Policy and the Boundaries of Publicness. In: Mediating Europe. Jackie Harrison and Bridget Wessels, eds. Berghahn Books New York, 2009. p 47-72;

Tambini, D., Leonardi, D. and Marsden, C. (2008) Codifying Cyberspace. Self regulation in Convergent Media, London: Routledge.

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.