European media: structure, politics and regulation
Assesment: Term paper (individually or in groups)
Teacher
responsible for the course: Trine Syvertsen
The course is open to all mellomfag-, hovedfag- and masters
students. Lectures will be held in English while discussion groups will be
organised in both Norwegian and English. Term papers can be written in English
or Norwegian. Students may write term papers either individually or in groups
(2-4 people).
Focus
The course addresses the massive changes currently taking
place on the European media scene. Key topics include:
·
Concentration of ownership, mergers and alliances between
different media
·
The challenges posed to existing media by convergence and
digitalisation
·
European media policy and regulation
·
The situation for public service broadcasting in Europe
·
Attempts to stimulate European audio-visual production (film
and television)
·
The relationship between transnational and national media
developments
·
The implications of the above transformations for national
culture and policy
The aim of the course is to provide students with an
overview over the most important actors and developments currently at play in
Europe, to develop the students' ability to critically assess selected aspect
of this development and to create a framework where students are encouraged to
start working on their term papers as early as possible.
The course is
organised around four main activities:
1. Lectures:
A series of lectures will be held in February and March (in English).
2. Seminar
groups: After a few introductory lectures, students will be divided into
seminar groups. The groups will have a thematic focus based on the students'
own interest. The seminar groups will serve as a place to discuss literature
and topics for the term papers. Each group will also be responsible for
planning one part of the field trip to Brussels/Central Europe (see below).
Both Norwegian- and English-speaking groups will be organised. Each group will
have regular meetings with and without the teacher.
3. An
excursion to Brussels (and nearby European destinations) is to take place
midway through the term (possibly towards the end of March). The aim of the
trip is to learn more about the European media situation and to gather
information to be used in the term papers.
4. Term
papers: On the basis of the above, students will write term papers (in English
or Norwegian). Students may write their term papers individually or in groups
(2-4 persons).
Recommended
literature:
Students may compose their own reading list of 1000 pages
depending on their own specialisation. The list is to be approved by the
teacher. Literature previously read in connection with other courses may not be
included. Below is a suggested reading list of approximately 1050 pages.
McQuail, Denis and Siune, Karen (eds.) (1998) Media Policy: Convergence, Concentration and
Commerce. Euromedia Research Group. London: Sage (225 p)
Peter Humphreys (1995) Mass
media and media policy in Western Europe. Manchester University Press 1996
(350 p).
Levy, David A (1999) Europe’s
Digital revolution: Broadcasting regulation, the EU and the nation state.
London & New York: Routledge (208 sider).
Jean-Claude Burgelman (1997) 'Issues and Assumptions in
Communications Policy and Research in Western Europe: A critical Analysis' pp.
123-154 in Corner, J. Schlesinger, P., Silverstone, R (1997) International media research. London:
Sage. (30 p.)
Feintuck, Mike (1999) Media
Regulation, Public Interest and the Law. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press.
Suggested
chapters: Ch.1. Regulating the
revolution, Ch. 2. The market, public service and regulation, Ch. 3. In search
of the public interest (87 pages)
Hoskins, McFadyen, Finn (1997): Global television and film, London: Oxford Univ. Press. Kap 1-8 er
ca. 100 sider. Chaper 1-8 (100 pages)
Skogerbø, Eli (1996): "External constaints and national
resources - Reflections on the Europeanisation of communications policy" Nordicom review 1/96 pp. 69-80. (10
sider)