Introduction to Global Media and Communication

Academic Program: Master of Public Administration (2 years)
Instructor: Phil Howard
Credits: 2.0
Course description: 

Today, digital media has a key role in shaping our economic, political and cultural lives. Students will be encouraged to share their critical insights on global media and communication so as to help all of us understand specific theoretical questions about the relationship between culture, media, and public policy. 

This course has three objectives:

  1. to understand the role of global media and communication processes in public policy development at the local, national, regional and global level;
  2. to understand the theoretical perspectives on how new information technologies are developed and diffused around the world;
  3. to critically assess these theories, applying them in a personal research project or case study of interest to the student.

By the end of the class, students will be able to design a small research project, collect data, assess its quality and manage it using a spreadsheet program, as well as manage real working relationships under tight deadlines. We will critically explore the concepts often used in discussions of global media, such as the ideas of the network society, information society, and the digital divide. Case studies from around the world will be used wherever possible. Students will have significant freedom to develop their own research interests through a paper on a topic of their own choosing. Through diverse readings, students will also learn about the various methodologies for studying technology and society.