Module: History and Structure of the Media

Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	History and Structure of the Media
Module Code	CM137
School	School of Communications
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Roderick Flynn Semester 2: Roderick Flynn Autumn: Roderick Flynn
Module Teachers	Roderick Flynn
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

None
Array

Description

To offer students an account of the historical development of the mass media both internationally and nationally. Moreover the module seeks identify and discuss the impact of those historically contingent sets of social, political and economic circumstances/forces on the form, function and organisation of the mass media.

Learning Outcomes

1. identify the key historical moments and events in the development of mass media institutions in Ireland, the UK and the USA.
2. distinguish between public service broadcasting and commercial broadcasting systems in terms of their funding mechanisms, their regulation and their programme output.
3. identify how changing social, political and cultural contexts shape the working definition of public service at particular historical moments.
4. analyse the impact on individual mass media texts (films, television series etc.) of the fact that they have been produced by media conglomerates which simultaneously operate across national borders and across a range of different media industries.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	33	No Description
Independent Study	50	No Description
Independent Study	42	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Irish Print Media History
Establishment of the early Irish press in 17th and 18th centuries, development politically-motivated (primarily nationalist press) in the 19th century, emergence of mature newspaper market in 20th century.

British Broadcasting History
Establishment of BBC and related development of concept of Public Service Broadcasting from the 1920s, emergence of commercial broadcasting in the 1950s, effect of new distribution technologies from the 1970s through to the 1990s and an examination of the related changes in market/regulatory environments.

RTE History
Establishment of state-owned broadcasting monopoly in the early 1920s, development of funding models for early broadcasting, introduction of broadcast censorship during WWII and "The Troubles". Emergence of commercial competition (pirate and legal) in the 1970s and 1980s. Implications of globalisation of broadcasting for local content.

US Broadcasting History
Emergence of US control over domestic broadcasting industry, identification of rationale underlying adoption of largely commercial organisation of broadcasting industry, beginning of television from 1940s, heyday of the TV networks (1950-1970s), arrival of cable competition, increasing integration of networks into larger media conglomerates.

Hollywood
Description of early competition and tendencies towards monopoly in US film industry (Patent Wars and MPPC), emergence and decline of studio system, integration of studios into corporate holding companies, increasing convergence of film and television production at an ownership level, emergence of cross-/multi-media corporate giants in 1980s and 1990s.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	10%	Examination Weight	90%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Loop Exam	Two quizes designed to test student recall of basic facts about media industries in Ireland, the UK and the USA.	10%	Other

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Andrew Crisell: 2002, An Introductory History of British Broadcasting, Routledge, London, 0415247918
James Curran and Jean Seaton: 2003, Power Without Responsibility, 6th, Routledge, London, 0415243904
Douglas Gomery: 2008, A History of Broadcasting in the United States, Wiley Blackwell, 140512282X
Douglas Gomery: 2005, The Hollywood Studio System, BFI Publishing, London, 1844570649
Janet Wasko: 2003, How Hollywood Works, Sage, London, 076196813X
John Horgan: 2001, Irish Media, Routledge, London, 0415216400
Mark O'Brien and Mary P. Corcoran: 2004, Political censorship and the democratic state : the Irish broadcasting ban, Four Courts, Dublin, 185182846X :
Mark O'Brien,: 0, The Irish Times: A History, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 9781846821233
Mark O'Brien (Editor) Kevin Rafter (Editor): 0, Independent Newspapers: A History, 9781846823602
Mark O'Brien: 2001, De Valera, Fianna Fáil and the Irish Press, Irish Academic Press, Dublin, 9780716527336

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

AFU	Age Friendly University Programme
BAJL	Bachelor of Arts (BAJL)
BAJM	Bachelor of Arts (BAJM)
BSSA	Study Abroad (DCU Business School)
BSSAO	Study Abroad (DCU Business School)
CS	BA in Communication Studies
HMSA	Study Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
HMSAO	Study Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
SHSA	Study Abroad (Science & Health)
SHSAO	Study Abroad (Science & Health)

Date of Last Revision

14-MAY-12

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