This module surveys the current organisation of the established radio and television industries in the UK: along with their emerging relationship with online distribution through streaming and other forms of 'web presence'. On it you will identify the key characteristics by which the industry sectors are
described: public service, commercial and the 'alternative' / 'community' / 'third' sector. You will relate the practical consequences of corporate ownership, various funding models, institutional organisation and employment structures to the decisions broadcasters make and hence to the content that UK audiences typically receive - with reference to overseas and historical examples to illustrate broad principles. You will consider Ofcom's regulatory and licensing roles in the UK in significant detail and how these, along with legal constraints and responsibilities arising from the laws of the land, determine and/or influence broadcast practices. This introductory understanding of broad principle you will relate to current debates about how digitalization, the convergence of technologies, `time-shifted' viewing and listening and the proliferation of channels are disrupting traditional conceptions of broadcasting.

1.A test delivered through Blackboard covering factual information about the broadcasting industry (Learning Outcomes 1 and 4)
2.A speech of 3 to 4 minutes duration in a small group debate proposing or opposing a motion on a given regulatory issue, including submission of written notes (Learning Outcomes 3 and 4).
3.Individual essay of 1000-1200 words presenting all sides of an argument on a regulatory issue (Learning Outcomes 1 and 2)

BBC Producers Guidelines
Crisell, A. 2002 An introductory history of British broadcasting London: Routledge
Crone, T. 2002 Law and the media: an everyday guide for professionals. 4th edn. Oxford: Focal Press
DTI & DCMS 2000 A New Future for Communications HMSO
Lewis, P. & Booth, J. 1989 The invisible medium: public, commercial and community radio Basingstoke:
Macmillan
Boyd, A., Stewart, P. & Alexander, R. 2008 (6th edition) 'Ethics and Responsibility' in Broadcast Journalism: Techniques of Radio & Television News
Oxford: Focal Press
Hudson, G. & Rowlands, S. 2007 'The Law and Broadcast Journalists' in The Broadcast Journalism Handbook Harlow: Longman
Priestman, C. & Wall, T. 2008 Radio Cultures: Programmes, Broadcast and Listeners Maidenhead: Open University Press
Ofcom Programme Codes: radio & television

Library and online resources
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

The teaching time in the module is mainly in the form of lecture / workshops in which you consider the underlying principles of broadcast regulation and licensing and how they shape patterns of ownership and organisation across the range of broadcast media. Each of these areas is subject to ongoing
debate and much of your independent study is concerned with researching the opposing arguments (e.g. for and against various forms of censorship). You are also introduced to the broad practical effects that legislation, current broadcast regulation and organisational policies have on individual programme makers.
You will be encouraged to read the broadcasting press and keep up to date with day-to-day changes in the broadcasting industry.