History of the British press; theories of the press; the popular press and press barons; World War Two and the challenge of radio; the rise of media conglomerates and cross-ownership; new technology and the Wapping revolution; local and regional pess; issues of regulation and censorship; the rise of spin; dumbing down of the press; the multi-media environment; global media empires and the future of British newspapers

One coursework essay 1,500-2,000 words

Independent learning via guided readings, literature searches via Web and library resources, tutor and student led seminar discussions on key issues relating to the British press

10 x lectures (1 hour) - 10 hours
To introduce key concepts and develop skills including note-taking and the ability to extract and use relevant information

10 x seminars (1 hour) - 10 hours
To facilitate wider group discussion of issues raised during lectures; to take part in group workshop activities (for example, analysing news stories from tabloid and broadsheet newspapers)

Independent learning - 130 hours
Developing research skills and independent learning in preparation for essay and presentation assignments

Library texts and journals
Daily and Sunday national newspapers

H. Barker Newspaper, Politics and English Society 1695-1855 (Longman, 2000)
J. Curran & J Seaton Power Without Responsibility: the Press and Broadcasting in Britain (Routledge, 1997)
B. McNair News and Journalism in the UK ? A Textbook (Routledge, 1999)
K. Williams Get Me A Murder A Day!: History of Mass Communication in Britain (Hodder Arnold, 1998)