The module will locate the understanding of local and national government in a political context. Democracy and the electoral process will be introduced and evaluated in terms of national, regional (devolved) and local levels. The functions of government (including cabinets and executives) will be examined at each level. Legislatures and regulatory functions will be considered. The public sector and public sector/private sector partnerships will be explored and evaluated, especially in the context of the delivery of government set objectives and services. Local government will be examined with respect to a range of functions including strategic planning, planning approval, leisure and recreation, waste and environmental health, and housing. At all levels, government-media relations will be examined.

This module covers the politics of the development of broadcast news, legislative frameworks, theoretical perspectives on news gathering, ownership and control, political censorship, control and propaganda, the politics of public service broadcasting, the role of broadcast news in policy making, politics and globalisation, the future of broadcast news.

An ESSAY (2500 words) - 50% [Learning outcomes 1,2,3]

A 2ND ESSAY (2500 words) - 50% [Learning Outcomes 4,5,6,7]

Key Information Set Data:
100% coursework

The module will be delivered by a lecture programme supported by seminar/workshop sessions. Lectures will introduce and map out key issues, concepts and subject knowledge while seminar sessions and workshops will allow more interactive discussion and focused exercises in support of achieving the learning outcomes. Self directed study will be guided by the module handbook and will include preparation for seminars (70%) and assessments (30%). Weekly reading lists will prepare students for the content of seminars and inform the research for the essays. Assessment is 100% by essay.

Key Information Set Data:
16% scheduled L&T activities
84 % guided independent learning

Brian McNair (2003) News & Journalism in the UK
Michael Bromley (ed.) (2002) No News is Bad News: Radio, Television and the Public
Jackie Harrison (2001) Terrestrial TV News in Britain: The Culture of Production
Paul Manning (2001) News and News Sources: A Critical Introduction
Jackie Harrison (2006) News (London: Routledge)
Budge, et al, The New British Politics, 2nd edition, Longman, 2001
M. Temple, How Britain Works, Routledge, 2000.
G.Stoker (ed) The New Politics of British Local Governance, Macmillan, 2000

Videos
Library texts and journals
Television and radio news programmes
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.