University of Westminster - Masters in Media and Development

The Media and Development MA is an interdisciplinary course that teaches main theories, concepts, case studies and practical media skills around the theme of media and development and its implications for less developed countries. The course seeks to provide students with a unique blend of theory and practice teaching, aimed at deepening their knowledge of the history of communications within the development process of emerging economies. It will critically evaluate the impact of international and regional institutions from a critical political economic perspective. Teaching by academic staff, guest lecturers and other carefully selected staff from development organisations provides students with an overview of the policies, actions and impact of state and non-state institutions within the area of communication media and development.

The  course  structure follows the requirements of the modular frameworks and the academic regulations of the University. The course covers the following:

• The main ways in which social scientist have analysed the processes of development and the role of the mass media in it, from a variety of critical perspectives. 
• The key policies, actions and impact of state and non-state institutions within the area of development. 
• The factors which shape mass communication policies in developing countries.
• The theoretical and practice issues in media and development.
• The major debates about media and development.

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The course can be completed full-time (one year) or part-time (two years), starting in September.  To complete the Degree, students are required to complete core modules and can choose from a variety of optional modules.

Core modules:

• Communications Policy and Development - This module will provide students with a theoretical view of the concept of development and with the foundation for analysis of development policies in the communication sector. The course will consider the traditional role of communications in developing countries and analyse the spread of western corporations in telecommunications and mass media into the middle and lower income countries.
• Dissertation - A taught module and group workshops in the first semester will guide students in conducting a major piece of independent research. This module will be supplemented by individual supervisions beginning from the second semester. The aim is to give students a guided framework within which they can demonstrate their ability to carry out advanced independent study and write it up in the form of a dissertation. The dissertation is a 15,000 word piece of original research on a topic agreed with their supervisor and related to the political, economic, cultural and/or sociological factors which shape the practices and outcomes of mass media, including media texts and the audience reception of them.
• Theories of Communication - The module is intentionally eclectic. Students will cover (in a loosely historical way) the arguments, advantages and problems of the main sociological, cultural and psychological theories about the media. It aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the most important ways of approaching the fundamental issues posed by the relationships between the media of communication and social and economic life. It will also enable you to understand the problems posed by different intellectual traditions, and to place those theories in their proper contexts.
• Theories of Development - This module focuses on different theories and approaches to development. It considers key development theories and approaches such as modernisation, dependency and neo- liberalism and will provide students with an opportunity to critically assess their relevance to specific contexts in developing countries.

Option modules for Semester 1:

• Approaches to Social and Cultural Diversity
• Global Media      
• Media Production Skills
• Political Analysis of Communication
• Political Economy of Communication
• Reporting Diversity: Gender, Sexuality, Age, Disability
• Technology and Communication Policy

Option modules for Semester 2:

• Approaches to Media and Communication Research
• Media Business Strategy
• Media Work Experience
• Media, Activism & Politics
• Planning Campaign Communications for NGOs and Charities
• Policies for Digital Convergence
• Reporting Diversity: Faith and Religion
• Reporting Migration, Race and Ethnicity
• Approaches to Social and Cultural Diversity
• The Sociology of News

For more detailed information see this Programme Specification document.

A distinctive feature of this MA is its emphasis on the practical role of communication media in development. Students will participate in media production workshops and take part in the department’s internship programme, offered in partnership with media and development organisations in London. As part of the work experience module, students participate in an extensive NGO and media seminar series featuring experts and panel discussions. The work placement programme is in line with the University of Westminster’s strategy of nurturing critical practitioners.

The course uses a variety of books, journals, films and online resources to enhance student’s knowledge and skills. These can be provided to potential students on request.

Click on the staff names below (under Academic Staff) to find examples of faculty publications.

• Dr Winston Mano - Course Leader.  He is also Director of Africa Media Centre and Reader in Media and Communication Studies at the University of Westminster, UK as well as Principal Editor of the Journal of African Media Studies. He has helped establish the CAMRI Africa Media Series of conferences. He has researched for the World Association of Newspaper (WAN) (2010). In March 2013, he worked on a public service broadcasting project supported by UNESCO and sponsored by £5000 from BBC Media Action. Winston Mano is also a Senior Research Associate in the School of Communication at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Professor Daya Thussu
• Professor Christian Fuchs 
• Dr Anthony McNicholas
• Dr Xin Xin
• Dr Anastasia Kavada
• Dr Maria Michalis
• Dr Roza Tsagarousianou
• Jacob Johanssen 
• Dr Tarik Sabry 
• Michaela O’Brien
• Heidrun Herzogenrath-Amelung 

Click here to to find out more about the course team members (Scroll down to Course Team)

Visiting Lecturers include Jackie Davies, founder and Director of the Communication and Development Network (C4D), a community of professionals working in communication for development (see more information under Projects above).