BA/BA (Hons) Media

The media (TV, radio, print, internet and film) are central to the way we live: to individual identities and local and national cultures; to the creative and cultural industries; to global politics and economics. This course examines these phenomena and relationships from the perspective of the academic discipline of media studies.

This course focuses on the critical study of media industries and their products, a mix of media studies specialist modules and modules in film studies and in public relations. It offers you the opportunity to study in depth media texts (film, television, print media and others) as both artistic and commercial enterprises, and to study various media institutions and the debates surrounding them. You will develop a critical understanding of the growth of the media industries, historically and globally, and the centrality of the media to popular cultures and be able to enter a range of careers.

The first two years of the course introduce students to key debates in media including those around media relations and ownership of key media industries, and to key concepts in media studies such as narrative, popular culture, audiences and citizenship. Students are also introduced to the theory and practice of producing and manipulating still and moving images.

In Year Three, you will specialise in key areas of media, for example contemporary television, Hollywood cinema or theory and practice of Public Relations. In Year Four, you will choose from a list of specialist media, film and PR options, and complete a written or video Honours dissertation.

As you progress through the course you will acquire and develop skills in video and media production, teamwork, academic research, project management and a variety of forms of communication. Many of these skills, as well as being particularly relevant to media studies are transferable to students’ post-degree careers.

In studying the core areas of the media degree, you will learn:

- Critical approaches to the study of media and specific media texts and cultures

- How to plan, produce and publicise media texts or products (especially, but not exclusively, video)

- How the media industries are structured and how they operate
Structure:You can opt to study for an Honours degree over four years or an Ordinary degree over
three years. You will complete a range of modules, as outlined, each year.

• In Year Two's Working In the Media module there are specialist guest speakers from a number of key industries, including music journalism and management, video and radio production, and film.
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• Staff have presented academic papers at conferences across the world and members of staff have had professional experience in a variety of media.
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• Films made by Media students as part of their study are exhibited annually at an end of year show at the Edinburgh Filmhouse.
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  Placement: Students have the opportunity to spend part of a year abroad staying in either Australia, North America or Sweden.