University of East Anglia (UEA), BA, Politics and Media Studies

In contemporary politics it can sometimes seem that spin doctors and celebrities are more important than prime ministers and presidents. Critics complain that politics is now all presentation and no policy.

Studying the BA Politics and Media Studies allows you to look in detail at the ways in which modern media are changing the nature of politics. You will study the political, social and economic factors that shape the media industries and the ways in which those industries are used and potentially abused for political gain.

Media is undeniably important when it comes to the way modern politics is communicated, and politicians have started to using channels such as social networking sites and chat shows to connect with voters. Celebrities use rock concerts and television shows to advocate their social and political causes. Citizens are starting to take control of political communication by writing blogs and posting videos online. For some this is a worrying trend towards ‘infotainment’, for others this is evidence of a new and possibly more democratic way of ‘doing politics’.

This course enables you to study and understand this growing phenomenon, and in the process gain a unique perspective when it comes to analysing politics and the changing way that modern society relates to it.