Module manager: Dr Anna Zoellner
Email: a.zoellner@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module introduces students to the academic study of the media industries, giving an overview of changes in technology, policy and society and their impact on the sector. Topics include the relevance of the media industries, size and ownership of media organisations, the role of policy and the impact of digital and online media.
This module aims to give students a broad introduction to the academic study of the media industries, including a wide range of perspectives and theories, and consider how academics have conceptualised change within this sector.
The lectures on this module introduce students to the principal debates regarding change in the media industries since 1980. To allow students to understand the conditions which shape media production in modern societies, these debates are expanded upon through discussions of case studies and readings in seminars. Here, students can also evaluate contemporary developments in the media industries.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1) Recall and explain key debates and theoretical approaches relevant to an understanding of the media industries.
2) Describe central developments of the media industries historically and internationally.
3) Account for national and regional variations in media industries and their role in societies.
4) Examine media forms and industrial structures critically with appropriate reference to the social and cultural contexts in which they were produced and consumed.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1) The ability to critically analyze and evaluate developments, arguments, and theories on the academic study of the media industries.
2) The ability to contribute to contemporary artistic, cultural and policy discourses by incorporating ethically aware and globally diverse perspectives.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 266.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 33 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 299.5 | ||
Student progress will be monitored via participation in seminars and engagement with tasks set on the Minerva Discussion Board. Seminar activities apply learning from the lecture to enable students to receive weekly feedback on their understanding and skills development. Students are organised into study groups and assigned weekly tasks to upload to the Minerva discussion board. Feedback on these tasks is provided on Minerva or in the seminars. Individual guidance and feedback from the module tutor is available for students in office hours to discuss module content, assignments plans and other course-related questions.
As students prepare for their assignments, the module tutor will offer assistance in refining their plans, argument and approach. Exercises and skills training related to the research assignment are included in the lectures and seminars. Time is allocated in lectures and seminars to discuss the assignments and provide the opportunity to ask questions. Written feedback on the first assignment will include constructive comments and suggestions for improvements, which students can draw on for their second written assignment.
The module further includes a formative assessment in form of a group presentation in week 9, collaboratively produced in study groups. Students receive result and feedback from the module leader on the day, and can include it in the preparation for their final assignment on the module.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Written Work | . | 40 |
| Essay | . | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
All assignments have multiple topics/questions to choose from. A resit would use the same type of assignment i.e. essay or presentation but needs to cover a different topic/question than the original submission.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team