The ESRC have requested the circulation of the following:


MEDIA ECONOMICS & CULTURE PROGRAMME - EVALUATION

The Council's Research Evaluation Committee (REC) is planning to commission
an evaluation of the Media Economics & Culture Programme as part of its
2001 review schedule, and would welcome expressions of interest in
undertaking this work.

ESRC programmes consist of research projects networked across UK
universities and research institutes.  Each programme is led by a Director
who provides academic leadership and promotes the work to target audiences.
 Programme evaluations are aimed at informing Council on the scientific
achievements of the work, and assessing wider contributions such as
influencing research users.  Evaluators are also invited to suggest ways in
which ESRC might develop its research portfolio, and this could involve
consideration of related work funded by the Council.

The Media Economics & Culture Programme was directed by Professor Simon
Frith, at the University of Strathclyde, and focussed on issues surrounding
the role and regulation of media industries.  The programme supported 17
research projects at a total cost of £2.7M over a five year period
(1995-2000).  The research investigated five main themes: the media as
competitive industries in a global economy, the effects of national media
policies in a volatile economic and technological environment, the
relationship between commercial media and democratic politics, the role of
the media in defining quality of life for individuals and social groups,
and the relationship between the corporate organisation of the media and
the nature of their products and services.

The REC will announce its schedule in February next year.  Potential
consultants will then be invited to submit tender bids.  Work will commence
in May, and consultants' final reports will be delivered to the REC and
Council in December.  

To register your interest in the evaluation, and to receive further details
in due course, please contact Dr Ian Farnden by e-mail at
[log in to unmask], or write to him at ESRC, Polaris House, North Star
Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UJ.

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Prof. Peter Golding
Head of Department
Dept. of Social Sciences
Loughborough University
LE11 3TU

Tel: (0) 1509 223390
Fax: (0) 1509 223944
E-Mail:  [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ss/depstaff/staff/golding.htm
 
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