Rather deja vu I fear, but in case the contents are of use to colleagues
here is the text of a letter sent in response to the latest media studies
hysteria courtesy of Mr Woodhead and the Sunday Times. At least we seem to
have help from John Humphries and Will Hutton.
Sir:
In the week when GCSE A level results are published, and students up and
down the country are making hard choices about their future, it was both
irresponsible and misleading to publish last week's story by Judith
O'Reilly revisiting her, and your, now familiar antipathy to university
media studies ('Angry Woodhead hits at vacuous degrees'). The Chief
Inspector of Schools has made his views on this subject known before, and
had nothing new nor pertinent to add. It is unfortunate, however, to see
the Sunday Times offering what is an increasingly isolated and ill-informed
contribution.
For the record, media studies in UK universities is a resounding success
story. It is not remotely a massively dominant subject at A level; in the
last five years media studies represents roughly 1.2% of all A level
entries across all examination boards. There are still fewer A level
students in media studies than in, for example, PE or French. There are
fewer university entrants taking media studies than are taking tourism,
pharmacy, or agriculture, while twice as many are taking fine arts or music.
Students in such subjects are very well aware of their employment prospects
in the media, narrowly defined. Nevertheless many are very successful in
the wider communication and cultural industries, and, just as importantly,
such students are exceptionally successful in the general labour market.
Their skills, talents, and expertise are widely recognised and welcomed by
employers. The most recent statistics from the national graduate employment
agency (AGCAS) show that the percentage of graduates in employment (as
distinct from unemployed, seeking further study etc) in various fields was
history 56.5%, English 56.3%, physics 51.7%, mathematics 63.1%,
chemistry 50.9%, modern languages 65.6%, sociology 65.2%, business and
management 79.2%, economics 71.3%, media studies 76.4%. If moving into
employment is a primary criterion for prospective students then media
studies is a very attractive option.
Given this success, and the patent importance of serious applied and
theoretical study of the media and cultural institutions in our society, it
is not surprising that a figure like Lord David Puttnam should argue that:
"I absolutely and increasingly believe in the crucial importance of media
studies; they should be at the very heart of any education system, which
claims to equip its citizens to deal with the complexities of life in the
twenty-first century". What a pity that Mr Woodhead and the Sunday Times
did not assess the facts before recognising the strength and basis of this
belief.
(Prof.) Peter Golding
Hon Sec. Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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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