Dear all,
Here are details of a new postgraduate degree in Media Industries at the
University of Leeds, which is now open for applications. I'd be grateful
if you could pass this on to anyone who might be interested. 
Regards
Dave Hesmondhalgh

MA in Media Industries
* Applications accepted from November 2008 for 2009-10
The media entertain us and inform us. But they are also a vast business
sector employing huge numbers of people. This programme examines the
media industries across both these dimensions - the cultural and the
economic.

We look at business trends but we also scrutinise television shows. The
social impact of the media is as important as profit margins. From
mega-corporations to entrepreneurial independents to lone bloggers, we
analyse the full range of media production in modern societies. The
scope is international - for the media industries are now global. It is
also historical, because present trends cannot be followed without
knowledge of long-term developments.

To do all this, the programme draws on a number of fields, including
communication and cultural studies, economics, business and management
studies, sociology, anthropology, politics and law, but also cultural
analysis associated with humanities subjects such as literature, art
history and music. What's more, the programme is based in a department
with its own dedicated Media Industries Research Centre and a number of
staff specialising in this area.

The media play a central role in modern life, and they can only be
understood by understanding the industries that produce them. This
programme is your chance to gain such an understanding, in one of the
UK's top communications and media studies departments.

Who should take the course?
Anyone who wishes to work in the media, in related industries such as
public relations, or in any area of employment where the media now play
a central role, such as politics, sport, leisure, tourism or public
policy. Anyone who has worked in the media and wants to gain a better
understanding of them. The course is also an ideal basis for a research
career, whether inside or outside academia. The international basis of
the course makes it suitable for non-EU students as much as for home and
EU students.

Course content
The two core modules of the programme provide the fundamental basis for
understanding the media industries, economically and culturally,
internationally and historically. 

The Media Industries introduces students to the main issues, debates and
research traditions in this area of study. The emphasis is on debates
about change. How much are recent developments such as digitalisation,
marketisation and internationalisation transforming the media
industries?       
Media Production Analysis examines individual media industries, such as
television, film, music, the internet, newspapers, magazines and
advertising. There is a strong focus on organisational dynamics, and on
the nature and experience of work in the media industries.   
 

In addition students take two optional modules that allow them to
acquire in-depth knowledge in areas such as media policy, audience
research, journalism, international communications and media
globalisation.

Students will also complete a dissertation of 12,000 to 15,000 words on
a topic of their choice within the area of media industries. They will
be allocated an individual supervisor who is an expert in the field.
Research on the dissertation is supported by weekly lectures on academic
writing and research methods.

For more information: 
http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/sub1.cfm?pbcrumb=MAMI
For how to apply:
http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/sub1.cfm?pbcrumb=MA%20Application%20Procedure