Professor James Curran
Staff details
James Curran has written or edited over 20 books about the media, some in collaboration with others. He began as a media historian, and his first book (with Jean Seaton) is Power Without Responsibility. Its eighth edition won the 2019 International Communication Association Fellows ‘classic book’ Award, being commended for setting ‘the gold standard in media history’ and shaping ‘the landscape of both scholarship and public deliberation’. James Curran still researches in media history - his most recent publication in this area being the co-authored Culture Wars (second edition, 2019).
However, his research interests broadened to include the study of contemporary journalism. This gave rise to Media and Power (translated into five languages) and Media and Democracy (translated into Arabic, Korean and Hungarian). In 2011, he was the first winner of the Edwin C. Baker Award for his work on media, markets and democracy bestowed by the Philosophy of Communication, Law and Policy Divisions of the International Communication Association. He has initiated or taken part in four comparative studies of journalism, funded by the ESRC and other research organisations.
The study of journalism led James Curran to investigate the internet. He is the Co-Director of the Goldsmiths Leverhulme Media Research Centre, supported by a £1.25 million grant, and the joint author of Misunderstanding the Internet, (translated into Chinese and Korean) whose second edition appeared in 2016.
James Curran taught on Britain’s first media studies degree, was the founding head of Goldsmiths’ Media, Communications and Cultural Studies Department, and became in 1989 the first Professor of Communications at the University of London. He has sought to advance the critical tradition in media studies through joint edited books, such as De-Westernising Media Studies and Media and Society, whose 6th edition appeared in 2019.
Whilst at Goldsmiths, he has been a Visiting Professor at the Universities of California, Oslo, Pennsylvania, Stanford, and Stockholm. He is a Fellow of the International Communications Association.
In addition to supervising BA, MA and PhD dissertations, James Curran teaches the Media, History and Politics and the Political Economy of the Media courses. He has been the first supervisor of over twenty PhD theses. He welcomes PhD applicants in three areas – media history, political communication or journalism studies.
Publications and research outputs
Book
Curran, James P. and Seaton, Jean. 2018. Power Without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain. 8th Edition. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 9780415710428
Curran, James P.; Gaber, Ivor and Petley, Julian. 2018. Culture Wars:The Media and the British Left. 2nd Edition. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 9781138223035
Curran, James P.; Fenton, Natalie and Freedman, Des (D. J.)
Curran, James P.; Fenton, Natalie and Freedman, Des (D. J.)
Curran, James P.. 2016. Media es demokracia [Media and Democracy in Hungarian]. Budapest: Wolters Kluwer. ISBN ISBN 978 963 295 637 4
Curran, James P. and Seaton, Jean. 2016. Power without Responsibility, 7th Edition (in Chinese). Beijing: Tsinghua University Press. ISBN 978-7-302-41226-7
Curran, James P. and Seaton, Jean. 2015. Hatalom Felelosseg Nelkul (Power Without Responsibility, 7th edition, in Hungarian). Budapest: Volters Kluwer.
Curran, James P.. 2014. Media wa Minjujueui (Media and Democracy in Korean). Seoul: Hanul.
Curran, James P.; Freedman, Des (D. J.)
Curran, James P.; Fenton, Natalie and Freedman, Des (D. J.)
Curran, James P.. 2011. Media and Democracy. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-31707-8
Curran, James P. and Seaton, Jean. 2009. Power Without Responsibility. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415466998
Curran, James P.. 2007. Media to Kenryoku [Media and Power, in Japanese]. Tokyo: Ronshosha.
Morley, David G. and Curran, James P.. 2006. Media and Cultural Theory. Routledge. ISBN 9780415317054
Curran, James P.. 2006. Meiti yu Quanli [Media and Power, in Chinese]. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press.
Curran, James P.. 2005. Midia wa Gwon-Ryuk [Media and Power, in Korean). Seoul: Communicationbooks.
Curran, James P.. 2005. Mesa Epikenonias k Exousia [Media and Power, in Greek]. Athens: Kastaniotis.
Curran, James P.. 2005. Medios de Communicacion y Poder [Media and Power, in Spanish]. Barcelona: Hacer.
Curran, James P. and Seaton, Jean. 2005. Ying Guo Xin Wen Shi [Power Without Responsibility, 6th edition, in Chinese]. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press.
Curran, James P. and Gurevitch, Michael. 2005. Mass Media and Society 4th edition. London: Arnold. ISBN 978-0340884997
Curran, James P.; Gaber, Ivor and Petley, J.. 2005. Culture Wars: The Media and the British Left. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0748619178
Curran, James P.. 2002. Media and Power. Routledge. ISBN 9780415077408
Edited Book
Curran, James P. and Hesmondhalgh, David, eds. 2019. Media and Society, 6th Edition. London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781501340734
Curran, James P. and Aalberg, Toril, eds. 2013. How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415740425
Curran, James P., ed. 2010. Mass Media and Society, Fifth Edition. London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0340984451
Curran, James P. and Gurevitch, Michael, eds. 2006. Dazhong Mejia yu Shehui [Mass Media and Society, 3rd edition]. Beijing: Huaxia Press.
Couldry, Nick and Curran, James P., eds. 2003. Contesting Media Power. Rowman and Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7425-2384-5
Book Section
Curran, James P.. 2019. 'Democratic functions of Entertainment'. In: James P. Curran and David Hesmondhalgh, eds. Media and Society, 6th Edition. London: Bloomsbury Academic, pp. 281-301. ISBN 9781501340734
Curran, James P.. 2018. Stuart Hall Redux: His Early Work, 1964-84. In: Julian F. Henriques; David G. Morley and Vana Goblot, eds. Stuart Hall: Conversations, Projects and Legacies. London: Goldsmiths Press, pp. 38-46. ISBN 9781906897475
Curran, James P.; Tiffen, Rod and Cohen, S.. 2017. Virtuous Circles: News Consumption, Political Knowledge and Political Efficacy. In: Bridget Griffen-Foley and Sean Scalmer, eds. Public Opinion, Campaign Politics and Media Audiences. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, pp. 208-242. ISBN 9780522869606
Curran, James P.. 2015. Jay Blumler: A Founding Father of British Media Studies. In: Stephen Coleman; Giles Moss and Katy Parry, eds. Can the Media Serve Democracy?: Essays in Honour of Jay G. Blumler. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 197-209. ISBN 9781137467911
Curran, James P.. 2015. Mediageschiedenis en ideologie. In: Jo Bardoel; Huub Wijfjes; Chris Vos and Frank van Vree, eds. Journalistieke Cultuur in Nederland. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, pp. 464-488. ISBN 978-9089645586
Curran, James P.; Coen, Sharon; Aalberg, Toril and Ivengar, Shanto. 2013. News Content, Media Consumption and Current Affairs Knowledge. In: James P. Curran and Toril Aalberg, eds. How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach. New York: Routledge, pp. 81-97. ISBN 978-0415740425
Curran, James P. and Aalberg, Toril. 2013. How Media Inform Democracy: Central Debates. In: James P. Curran and Toril Aalberg, eds. How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach. New York: Routledge, pp. 3-14. ISBN 978-0415740425
Curran, James P.; Hahn, Kyu S; Ivengar, Shanto and van Aelst, Peter. 2013. Does Knowledge of Hard News Go with Knowledge of Soft News? A Cross-National Analysis of the Structure of Public Affairs Knowledge. In: James P. Curran and Toril Aalberg, eds. How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach. New York: Routledge, pp. 119-137. ISBN 978-0415740425
Curran, James P. and Aalberg, Toril. 2013. Conclusion. In: James P. Curran and Toril Aalberg, eds. How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach. New York: Routledge, pp. 189-200. ISBN 978-0415740425
Curran, James P.. 2012. Reinterpreting the Internet. In: James P. Curran; Natalie Fenton and Des (D. J.) Freedman, eds. Misunderstanding the Internet. Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 3-33. ISBN 978-0-415-57956-8
Curran, James P.. 2012. Sucesos, Noticias Internacionales y Hard News. In: Maria Lamuedra Gravan, ed. El futuro de la Televisión Pública / The Future of Public Television: La Necesaria Alianza Con La Ciudadania / the Necessary Alliance With Citizenship (Spanish). Madrid: Poular Editorial, pp. 35-58. ISBN 978-8478845224
Curran, James P.; Coen, Sharon; Aalberg, Toril and Iyengar, Shanto. 2011. News Content, Media Consumption, and Current Affairs Knowledge. In: James P. Curran and Toril Aalberg, eds. How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach. New York: Routledge, pp. 81-97. ISBN 978-0-415-88908-7
Curran, James P.. 2011. The Internet and the Transformation of Journalism. In: John Lloyd and Janice Winter, eds. Media, Politics and the Public. Stockholm: Axel & Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation.
Curran, James P.. 2010. Entertaining Democracy. In: James P. Curran, ed. Mass Media and Society, Fifth Edition. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 38-62. ISBN 978-0340984451
Curran, James P.. 2010. Reinterpreting Internet History. In: Yvonne Jewkes and Majid Yar, eds. Handbook of Internet Crime. Willan, pp. 17-37. ISBN 978-1843925248
Curran, James P.. 2010. The Impact of Television on the Audience for National Newspapers, 1945-68. In: Alexis Weedon, ed. The History of the Book in the West: 1914 - 2000 vol. 5. Ashgate, pp. 107-142. ISBN 978-0754627838
Curran, James P. and Witschge, Tamara. 2009. Technology Foretold. In: Natalie Fenton, ed. New Media, Old News: Journalism And Democracy In The Digital Age. , pp. 102-118 ISBN 978-1847875747
Curran, James P.. 2009. Narratives of Media History Revisited. In: Michael Bailey, ed. Narrating Media History. Routledge, pp. 1-21. ISBN 978-0415419161
Curran, James P.. 2009. New Trends and Critical Theories in British Media Studies’ (in Japanese). In: T Tsuganesawa; E Takeichi and T Watanabe, eds. Media Kenkyuu to Jaanarizuma 21 Seiki no Kashuku. Tokyo: Minerva Press, pp. 52-99.
Curran, James P.. 2009. 'Teoria midiatica e cultural na era do liberalismo de mercado' [Media and cultural theory in the age of market liberalism]. In: Joao Fijho and Micael Herschmann, eds. Novos Rumos Da Cultura Da Midia. Rio de Janeiro: Mauad, pp. 15-45. ISBN 978-8574782379
Curran, James P.; UNSPECIFIED and UNSPECIFIED. 2009. The New Revisionism in Mass Communication Research: A Reappraisal. In: Anders Hansen; Simon Cottle; Ralph Negrine and Chris Newbold, eds. Mass Communication Research Methods. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0333617090
Curran, James P.. 2009. La Reinvention de le Roue: Critique des “Cultural Studies”. In: D Wolton, ed. Les Sciences de L’Information et La Communication. CRNS Editions, pp. 93-114.
Curran, James P.. 2008. 'Communication and History. In: Barbie Zelizer, ed. Explorations in Communication and History. Routledge, pp. 46-60. ISBN 978-0415777346
Curran, James P.. 2008. 'Rethinking Media and Democracy. In: Yuezhi Zhao and Jin Cao, eds. The Political Economy of Communication. Shanghai: Fudan University Press, pp. 344-376.
Curran, James P.. 2008. 'Mediations of Democracy' [in Norwegian]. In: B Gentikon and E Skogseth, eds. Medier og Deokratiki. Oslo: Spartacus, pp. 68-97.
Curran, James P.. 2008. Media Diversity and Democracy. In: Tim Gardam and David Levy, eds. The Price of Plurality: Choice, Diversity and Broadcasting Institutions in the Digital Age. Oxford: Reuters, pp. 103-109. ISBN 978-0955888908
Curran, James P.. 2008. Capitalism and Control of the Press. In: Yuezhi Zhao and Jin Cao, eds. The Political Economy of Communication. Shanghai: Fudan University Press, pp. 296-321.
Curran, James P.. 2006. Media history: the neglected grandparent of media studies. In: Kenneth Leung; James Kenny; Paul Lee and Ron Rice, eds. Global Trends in Communication Education and Research. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, pp. 17-35. ISBN 978-1572736375
Curran, James P.. 2005. Mediations of democracy. In: James P. Curran and Michael Gurevitch, eds. Mass Media and Society, 4th edition. London: Arnold, pp. 122-149. ISBN 978-0340884997
Curran, James P.. 2005. What Democracy Requires of the Media. In: G. Overholser and K. Jamieson, eds. The Institutions of American Democracy: The Press. Oxford University Press, pp. 120-140. ISBN 0195172833
Curran, James P.. 2005. Media and cultural theory in the age of market liberalism. In: James P. Curran and David G. Morley, eds. Media and Cultural Theory. London: Routledge, pp. 129-148. ISBN 978-0415317054
Curran, James P. and Couldry, Nick. 2003. The paradox of media power. In: James P. Curran and Nick Couldry, eds. Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World: Alternative Media in a Networked World. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, pp. 3-16. ISBN 978-0742523852
Curran, James P. and Couldry, Nick. 2003. Global journalism: a case study of the internet. In: James P. Curran and Nick Couldry, eds. Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World: Alternative Media in a Networked World. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, pp. 227-242. ISBN 978-0742523852
Curran, James P.. 2003. The rise of the Westminster school. In: Andrew Calabrese and Colin Sparks, eds. Toward a Political Economy of Culture: Capitalism and Communication in the Twenty-first Century. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, pp. 13-40. ISBN 978-0742526846
Article
Curran, James P.; Esser, Frank; Hallin, Daniel C; Hayashi, Kaori and Chin-Chuan, Lee. 2017. International News and Global Integration: A Five-Nation Reappraisal. Journalism Studies, 18(2), pp. 118-134. ISSN 1461-670X
Yang, J.; Rojas, H.; Wojcieszak, M.; Aalberg, T; Coen, S.; Curran, James P.; Iyengar, S; Hayashi, K.; Jones, P.K.; Mazzoleni, G.; Papathanassopoulos, S.; Rhee, J.W.; Rowe, D; Soroka, S. and Tiffen,, R.. 2016. Why are “others” so polarized? Perceived political polarization and media use in 10 countries. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 21(5), pp. 349-367.
Curran, James P.. 2016. Entertaining Democracy in the Era of Neo-Liberalism. Brazilian Journalism Research, 12(2), pp. 12-29. ISSN 1808-4079
Hayashi, Kaori; Curran, James P.; Kwak, Sunyoung; Esser, Frank; Daniel C., Hallin and Chin-Chuan, Lee. 2015. Pride and Prejudice: A Five-Nation Comparative Study of Television News Coverage of the Olympics. Journalism Studies, 17(8), pp. 935-951. ISSN 1461-670X
Curran, James P.; Coen, Sharon; Soroka, Stuart; Aalberg, Toril; Hayashi, Kaori; Hichy, Zira; Iyengar, Shanto; Jones, Paul; Mazzoleni, Gianpietro; Papathanassopoulos, Stylianos; Woong Rhee, June; Rojas, Hernando; Rowe, David and Tiffen, Rod. 2014. Reconsidering ‘Virtuous Circle’ and ‘Media Malaise’ Theories of the Media: An 11-Nation Study. Journalism, 15(7), pp. 815-833. ISSN 1464-8849
Tiffen, Rodney; Jones, Paul K.; Rowe, David; Aalberg, Toril; Coen, Sharon; Curran, James P.; Hayashi, Kaori; Iyengar, Shanto; Mazzoleni, Gianpietro; Papathanassopoulos, Stylianos; Rojas, Hernando and Soroka, Stuart. 2014. Sources in the News: A Comparative Study. Journalism Studies, 15(4), pp. 374-391. ISSN 1461-670X
Curran, James P.; Coen, Sharon; Aalberg, Toril; Hayashi, Kaori; Jones, Paul K.; Splendore, Sergio; Papathanassopoulos, Stylianos; Rowe, David and Tiffen, Rod. 2013. Internet Revolution Revisited : A Comparative Study of Online News Journal. Media, Culture & Society, 35(7), pp. 880-897. ISSN 0163-4437
Curran, James P.; Soroka, Stuart; Andrew, Blake; Aalberg, Toril; Ivengar, Shanto; Coen, Sharon; Hayashi, Kaori; Jones, Paul K.; Mazzoleni, Gianpietro; Woong Rhee, June; Rowe, David and Tiffen, Rod. 2013. Auntie Knows Best? Public Broadcasting and Public Affairs Knowledge. British Journal of Political Science, 43(4), pp. 719-739. ISSN 0007-1234
Papathanassopoulos, Stylianos; Coen, Sharon; Curran, James P.; Aalberg, Toril; Rowe, David; Jones, Paul K.; Rojas, Hernando and Tiffen, Rod. 2013. Online Threat, But Television is Still Dominant A comparative study of 11 nations’ news consumption. Journalism Practice, 7(6), pp. 690-704. ISSN 1751-2786
Aalberg, Toril; Papathanassopoulos, Stylianos; Coen, Sharon; Soroka, Stuart; Hayashi, Kaori; Ivengar, Shanto; Jones, Paul K.; Mazzoleni, Gianpietro; Rojas, Hernando; Rowe, David; Tiffen, Rod and Curran, James P.. 2013. International TV News, Foreign Affairs Interest and Public Knowledge: A Comparative Study of Foreign News Coverage and Public Opinion in 11 Countries. Journalism Studies, 14(3), pp. 387-406. ISSN 1461-670X
Freedman, Des (D. J.)
Curran, James P.; Salovaara-Moring, Inka; Coen, Sharon and Ivengar, Shanto. 2010. Crime, Foreigners and Hard News: A Cross-National Comparison of Reporting and Public Perception. Journalism, 11(1), pp. 1-17. ISSN 1464-8849
Curran, James P.. 2010. The Future of Journalism. Journalism Studies, 11(4), pp. 464-476. ISSN 1461-670X
Curran, James P.. 2010. Democratic Value of Entertainment: A Reappraisal. Media & Jornalismo, 9(2), pp. 69-87.
Curran, James P.; Ivengar, Shanto; Brink Lund, Anker; Salovaara-Moring, Inka; Hahn, Kyu S and Coen, Sharon. 2010. Cross-National versus Individual Differences' in Political Information: A Media System Perspective. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, 20(3), pp. 291-309. ISSN 1745-7289
Curran, James P.; Coen, Sharon; Aalberg, Toril and Iyengar, Shanto. 2010. Media Systems and the Political Information Environment: A Cross-National Comparison. International Journal of Press/Politics, 15(3), pp. 255-271. ISSN 1940-1612
Curran, James P.; Ivengar, Shanto; Brink Lund, Anker and Salovaara-Moring, Inka. 2009. Media System, Public Knowledge and Democracy: A Comparative Study. European Journal of Communication, 24(1), pp. 5-26. ISSN 0267-3231
Curran, James P.. 2007. Media, Entertainment and Democracy. Doshisha Journal of Media and Communication Research, 4, pp. 425-438.
Curran, James P.. 2007. Reinterpreting the democratic roles of the media. Brazilian Journalism Research, 3(1), pp. 31-54. ISSN 1808-4079
Curran, James P.. 2005. Dimocratia kai mesa mazikis epikininias', [Democracy and the mass media]. Zitimata Epikinonias (Communication Issues), 2, pp. 19-38.
Curran, James P.. 2002. Media and the making of British society, c. 1700-2000. Media History, 8(2), pp. 135-154. ISSN 1368-8804
Conference or Workshop Item
Curran, James P.; Coen, Sharon; Soroka, Stuart; Aalberg, Toril; Hayashi, Kaori; Hichy, Zira; Iyengar, Shanto; Jones, Paul; Krishnatray, Pradeep; Mazzoleni, Gianpietro; Maeda, Yukio; Papathanassopoulos, Stylianos; Woong Rhee, June; Rojas, Hernando; Rowe, David and Tiffen, Rod. 2013. 'Media System, Public Knowledge and Political Engagement: An 11-Nation Study'. In: Media system, public knowledge and political engagement : an 11-nation study. London, United Kingdom.
