Professor James Curran

James’ work falls into two linked areas: media history and media political economy.

Staff details

Position

Professor of Communications

Department

Media, Communications and Cultural Studies

Email

j.curran (@gold.ac.uk)

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

Power without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain. 9th Edition Curran, James P. and Seaton, Jean. 2024. Power without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain. 9th Edition. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 9781032112015
Understanding Media: Communication, Power and Social Change Curran, James P. and Redden, Joanna. 2024. Understanding Media: Communication, Power and Social Change. London: Pelican. ISBN 9780241685402
Power Without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain. 8th Edition Curran, James P. and Seaton, Jean. 2018. Power Without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain. 8th Edition. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 9780415710428

Edited Book

Media and Society, 6th Edition Curran, James P. and Hesmondhalgh, David, eds. 2019. Media and Society, 6th Edition. London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781501340734
How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach Curran, James P. and Aalberg, Toril, eds. 2013. How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415740425
Mass Media and Society, Fifth Edition Curran, James P., ed. 2010. Mass Media and Society, Fifth Edition. London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0340984451

Book Section

An End to Futility: A Modest Proposal Curran, James P.. 2022. An End to Futility: A Modest Proposal. In: Joanna Zylinska, ed. The Future of the Media. London: Goldsmiths Press, pp. 45-56. ISBN 9781913380144
'Democratic functions of Entertainment' 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
Stuart Hall Redux: His Early Work, 1964-84 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

Virtuous Circles: News Consumption, Political Knowledge and Political Efficacy 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
Jay Blumler: A Founding Father of British Media Studies 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
Mediageschiedenis en ideologie 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
Does Knowledge of Hard News Go with Knowledge of Soft News? A Cross-National Analysis of the Structure of Public Affairs Knowledge 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
How Media Inform Democracy: Central Debates 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
News Content, Media Consumption and Current Affairs Knowledge 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
Conclusion 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
Reinterpreting the Internet 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
Sucesos, Noticias Internacionales y Hard News 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
News Content, Media Consumption, and Current Affairs Knowledge 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
The Internet and the Transformation of Journalism 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.
Reinterpreting Internet History 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
Entertaining Democracy 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
The Impact of Television on the Audience for National Newspapers, 1945-68 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
The New Revisionism in Mass Communication Research: A Reappraisal 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
'Teoria midiatica e cultural na era do liberalismo de mercado' [Media and cultural theory in the age of market liberalism] 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
New Trends and Critical Theories in British Media Studies’ (in Japanese) 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.
Narratives of Media History Revisited Curran, James P.. 2009. Narratives of Media History Revisited. In: Michael Bailey, ed. Narrating Media History. Routledge, pp. 1-21. ISBN 978-0415419161
La Reinvention de le Roue: Critique des “Cultural Studies” 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.
Technology Foretold 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
Media Diversity and Democracy 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
'Mediations of Democracy' [in Norwegian] Curran, James P.. 2008. 'Mediations of Democracy' [in Norwegian]. In: B Gentikon and E Skogseth, eds. Medier og Deokratiki. Oslo: Spartacus, pp. 68-97.
'Rethinking Media and Democracy 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.
Capitalism and Control of the Press 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.
'Communication and History Curran, James P.. 2008. 'Communication and History. In: Barbie Zelizer, ed. Explorations in Communication and History. Routledge, pp. 46-60. ISBN 978-0415777346
Media history: the neglected grandparent of media studies 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
Media and cultural theory in the age of market liberalism 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
Mediations of democracy 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
What Democracy Requires of the Media 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
The rise of the Westminster school 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
Global journalism: a case study of the internet 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
The paradox of media power 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

Article

International News and Global Integration: A Five-Nation Reappraisal 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
Why are “others” so polarized? Perceived political polarization and media use in 10 countries. 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.
Entertaining Democracy in the Era of Neo-Liberalism Curran, James P.. 2016. Entertaining Democracy in the Era of Neo-Liberalism. Brazilian Journalism Research, 12(2), pp. 12-29. ISSN 1808-4079

Conference or Workshop Item

Media System, Public Knowledge and Political Engagement: An 11-Nation Study 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.