The Postgraduate Diploma in Political Communications aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between political actors, communication industries and the public in contemporary societies.
Specifically, the programme will equip students with in-depth knowledge of the importance of communication in the political process and of how, in a democratic polity, political institutions and others seek to communicate with the public and vice-versa.
For the main part, this will lead to a concentration on the role of the mass media but other forms of political communication - including the techniques of marketing, polling, face-face interaction and internet campaigning - will also be studied. However, the knowledge and skills acquired in such a study will have far broader applications. Students completing this programme will have at their disposal, a range of tools that will enable them to analyse social and communicative interactions in the public sphere and to make judgements about future modules of action based on this understanding.
The programme will provide students with:
- Knowledge of the history and development of political communications with a international emphasis;
- An understanding of the theoretical debates that have informed the study of political communications;
- An awareness of both dominant and alternative models of interaction between political actors, communicators and the public;
- An overview and insight into current debates - both academic and professional - within the field
In addition, the programme will also provide students with practical skills and insights that will enable them to:
- Undertake a range of tasks in relation to the planning and commissioning of political communications work from within various public and private bodies;
- Commission political communications work from within public and private sector bodies or on behalf of clients;
- Analyse political communications activity from and academic and journalistic perspectives
Full-time study mode
Compulsory modules
| Module title |
Credits |
The Structure of Contemporary Political Communications
The Structure of Contemporary Political Communications
30 credits
This module examines the actors and communication processes involved in contemporary political communication. Its core concern is to explore notions of ‘crisis’ in mature democracies as voter turnouts and ‘trust’ in formal political institutions steadily drop, national economies struggle, and news media decline. It combines theoretical insights and case examples from the fields of media studies, journalism, sociology and political science. It mainly focuses on democracies, particularly in the US and UK, but literature and examples are also drawn from other types of political system and country. Weekly topics combine political communication themes and contemporary examples, with discussions of related theory and concepts.
Topics covered include: The crisis of politics and media in established democracies; public sphere theory; comparative political and media systems; mass media, news production and the future of news; political parties, from ideologies to political marketing; elections and referendums; government media management, mediatisation and populist politics; historical and cultural political communication; forms of public participation and public opinion; media effects and audiences; policy-making, lobbying and power; economics, austerity and the financial crisis; digital media and online politics; interest group campaigning, lobbying and environmental/welfare policy. Much of the material for this module is highly contemporary, so students are encouraged to maintain an awareness of current developments in political communication in the UK and elsewhere.
|
30 credits |
Critical Perspectives on Political Communications
Critical Perspectives on Political Communications
30 credits
In this module, you'll explore alternative themes, theories and perspectives in political communications. You'll draw on current debates in the field and also brings in theory from adjacent fields (political sociology, cultural theory, new technologies and comparative/international politics). Many of the sessions build directly on recent research by department staff.
The topics we'll explore include - critical theory; theories of political and social power; political affect and identity politics; digital activism; political mobilisation and counter-public spheres; datafication, surveillance and algorithmic control; comparing mass mediated democracies; the politics, policies and practices of media reform; globalisation, inequality and the media.
Much of the material for this course is contemporary, so you'll be encouraged to maintain an awareness of current developments in political communications in the UK and around the world, through newspapers, television, radio, social media and the internet. You'll be encouraged to bring contemporary examples into the seminar discussions and your essays.
|
30 credits |
Optional modules
Optional modules equal to the value of 60 credits, chosen from an approved list published annually.
Part-time study mode
Year 1: Compulsory modules
| Module title |
Credits |
The Structure of Contemporary Political Communications
The Structure of Contemporary Political Communications
30 credits
This module examines the actors and communication processes involved in contemporary political communication. Its core concern is to explore notions of ‘crisis’ in mature democracies as voter turnouts and ‘trust’ in formal political institutions steadily drop, national economies struggle, and news media decline. It combines theoretical insights and case examples from the fields of media studies, journalism, sociology and political science. It mainly focuses on democracies, particularly in the US and UK, but literature and examples are also drawn from other types of political system and country. Weekly topics combine political communication themes and contemporary examples, with discussions of related theory and concepts.
Topics covered include: The crisis of politics and media in established democracies; public sphere theory; comparative political and media systems; mass media, news production and the future of news; political parties, from ideologies to political marketing; elections and referendums; government media management, mediatisation and populist politics; historical and cultural political communication; forms of public participation and public opinion; media effects and audiences; policy-making, lobbying and power; economics, austerity and the financial crisis; digital media and online politics; interest group campaigning, lobbying and environmental/welfare policy. Much of the material for this module is highly contemporary, so students are encouraged to maintain an awareness of current developments in political communication in the UK and elsewhere.
|
30 credits |
Critical Perspectives on Political Communications
Critical Perspectives on Political Communications
30 credits
In this module, you'll explore alternative themes, theories and perspectives in political communications. You'll draw on current debates in the field and also brings in theory from adjacent fields (political sociology, cultural theory, new technologies and comparative/international politics). Many of the sessions build directly on recent research by department staff.
The topics we'll explore include - critical theory; theories of political and social power; political affect and identity politics; digital activism; political mobilisation and counter-public spheres; datafication, surveillance and algorithmic control; comparing mass mediated democracies; the politics, policies and practices of media reform; globalisation, inequality and the media.
Much of the material for this course is contemporary, so you'll be encouraged to maintain an awareness of current developments in political communications in the UK and around the world, through newspapers, television, radio, social media and the internet. You'll be encouraged to bring contemporary examples into the seminar discussions and your essays.
|
30 credits |
Year 2: Optional modules
Optional modules equal to the value of 60 credits, chosen from an approved list published annually.
Download the programme specification.
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Between 2020 and 2022 we needed to make some changes to how programmes were delivered due to Covid-19 restrictions. For more information about past programme changes please visit our programme changes information page.
