Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM158: Digital Politics and Policy

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

On completion of this module you will be cognizant about communications theories and regulation of digital markets in Europe. The module will provide you with an advanced understanding of market developments, global, and EU regulatory frameworks and the differing national structures regulating traditional and new media markets. You will establish connections between theory and regulatory practice. By the end of the module you will have the ability to critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical and regulatory models and assess the prospects for European integration on the basis of empirical and normative analysis.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the nature of digital markets in Europe, particularly with regard to market, global and regulatory frameworks. 2. Understand different national regulatory structures relating traditional and new media markets. 3. Establish connections between theory and regulatory practice. 4. Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical and regulatory models.
Discipline-Specific Skills	5. Critically analyse primary and secondary source material. 6. Understand and use concepts, models, and theory from public policy. 7. Construct well-structured and rigorous arguments. 8. Use academic objectivity to advance a normative perspective.
Personal and Key Skills	9. Communicate effectively in speech and writing. 10. Work independently and in collaboration with peers to achieve common goals. 11. Use IT for the retrieval and presentation of information.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Communications theory
Market developments
Twitterati and political opinion formation
Europe's Digital Single Market
Copyfighters
Telecoms and connectivity
Fintech
Global internet governance
Data protection and privacy
The dark web

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	22	11 x 2 hour weekly seminars
Guided independent study	80	This includes a variety of private study tasks directed by module leader. These tasks include: reading assignments;
Guided independent study	50	conducting research, preparing the methodology, analysing qualitative texts and writing;
Guided independent study	108	preparation for and completion of: assigned essay;
Guided independent study	20	presentation;
Guided independent study	20	written paper

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).