Author: Einar Thorsen

Alan F Meades Canterbury Christ Church University Many MeCCSA members will have their own perspective on the potential impacts of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) upon Media, Communication and Cultural Studies. Indeed, TEF-related sooth-saying has become a popular occupation in the corridors and refectories of universities across the land. I have been invited to offer …Continue Reading

Robin Mansell London School of Economics and Political Science UNESCO’s project to define Internet Universality indicators is organised around four principles – ROAM (R – that the internet is based on human Rights, O – that it is Open; A – that it should be Accessible to all; and M – that is nurtured by …Continue Reading

Bart Cammaerts London School of Economics and Political Science After reneging on the Paris Climate Agreement, withdrawing from UNESCO and recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the support of Trump for ending the fundamental principle of net neutrality almost seems futile and a side issue, except it is not. Some 6 years ago I …Continue Reading

Melanie Dupéré Université Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris III When Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt decided not to refer News Corporation’s proposed takeover of BSkyB to the Competition Commission back in 2011, serious questions were raised as to the relationship between media and politicians and the future of media plurality in the UK. Of course, the deal was eventually …Continue Reading

Glenda Cooper City, University of London Rupert Murdoch’s bid to take control of Sky News has hit several hurdles in the past few months. In September, the culture secretary Karen Bradley referred the 21st Century Fox’s £11.7bn bid to the Competitions and Mergers Authority (CMA) on grounds of both plurality and broadcasting standards – appearing …Continue Reading

Richard Scullion Bournemouth University In politics, there’s a classic line ‘when you are the story its time to quit’ – think Andy Coulson, Lizzie Louden and Alistair Campbell. And so it comes to pass in the pungent world of media personalities and Hollywood-esque legends. Here, I focus on just one example, what we might poetically …Continue Reading

Karen Ross Newcastle University The use and abuse of male power and privilege is not a new ‘thing’ and women’s bodies have been routinely appropriated to service men’s sexual appetites and fantasies, their autonomy and agency sacrificed on the altar of men’s seemingly ever-hungry libido. OK, #notallmen, I geddit, but there are very few women …Continue Reading

Heather Savigny De Montfort University #MeToo is trending worldwide; women’s voices are being heard and having an impact. The stories that women are telling break the complicity of silence that has existed across media; and we are now seeing media industries naming and shaming male celebrities and politicians alike. Crucially, these women’s stories also represent a moment, a …Continue Reading

Anita Biressi University of Roehampton In 2013 actor and comedian Seth MacFarlane announced the Oscar nominees for best performance by an actress in a supporting role. After he read out the names of established and newer actors including Sally Field, Jacki Weaver and Amy Adams he dryly observed: “Congratulations. You five ladies no longer have …Continue Reading

Einar Thorsen Bournemouth University Perhaps one of the most damning aspects of the Harvey Weinstein case was how long the knowing silence endured. That his sexually abusive behaviour was an open secret in Hollywood circles, with people keeping shtum because they enjoyed the company they kept or for fear or reprisals as victims were coerced into silence. …Continue Reading