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