COMM 2411U – Governing Communication and Digital Creativity: Policy for an era of Digital Disruption

All around the world, the communication and digital media system is governed by everyone from states to big tech companies. What is communication and cultural policy and how is it changing in our era of digital disruption? This course introduces students to communication and cultural policy in the digital age through a survey of key theories, topics and debates in the field. The course focuses on policy broadly as related to arts and creativity, telecommunications, broadcasting, human rights, equity, diversity and inclusivity, monopoly and competition, copyright, online surveillance and privacy, freedom of expression and censorship, and Internet and social media regulation. Overall, students look at policy through the lens of government, industry, the public, and media creators and learn how communication and cultural policy shapes the financing, production, exhibition, content, access, reception and use of digital media in society.