What will you study on this course?

This MRes offers taught modules in the following topics:

AI: Futures, Governance and Ethics

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being rolled out across all sectors of society, including media. This module gives students the conceptual tools and contemporary examples to understand the centrality of AI, and the ethical and practical issues that it raises in its governance – not just how it is regulated, but also the underpinning ethics, norms and values.  

Students will be exposed to contemporary thinkers from media, cultural and communications studies, sociology, science and technology studies and ethics. Through real world case studies, online calls with governance actors, and assessments that include responding to real world policy briefs, students will be exposed to practical, policy and regulatory issues involving AI ethics. This will include topics such as:

• How to analyse and make sense of emergent AI technologies (e.g. Emotional AI) in relation to social values, culture(s), ethics, law, human rights and other governance means.  
• How to understand emergent AI technologies and governance concerns in relation to global, European and US frames of reference.  
• How to critique emergent AI technologies and governance in relation to questions of social bias and diversity, as well “hard” governance.  

Digital Media, Society and Politics

Digital media now mediates many social, cultural, political and economic processes, and is fast developing in form and scope. This module gives students the conceptual tools and examples from across the world to understand the impact of contemporary and emergent digital media on society and politics.  

Students will study a range of contemporary thinkers from media, cultural and communications studies, sociology, science and technology studies and ethics. Through real world case studies, online calls with governance actors, and assessments that include responding to real world policy briefs, students will be asked to solve social and political problems and issues arising from the centrality of digital media to everyday life. This will include topics such as:

• The rise of digital surveillance, misinformation and disinformation and their impact on people, society and politics.
• Arising widespread and emergent digital harms (e.g. invasion of privacy, undue influence over voters, violation of human rights to freedom of thought).
• Policy solutions to future-proof society from such digital harms, while ensuring that society can engage with the benefits arising from the centrality of digital media to everyday life.

You will also choose a research methods module - either Research Strategy and Design, or, Research Process and Meaning. Students also do a dissertation.

This course is taught through lectures, seminars, and one-to-one supervisions, and backed up by regular engagement with issues faced by real world actors in the governance of our digital futures.