Developments in Media Education in the British Tertiary Sector

Abstract

The article surveys the recent history of the teaching of media studies in British universities and polytechnics. It shows how undergraduate demand has contributed to the shaping of the curriculum in a bottom‐up process. The top‐down input which complemented that derived in part from research (particularly the work of a small number of centres which pre‐existed the teaching departments), and in part from the classroom experience of teachers of the new subject. The recent past is used as the base from which possible future developments in both teaching and research are indicated.