Katy Parry University of Leeds We’ve made some good progress on the conference preparations for Leeds MeCCSA 2017 (11-13 January) since Anna Zoellner’s last update in July. Not least, Anna has handed over the lead role on the organising committee to me and is currently on maternity leave – so we’d like to pass on …Continue Reading

Anonymous Ever since the first newspapers were published in Turkey, journalism has been an occupation trying to survive under censorship, threats, arrests, exile, and even assassinations. At the same time, mainstream journalism has always served the interests of certain capital groups and remained partisan. Alternative/opposition media institutions continue to struggle at the intersection of approaches …Continue Reading

Mine Gencel Bek Ankara University, Turkey The past two years have seen many dramatic changes in Turkey. Leading up to the General Election in June 2015, there was a sense of hope. Many intellectuals and academics joined forces to ensure the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) passed the 10% election threshold and enter parliament. It was …Continue Reading

Patricia McManus University of Brighton UCU did not ‘fail’ to win the campaign it set out to win with the pay claim of 2015/16: it walked away from the opportunity to win. This pay campaign had a very successful launch (the suggestion that External Examiners resign in particular was instantly and widely acted on), something …Continue Reading

Theodore Koulouris University of Brighton In a recent interview to the Daily Mail Sir Michael Parkinson, the veteran talk-show host, said that media studies is a ‘mickey mouse’ degree and that students would be better off learning ‘on the job’. These pronouncements reveal what must surely feel like a chasm between media and cultural studies as academic …Continue Reading