• Inactive for Year: 2026/27

• Module Leader(s): Dr Majid Khosravinik
• Lecturer: Mrs Carol Gladstone, Dr David Bates

• Owning School: Arts & Cultures
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

Digital Politics, Communication and AI explores how digital media, strategic communication and journalism shape political power, participation and public life across global contexts. You examine how political ideas, actors and institutions are communicated, contested and transformed within rapidly evolving digital environments. Through case-led analysis, you investigate how communication operates within systems of power, governance and influence, focusing on the role of platforms, data and artificial intelligence in shaping political discourse, public engagement and decision-making. You explore how political communication is produced, circulated and amplified, and how it contributes to the construction of reality. Drawing on critical theory and current research, you analyse how media, strategic communication and journalism interact with global political systems, and how communication practices can both reinforce and challenge power. You also critically evaluate digital campaigns, political messaging and emerging technologies, considering their implications for democracy, participation and public trust. In short, the module explores how digital communication, journalism, strategic communication and AI shape political realities, influence public life and transform participation, governance and power within contemporary global media environments.

Outline Of Syllabus

Topics covered by this module may include:

-Political communication theory
-Digital politics and platform governance
-Strategic political communication
-Journalism, democracy and public trust
-Political campaigning and persuasion
-Algorithms, data and political influence
-Artificial intelligence and political communication
-Disinformation, misinformation and propaganda
-Networked publics and political participation
-Populism, hyperpolitics and digital discourse
-Political branding and leadership communication
-Influencers, creators and political visibility
-Platform power and governance
-Surveillance, datafication and digital citizenship
-Global political communication systems
-Media ethics, regulation and accountability
-AI-generated content and synthetic political communication

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module includes encounters with the leading-edge of research and practice in digital politics, strategic communication, journalism and artificial intelligence through engagement with evolving debates surrounding platforms, governance, participation, influence and public trust across global media environments. Learning begins each week with interactive digital learning materials ahead of lectures, seminars and guided critical discussion activities. This blended approach supports students in critically engaging with contemporary political communication phenomena, digital campaigns, media systems and emerging communication technologies. Lectures primarily support MLO1 and MLO2 through engagement with key theories, concepts and debates relating to digital politics, journalism, strategic communication, AI and political communication practices. Lectures introduce students to critical frameworks and contemporary global examples that examine how communication shapes political discourse, participation, governance and public life. Seminars primarily support MLO2 and MLO3 through collaborative discussion, case study analysis and critical evaluation of political communication campaigns, media texts, platform dynamics and communication practices. Seminar activities encourage students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world political communication examples while developing critical analysis and interpretation skills. Structured guided learning activities support MLO1, MLO2 and MLO4 through engagement with theory, research literature, multimedia case studies, interactive learning materials and asynchronous reflective activities. These activities encourage students to critically examine the relationship between communication, democracy, participation, power and technological change within contemporary digital environments. In sum, students are supported in developing sustained analytical arguments and critically evaluating contemporary political communication practices through self-directed inquiry and research-led learning.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assessment 1: Formative Essay Proposal and Planning Activity

Programme Learning Outcomes: Journalism: PLO1, PLO2, PLO7; Global Media: PLO1, PLO2, PLO7.
Module Learning Outcomes: MLO2, MLO3.

A formative essay proposal and planning activity designed to support the development of the final research essay. This may include a research pitch, case study proposal, essay plan and reflection on workshop discussion or tutorial activity focused on refining research questions, theoretical framing, case study selection and critical approaches through formative feedback and collaborative discussion.

The assessment is marked against the following task specific criteria:

Evidence of critical engagement with relevant contemporary political communication, digital media and AI-related debates, issues or phenomena.

Identification and effective application of relevant theoretical concepts and critical frameworks to a proposed area of investigation.

Development of a coherent and achievable analytical focus, research question and/or case study selection.

Clarity, structure and critical quality of the proposed analytical approach and engagement with formative feedback.

Assessment 2: Self-Generated Research Essay (100%)

Programme Learning Outcomes: Journalism: PLO1, PLO2, PLO7; Global Media: PLO1, PLO2, PLO7.
Module Learning Outcomes: MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO4.

A 3,500–4,000 word self-generated research essay analysing a contemporary issue, debate, media text, communication practice, platform culture or political communication phenomenon related to digital politics, communication and AI. Students will independently select an appropriate case study and critically apply relevant theoretical frameworks, concepts and research to evaluate power, participation, governance, visibility, influence and public trust within contemporary media and communication environments.

The assessment is marked against the following task specific criteria:

Evidence of critical engagement with contemporary political communication, digital media and AI-related phenomena within relevant political, cultural, social, economic and technological contexts.

Demonstration of effective application of relevant media, journalism, political communication and digital communication theories, concepts and critical frameworks.

Critical analysis of platforms, participation, governance, influence, visibility, power and/or communication practices using appropriate evidence, examples and case studies.

Coherence, structure and quality of critical argument, including effective integration of scholarly sources, appropriate academic writing conventions and critical engagement at postgraduate level.

Reading Lists

• MCH8119's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• MCH8119's Timetable