50172 Information, Society and Policy

Handbook description

This subject examines the history and current development of national, regional and global information and communication policies. A range of government and industry policies are covered including policies related to specific areas such as information and communications technology, media and cultural industries as well as policies related to specific issues such as intellectual property, protection of privacy, access to information and ownership of information. Students undertake comparative analyses of a range of policies using the theoretical frameworks of policy analysis and evaluate the impact of policies in different social, economic and industrial contexts and on information work in organisations. Students have the opportunity to further develop skills in critical analysis, research and academic writing through preparation of a journal article and participation in a publication syndicate.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the completion of this subject, students will be able to:

1. understand the concept of information and communication policy as an instrument of public and industry policy at the national, regional and global level
2. identify and describe the people, institutions and processes involved in information policy formulation
3. analyse public and industry information and communication policies using a range of theoretical frameworks from the field of policy analysis
4. evaluate their impact in different social, economic and industrial contexts and on information work in organisations
5. identify and describe current national, regional and global trends and issues relating to information and communication policy in Australia and other countries
6. research and write critical analyses on information and communication policy trends and issues.

Contribution to graduate profile

In this subject, students will further develop their theoretical knowledge of information studies and further understand the globalised and networked context of information work. They will gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary issues and trends in the field and their impact on professional practice. Through their research and writing on policy matters they will be able to demonstrate their commitment to justice and equity in information provision in society as well as their critical and reflective capabilities.

Teaching and learning strategies

There will be a variety of learning activities during the semester including lectures and tutorials, seminars, small group work and independent work. Teaching and learning in this subject will be presented as an interactive opportunity and students will be expected to be prepared, through reading and other work outside class, to participate in class discussion and activities. There will be both group and independent work, written and oral presentations. Students will have the opportunity to explore areas of policy of individual interest as well as working with a peer group on broader topics. They will be expected to read widely and contribute their own experiences and understanding to the subject. UTSOnline will be used for some activities.

Content

1. Information and communications policy as public policy: definitions and scope of information and communications policy; relationship to other policy areas; historical developments; policy processes; models of policy formulation; frameworks for policy analysis.
2. Information and communications policy in the information/knowledge society/economy: conceptualisations of the information/knowledge society and information/knowledge economy; views on key concepts of information, knowledge and information flow; goals of information policy; key players and institutions in policy formulation; broad trends at the national, regional and global levels.
3. Information and communications policies: analysis of range of current policies identifying historical aspects, objectives, characteristics, values and assumptions, agenda setting; key players and organisations in government, industry, professions and community.
4. Current issues in information and communications policy development: for both the print and digital environments including intellectual property, protection of privacy, confidentiality, content control, freedom of information, censorship, ownership of information and so on.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Policy seminar and resource file - Group Work

Assessment item 2: Journal Article - Individual Work

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g. illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Attendance is particularly important in this subject because it is based on a collaborative approach which involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students who attend fewer than ten classes are advised that their final work will not be assessed and that they are likely to fail the subject.

Indicative references

Public Policy and Policy Analysis

Adams, D. 2004, 'Usable knowledge in public policy', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol.63, no.1,pp.29-42

Burton, P. 2006, 'Modernising the policy process: making policy research more significant?, Policy Studies, vol.27, no.3, pp.173-195

Colebatch, H.K.(ed.) 2006, Beyond the policy cycle: the policy process in Australia, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest

Colebatch, H.K. 2002, Policy, 2nd Edition, Open University Press, Buckingham

Colebatch, H.K. 2006, 'What work makes policy?, Policy Sciences, vol.39, no.4, pp.309-321

Curtain, R. 2000, 'Good public policy making: how Australia fares, Australian Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform,vol.8, no. 1, pp.33-46

Davis, G. & Bridgman, P. 2003, Australian policy handbook, 3rd Edition, Allen & Unwin, St. Leonards

Edwards, M. 2000 Social policy, public policy: from problems to practice, Allen & Unwin, St.Leonards

Everett, S. 2003, 'The policy cycle: democratic process or rational paradigm revisited?', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol.62, no.2,pp. 65-70

Hogwood, B. & Gunn, L. 1986, Policy analysis for the real world, Oxford University Press, Oxford

Howlett, M. & Ramesh, M. 2003, Studying public policy: policy cycles and policy subsystems, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, Ontario

Matheson, C. 2000, 'Policy formulation in Australian government: vertical and horizontal axes, Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol.59, no.2, pp.44-55

Parsons, W. 1995, Public policy: an introduction to the theory and practice of policy analysis, Edward Elgar, Aldershot

Prasser, S. 2006, 'Aligning 'good policy' with 'good politics', in, Colebatch, H.K.(ed.) 2006, Beyond the policy cycle: the policy process in Australia, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest

Shaxson, L. 2005, 'Is your evidence robust enough? Questions for policy makers and practitioners', Evidence and Policy, vol.1, no.1,pp.101-11

Stewart, R. 1999, Public policy: strategy and accountability, Macmillan Australia, South Yarra

Information and Communications Policy

(a) Defining the field and approaches to analysis

Braman, S. 2004, 'Where has media policy gone? Defining the field in the twenty-first century', Communication Law and Policy, vol.9, no.2,pp.153-182

Browne, M. 1997, 'The field of information policy: 1- fundamental concepts', Journal of Information Science, vol.23, no.44, pp. 261-275

Browne, M. 1997, 'The field of information policy: 2 - redefining the boundaries and methodologies', Journal of Information Science, vol.23, no.5,pp.339- 351

Doty, P. 1998, 'Why study information policy?', Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, vol.39, no.1, pp. 58-64

Duff, A.S. 2004, 'The past, present, and the future of information policy: towards a normative theory of the information society', Information, Communication and Society, vol.7, no.1,pp.69-87

Maxwell, T.A. 2003, 'Toward a model of information policy analysis: speech as an illustrative example', firstmonday, vol.8, no.6, viewed 17 June, 2003, <http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue8_6/maxwell/index.html>

Rowlands, I., Eisenschitz, T., Bawden, D. 2002, 'Frame analysis as a tool for understanding information policy', Journal of Information Science, vol.28, no.1, pp.31-38

Rowlands, I., 2003, 'Information policy: complexity, scope and normative structure', in, Hornby, S & Clarke, Z. (eds.), Challenge and change in the information society, Facet Publishing, London, pp.131-146

(b) History and issues in development

Borgman, C.L. 2000, 'The premise and promise of a global information infrastructure', first monday, vol.5, no.8, viewed 22 July, 2002, <http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue5_8/borgman/index.html>

Brennan, L.L. & Johnson, V.E. 2004, Social, ethical and policy implications of information technology, Information Science Publishing, Hershey PA and London

Castells, M. 2005, 'Global governance and global politics', PS, Political Science and Politics, vol.38, no.1, pp.9-16

Dhillon, G. 2002, Social responsibility in the information age: issues and controversies, Idea Group Publishing, Hershey, PA and London

Drahos, P. 1995, 'Information feudalism in the information society', The Information Society, vol.11, no.3, pp.209-222

Galperin, H. 2004, 'Beyond interests, ideas, and technology: an institutional approach to communication and information policy', The Information Society, vol.20, no.3, pp.159-168

Giacomello, G. 2005, National governments and control of the Internet: a digital challenge, Routledge, New York and London

Lievrouw, L. & Farb, S. 2003, 'Information and equity', in, Cronin, B. (ed.), Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, vol.37, pp.499 - 540

Norris, P. 'The digital divide', in, Webster, F. (ed.), The information society reader, Routledge, London and New York, pp.273-286

Pickard, V. 2007, 'Neoliberal visions and revisions in global communications policy from NWICO to WSIS, Journal of Communication Inquiry, vol.31, no.2, pp.118-139

Pyati, A.K. 2005, 'WSIS: whose vision of an information society', firstmonday, vol.10, no.5, viewed 9 May, 2005,< http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue10_5/pyati/index.html>

Robins, K. & Webster, F. 2004, 'The long history of the information revolution', in, Webster, F. (ed.), The information society reader, Routledge, London and New York, pp. 62-80

Servaes, J. (ed.) 2003, The European Information Society: a reality check, Intellect, Bristol, UK

Servon, L.J. 2002, Bridging the digital divide: technology, community and public policy, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK

Warschauer, M. 2003, Technology and social inclusion, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Webster, F. 2002, Theories of the information society, 2nd Edition, Routledge, London

Wyckoff, A.W. 2003, 'OECD efforts to address the measurement and policy challenges posed by the information society', International Statistical Review, vol.71, no.1, pp.17-31

(c) Information and Communications Policy - Australia

Barr, T.2000, newmedia.com.au: the changing face of Australia's media and communications. St. Leonards, Allen & Unwin

Craik, J. 2005, 'Dilemmas in policy support for the Arts and Cultural sector', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 64, no. 4, pp.6-19

Cunningham, S. & Turner, G. (ed.) 2006, The media and communications in Australia, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest

Northfield, D. 1999, The information policy maze: global challenges - national responses. Melbourne, RMIT University Press

Pearce, M. 2000, 'Perspectives of Australian broadcasting policy', Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies, vol. 14, no.3, pp.367-382