Political Economy of Media and Communication: An Argument for its Continued Relevance

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Philosophy, Theory and Critique Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This paper seeks to critically assess the contributions of political economy- as a field, an approach or tradition, an epistemology- to the development of knowledge and theory about the media, within media and communication studies. Further the paper examines to what extent political economy integrates with other approaches to the study of media or communication such as cultural studies and development communication. The paper argues that centrality of political economy to media and communication prompts a close assessment of the relationship between state and media. Finally, the paper argues for the need of supplementation of hybridization with political economy to understand the contemporary developments such as globalization and the resistance to it.

Author

• Sumanth Inukonda, Bowling Green State University