Introduction

The global media and communication landscape is increasingly shaped by international policies, agreements, and regulations that transcend national borders. As digital technologies evolve and media consumption becomes more globalized, understanding the complexities of international media policy is critical for industry professionals. This course explores the political, economic, and social forces driving media and communication policy development worldwide, with a focus on international governance, cross-border content regulations, and emerging challenges in the digital media ecosystem.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:
✔ Understand the global media and communication policy landscape and its key players.
✔ Analyze the impact of international treaties, trade agreements, and multilateral frameworks on media policy.
✔ Develop an understanding of cross-border content regulation, data privacy laws, and intellectual property issues in the global context.
✔ Explore the role of international organizations (e.g., UNESCO, ITU, OECD) in shaping media policy.
✔ Assess the influence of global technology giants and multinational corporations on media governance.
✔ Identify emerging trends in media sovereignty, global digital governance, and cultural diversity in media content.
✔ Be equipped to design policy recommendations that address challenges in the international media and communication sector.

Who Should Attend?

✔ Media professionals, policy analysts, and regulatory experts working in or with international media organizations.
✔ Government officials and policy makers involved in media, telecommunications, and digital policy.
✔ Legal advisors and compliance officers in media companies navigating international laws and regulations.
✔ Academics, researchers, and students focused on international communication and media policy.
✔ Consultants, advocacy groups, and NGOs working on issues related to media rights, freedom of speech, and international media governance.
✔ Media and telecom executives seeking to understand the global regulatory landscape.

5-Day Course Outline

📌 Day 1: Global Media and Communication Policy Landscape

• Introduction to International Media Policy
  • Defining international media policy and its importance in a globalized world.
  • The evolution of media governance in the 21st century: From national to global perspectives.
  • Key international stakeholders: Governments, global media corporations, international organizations (e.g., ITU, OECD, UNESCO).
• Global Media Flow and Content Regulation
  • Impact of globalization on media content and its distribution across borders.
  • The rise of digital platforms and OTT services: Challenges for national regulators.
  • Cross-border content regulation and the role of regional agreements (e.g., EU Audio-Visual Media Services Directive, USMCA, Mercosur).
• The Role of International Trade and Treaties
  • How trade agreements (e.g., WTO, TPP) shape media and communication policies.
  • Understanding the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) and its impact on telecom and media.
  • Cultural exceptions and media sovereignty in international trade agreements.
• Hands-on Activity:
  • Group discussion on the challenges of balancing media sovereignty and free market trade using real-world case studies.

📌 Day 2: International Media Laws and Regulations

• International Frameworks for Media Governance
  • The role of UNESCO and other global organizations in shaping media law and policy.
  • Understanding the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and its influence on global telecom regulations.
  • OECD’s role in promoting fair competition, freedom of expression, and access to information.
• Content Regulation and Freedom of Expression
  • Policies on hate speech, fake news, and online censorship in a global context.
  • The challenges of regulating social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, YouTube) across multiple jurisdictions.
  • Freedom of speech: International standards and conflicts with national laws.
• Privacy and Data Protection Across Borders
  • International data protection laws: A comparative analysis of GDPR (EU) vs. CCPA (US).
  • Cross-border data flows: Challenges for international media companies.
  • The role of data localization in international media policies.
• Hands-on Activity:
  • Analyze a case study on international privacy conflicts, such as the Schrems II ruling and its impact on data flows between the EU and the US.

📌 Day 3: Intellectual Property and Media Rights in a Global Context

• International Intellectual Property (IP) Rights
  • Global IP treaties: The role of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) in protecting media content.
  • The impact of piracy and copyright infringement on international media companies.
  • Differences in IP protection across key markets: EU, US, China, and emerging markets.
• Media Rights and Access to Information
  • The role of public service media and media diversity in the international media policy discourse.
  • Understanding media pluralism and broadcasting rights in different regions.
  • Case study on the impact of digitalization on media rights and distribution models (e.g., Netflix, Spotify, local content quotas).
• Global Media and Cultural Diversity
  • The protection of local cultures in international media policy (e.g., UNESCO’s Convention on Cultural Diversity).
  • The role of cultural exceptions in international media treaties (e.g., the European Audiovisual Media Services Directive).
  • The cultural export of media products and its implications for global content regulation.
• Hands-on Activity:
  • Role-playing exercise on developing a global media rights policy for an international media corporation.

📌 Day 4: The Influence of Technology on International Media Policy

• The Impact of Emerging Technologies on Media Regulations
  • 5G, artificial intelligence, and big data: How these technologies are transforming international media policies.
  • Regulation of online platforms: Challenges for policy-makers in a digital-first world.
  • The role of algorithmic regulation and AI in moderating online content.
• Digital Platforms and Global Media Governance
  • The rise of digital giants (e.g., Google, Amazon, Facebook) and their influence on media policy.
  • Understanding platform neutrality and regulatory challenges (e.g., net neutrality).
  • International collaboration on cybersecurity, misinformation, and online privacy.
• Policy Development for New Media Technologies
  • How to create flexible policies for evolving media technologies (e.g., augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), blockchain).
  • The role of cross-jurisdictional collaboration in creating harmonized regulations for emerging technologies.
• Hands-on Activity:
  • Group discussion and simulation: Create a policy framework for social media regulation in a global digital economy.

📌 Day 5: Future Challenges and Opportunities in International Media Policy

• Emerging Trends in Global Media and Telecom Policy
  • How media convergence, OTT platforms, and content streaming are reshaping policy discussions.
  • The role of data governance and internet freedom in shaping future media regulations.
  • The rise of cyber sovereignty and national internet governance.
• The Role of International Cooperation in Shaping Future Policies
  • How multilateral organizations (e.g., GAC, UN, OECD) are promoting global media standards.
  • How regional cooperation (e.g., EU, ASEAN) is fostering innovation and common standards.
• Developing Effective International Media Policies
  • Crafting policies that balance technological progress with cultural protection and freedom of expression.
  • Engaging with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and advocacy groups to promote inclusive media policies.
• Final Project:
  • Participants will develop a comprehensive international media policy proposal addressing a current challenge in the global media landscape (e.g., social media regulation, data protection laws, content censorship).
  • Group presentations of proposed policies and peer feedback.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Certified International Media and Communication Policy Specialist certificate, validating their expertise in analyzing, developing, and influencing media and communication policies in a global context.