An Analysis Of The Political Economy And The Future Of Social Media

Proposal and Annotated Bibliography
Proposal Length: 1 page, double-spaced PLUS bibliography
Instructions for Research Proposal and Annotated Bibliography
Your proposal should do three basic things: (1) provide a clear outline of your proposed research question, (2) indicate why it is a significant and worthy topic of investigation, and (3) outline how you intend to organize and carry out your investigation by introducing the examples or case studies you will use to illustrate your argument.
Your annotated bibliography should have 2 scholarly sources, none of which are assigned as course readings (you can use course readings as sources for your final paper, but NOT for the proposal). Each bibliographic entry should provide (1) a very brief summary of the source, and (2) a brief description of how it is appropriate to your chosen research topic.
Suggested Research Paper Titles
A good way of thinking about how to approach writing a paper for this course is to start with a working title. This will help focus your thinking and guide the organization of your research and writing. The more specific the title, the more focused your approach will be. The more focused your approach, the easier it will be to research and write a consistent, compelling paper.
You may also develop and propose your own topic. If you wish to do this, feel free to consult with me before either part of the assignment is due.
1) "The Political Economy of (REGION) (MEDIUM)" (for e.g., "The Political Economy of Indian Film Production"
This topic asks you to do an analysis of the contemporary condition of a given media industry in a given area. The area you choose can be as broad (continental, for e.g.) or as narrow (provincial or local, for e.g.) as you wish. In terms of selecting a medium, my suggestion would be to choose a specific aspect of an industry, such as manufacturing, production, or distribution.
2) "(Commodification OR Spatialization OR Structuration) in the History of (REGION) (MEDIUM)" (for e.g., "Spatialization in the History of American Television Production" or "Commodification in the History of Canadian Broadcasting" 
Your paper will provide a historical analysis of an aspect of a communication medium using one of Mosco's three processes of political economy. Use the process to assess how the medium/industry has changed over time. What are the important features of these changes?
What sort of actions have facilitated these changes?
3) "Political Economy and Alternative (MEDIUM) in (REGION)" (for e.g., "Political Economy and Alternative Television in Canada")
Using political economy as an analytical framework, discuss and analyse the need for, as well as the challenges faced, by the alternative medium of your choice.
4) "Political Economy and the Future of (MEDIUM)" (for e.g., "Political Economy and the Future of Social Media"
The historical focus of political economic analysis makes it quite useful as a means of speculating about future developments in a given industry. This paper will establish a solid profile of a given industry in order to develop an argument about possible, or even probable, developments it will undergo.
5) "The Political Economy of Labour in (REGION) (MEDIUM)" (for e.g. "The Political Economy of Labour in American Video Game Publishing"
Mosco identifies labour, and the specific conditions of creative labour, as one of the key issues for those doing political economy of media. Your task here will be to analyze such conditions of labour for a given media industry. What are the key issues or challenges faced by workers in your chosen industry? How have the conditions of labour changed over time? What have been the driving forces behind such changes?
6) "Political Economy, Government Policy and the Transformation of (REGION) (MEDIUM)"
(for e.g., "Political Economy, Government Policy, and the Transformation of Chinese Mobile Telecommunication")
Government activity is one of the prime movers behind shifts in the political economy of many media and communication industries. Your paper will analyze a specific example of a government policy (or policies) that has (or have) inaugurated a major shift in the regional industry of your choice. Over what period did this shift occur? How did this policy come about? Why then? What were the driving forces behind it? What were the results of such a shift in policy? Who benefitted? Who lost?