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Certificate in Broadcasting and Digital Media Policy-Regulatory Trends

The Wits LINK Centre's Broadcasting and Digital Media Policy-Regulatory Trends course gives you an in-depth understanding of the policy, legal and regulatory issues and trends affecting broadcasting and digital media in the converged, globalised communications/ICT environment of today.

If you wish to apply for registration in the 2024 offering of this course, please complete the online application via the link at the bottom of this page.

LINK Visiting Adjunct Professor and African media policy expert Justine Limpitlaw, and additional sector experts, present a series of lectures offering insight into the key market, technology, policy and regulatory trends in broadcasting and digital media today, focusing on global and Southern African dimensions.

This programme is designed to address the constantly-evolving issues and concerns arising in the dynamic and fast-paced broadcasting and media sector. Constant change in the sector -- driven by technology and content innovations, by evolving regulatory environments, and by the emergence of new markets, services and applications -- gives rise to an increased need for up-to-date knowledge. The syllabus covers the following:

  • current trends in broadcasting and digital media markets, including internet and social media, globally and in Africa, including trends in technological, industrial, social and textual convergence
  • the relationship between policy, law and regulation, and the key rationales, principles, objectives, modalities and categories of broadcasting/media regulation
  • the different histories and evolutions of regulation of broadcasting, media and the Internet
  • regulation of broadcasting/media pluralism, diversity, access, industry structure
  • regulation of broadcasting/media content
  • regulation of broadcasting/media technical matters
  • independent national regulators
  • international and Southern African broadcasting/media policy-regulatory bodies, processes and issues

Who should attend?
The course is designed to serve:

  • decision-makers and policymakers from national policy departments in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries Management and staff at communications regulators in the SADC region
  • members of relevant national Parliamentary bodies in SADC countries
  • political party officials responsible for communications in SADC countries
  • members of statutory bodies dealing with, for example, universal service and access, film classification, and media development in SADC national environments
  • board members and staff of public, commercial and community broadcasting and digital media outlets in SADC countries
  • members of industry self-regulatory bodies for matters such as advertising standards, complaints and compliance in SADC countries
  • managers and staff at sector stakeholders in SADC countries, e.g., at equipment manufacturers, service providers, content providers, signal carriers, telecommunications firms engaged in broadcast/media content production or distribution, bidders for broadcasting licences, journalists, union officials, NGOs
  • staff and managers responsible for regulatory affairs within broadcasting and media companies, whether public or private, in the SADC region
  • lawyers and consultants in the SADC region who advise broadcasters, media houses, content creators, telecommunications operators, and electronic communications regulatory bodies

Methodology
An interactive teaching methodology is used, with lectures and presentations from experts in the field and with encouragement of Q&A and classroom discussion throughout. Course participants are evaluated through a class presentation (25% of the assessment) due on the final day of the course, and through an individual exam-equivalent written assignment (75% of the assessment) due six weeks after completion of the course. The individual exam-equivalent assignment must be a fully-referenced research paper of approximately 3,000 words in length (based on assignment guidelines circulated to students).

Course Administrator
Nokhanyo Yolwa, Short Course and Degree Coordinator, LINK Centre, nokhanyo.yolwa@wits.ac.za,  tel: +27-11-717-4193

Course Convenor
Prof. Justine Limpitlaw, Honorary Adjunct Professor, LINK Centre, justine@limpitlaw.co.za, cc: nokhanyo.yolwa@wits.ac.za

NQF Level
Because this course is offered as an NQF Level 7 short course -- in terms of South Africa's National Qualifications Framework (NQF) -- registrants will be required to submit proof of eligibility by providing copies of post-school certificates and/or diplomas, or by providing evidence of substantial sectoral experience.

(Note re: course NQF level: According to the requirements of the South African Council on Higher Education (CHE), short courses are not accredited at NQF levels. However, the LINK Centre aligns each of its courses to a particular NQF level -- as a means to guide the course's level of difficulty and level of assessment.)

2024 course delivery mode
To be announced.

2024 course dates
To be announced.

2024 course fees 
To be announced.

Application for registration
To apply for registration in the 2024 offering of this course, please complete and submit this online form.

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