Media Studies Is Anything But A ‘Mickey Mouse Subject’ – Everyone Needs It by Tom Beasley

For as long as I can remember, media studies has been a punchline. Politicians from right across the party spectrum have queued up to call it some variation of a “Mickey Mouse subject”. Even noted political broadcaster John Humphrys – former presenter of the Today programme – once called the notion of my own degree in journalism “utterly barmy”. Perhaps he saw my latest student finance statement…

But I couldn't disagree more. In fact, every child in this country should receive education in media studies. It's every bit as essential as maths, English, and the sciences.

The media is the prism through which we experience the world. Whether it's newspapers, TV, radio, cinema, theatre, or the internet, the media is the only way we know what's happening around us. It seems bonkers to me that this is perceived as less valid than simultaneous equations, poetry anthologies, or the periodic table.

Nowhere is this clearer than in the social media comments beneath any crime story. There's absolute ignorance of the way the media is required to report about crime, as well as the way media framing can shape the way the people within it are perceived. For example, there was understandable anger when the footage was released of the final moments of Henry Nowak, who was brutally murdered by Vickrum Digwa in 2025. Media – both traditional and social – erupted with claims of “two-tier policing”, claiming officers treated Nowak poorly for fear of racism allegations.

Actually, as the judge said in his sentencing remarks, “It is the experience of the criminal courts that sometimes, someone arrested and handcuffed will feign injury in the hope they may be released.” The fact police didn't check Nowak's claims is a damning failing, but it was not driven by any “two-tier” approach. It takes just 10 minutes to read these publicly available remarks, looking one step beyond the headlines.

Articles about violent crimes are often accompanied by comments about “naming and shaming” alleged perpetrators. It's not common practice to publicly name people until they're charged and, even then, press coverage must be carefully judged to avoid damaging a trial. “Naming and shaming” actually makes criminals more likely to go free. That's why far-right activist Tommy Robinson's “journalism” is actually a hindrance to convicting paedophiles and grooming gangs.

These are just a few examples of why media literacy is so important, but there are dozens every day. In our increasingly connected world, it has never been more vital to teach young people how the media operates. Instead of simply banning social media for teenagers – a lazy “solution” to the problem – we should arm them with the tools to understand the complex world they'll find when they're old enough to access Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and whatever horrific mess of crypto ads and hate speech Elon Musk has transmogrified Twitter into.

The solution is clear. Kids should have compulsory media studies throughout school – and this should be as a stand-alone subject rather than another can kicked into a crowded “citizenship” syllabus. At least it'll save me explaining basic law to some people on Facebook. I've got better things to do, like looking at that student finance statement and gently weeping.

© 2026 Tom Beasley

Tom Beasley is a freelance film journalist, Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and podcaster
now living in Coventry. He can be reached at tomjbeasley@gmail.com