Changes in creating, accessing, and using information are happening within a global context and are shaping societies globally. This course offers an overview of the global information landscape production and dissemination from a range of perspectives. The focus of the course is on critical thinking and conceptual notions of the global information landscape and the information cycle to prepare students to work productively and creatively in our information rich world. We will explore knowledge production in different societies and the emerging ‘commons’ of globally distributed information.

Through guest speakers, readings, videos, reports, and discussions, students explore a variety of contemporary and transnational topics, including censorship, intellectual property, government transparency, global right to information, and technology.