Journalism MA (NCTJ accredited)

About the Course

MA Journalism is an industry accredited course that provides high quality journalism skills. Applicants will be taught journalism from the basic building blocks through to substantial reporting projects in video, radio, print, online or multiplatform. Devised in close consultation with senior journalists, the syllabus provides a rigorous foundation to a career in this dynamic, challenging and often controversial industry. Students are trained in print/online journalism and video journalism with the option to specialise in broadcast or production journalism in the second term.

The programme is distinctive in allowing you to develop your own cutting-edge journalistic practice, whether it's exploring 3G news, or on-screen page make-up. At the same time you learn about the impact of technological change, cultural developments and political issues surrounding different forms of journalism. Particular attention will be paid to factors such as media ownership, the regulation of the media, journalism ethics, and the role of journalism in the political process.

This course is now ranked as the third best-performing newspaper journalism postgraduate programme in the UK by the NCTJ. More details of the ranking can be found on the NCTJ website.

 

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Aims

• To enable students to gain a systematic understanding of the field of contemporary journalism and a critical understanding of the current problems in the field.
  
• To give students a comprehensive understanding of the main theoretical approaches to and techniques of journalism, and to encourage them to use these critically, both in their studies of journalism and their own critical practice.
  
• To provide students with a critical understanding of the journalistic field that will enable them to use most effectively the skills which they acquire on the programme.

Enquiries

Donna White
School of Arts
Brunel University
Uxbridge, Middlesex
UB8 3PH, UK
Email pg-arts-admissions@brunel.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)1895 267214

Programme Convenor: Dr Sarah Niblock

Special Features

Students will benefit greatly from the School's excellent links with the journalism, broadcasting and publishing industries, and will be offered the opportunity for work placement. This is one of only two London Masters in Journalism that offers NCTJ accreditation as a hallmark of its status within the industry.

Other special features include:

• A broad-based journalism core;
• Specialist study for informed career choice;
• Distinguished guest speakers
• Emphasis on employability
• Journalism practice contextualised within a framework of technological, political and cultural change.

Course Content

MA Journalism consists of a common core of study in journalism, with an offer of specialist study in print or broadcast journalism in the second term, which will facilitate your entry into different aspects of the industry. This is particularly relevant in the context of a converging media industry requiring multi-skilling and the ability to adapt to new media environments.

The programme will consist of five modules - two that provide cutting-edge journalism skills essential for the new entrant to the industry, coupled with two that offer in-depth analysis of the recent history and political economy of the industry, critical evaluation of the cultural, political, ethical and legal frameworks within which journalism operates, and academic interrogation of current and emerging journalistic issues.

The fifth module, a major project, requires a synthesis of practice and theory. Through undertaking these modules, you will be enabled to identify and apply the most useful practical, theoretical and contextual approaches to help you to produce “good” journalism. In this way, you can enter journalism confident of your abilities, with highly-developed research skills, ethical judgement, the necessary contextual knowledge and an ability to navigate successfully an increasingly market-led industry.

Modules (all core)

• Journalistic Practice 1
  Main topics of study: Practical: news reporting, multiplatform journalism including data journalism, Theoretical: classifications of news: news values, sources and the implied reader: Practical news writing, news language; digital journalism, techniques of news interviewing and research in a new media context; reporting court, local and national government, crime and emergency services;; introduction to layout and on-screen page make-up; image, text and design relationships in a print/online media context.
  
  
• Journalistic Practice 2
  Main topics of study: Video news, feature research, interviewing and investigation for converging media; audience and targeting in the digital journalism context, broadcast journalism, (option 1) or print production journalism. digital manipulation and meaning production; advanced presentation skills and critical strategies in news and feature production (option 2).
  
  
• Journalism in Context
  Main topics of study: the structures of the institutions within which journalism is practiced: public administration; the legal framework within which journalism operates; the professional codes governing journalistic practice; the ownership and control of the institutions within which journalism is practiced; professional ideologies of journalism; the political framework within which journalism operates; journalism in a consumer society.
  
  
• Issues in Journalism
  Main topics of study: current debates about journalism and the political process; the public sphere; journalism as a 'Fourth Estate'; the impact of new technology on journalism; celebrity culture; journalistic ethics; journalism and its others; freedom of information; journalism post 9/11.
  
  
• Dissertation

Contact Hours

• Full-time: Minimum four days attendance per week (currently Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri*)
• Part-time: Three days in year 1 (currently Tues, Thurs, Fri*) and 1-2 days in year two (currently Friday and Monday*) provided the 100wpm Teeline exam has been passed in year 1.

These are the attendance hours for terms 1 and 2. Terms 3/4 are more varied and flexible as this is when you will have have assignments, exams and supervision.

*subject to timetabling confirmation for 2012/13.

Assessment

Assessments will take the form of practical projects and tasks, essays, exams, case studies, presentations, reflexive reports and dissertations.

Assessing students’ knowledge and understanding of theoretical debates, hermeneutic skills and understanding of the historical and institutional context of different international journalism practices will be undertaken via written essays.

The assessments covering these cognitive skills are practical exercises, written work and productions which test the acquisition of practical skills and strategies; essays which test theoretical and historical knowledge; and the final journalism project (and accompanying written analysis) which requires a summation of the critical, creative and practical skills learned during the programme.

The Major Project will test students’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills (with supporting reflexive practice) to a level commensurate with a Masters qualification. Dissertations are usually agreed in advance with the supervising tutor.

Careers

Print, broadcast or on-line journalism.

Fees for 2012/13 entry

Home/EU: £8,280 full-time, £4,140 part-time

International students: £12,650 full-time, £6,325 part-time

Including £300 cost for this course to cover the NCTJ exam fees.

Read about funding opportunities available to postgraduate students

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements for 2012 Entry

A good undergraduate degree or equivalent and evidence of a commitment to journalism as a career such as student journalism or work experience. To demonstrate that commitment we would like applicants to provide a statement demonstrating commitment to journalism (including previous experience) and a 200 word article based on an interview with someone interesting from your local area.

Entry Requirements for 2011 Entry (click to expand)

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.