Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Master of Arts - MA
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Accreditation

National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-JMU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

To equip students with the fundamental journalistic skills and knowledge as required by the industry body National Council for the Training of Journalists To arm students with the range of entry-level skills and qualifications required to work successfully in converged newsrooms To provide students with the skills and knowledge required to become freelance or entrepreneurial journalists To provide students with the opportunity to critically evaluate the products of journalism To provide students with the skills to be able to critically analyse and understand the structures and frameworks within which journalism works To enable students to synthesize knowledge from several different disciplines to apply it to journalism To allow students to develop research skills at Masters level evidenced by a research dissertation OR major project accompanied by a critical analysis and academic reflection on that project To enable students to develop the ability to situate the study of Journalism within the broader debates in media and cultural theory To provide an educational experience which facilitates the development of all students irrespective of race, gender, physical ability and sexual orientation The programme allows students to gain a sound understanding of the nature and operation of journalism in a rapidly changing environment. As with all Masters level programmes, study will be at, or be informed by, the forefront of the academic and professional discipline. Students will show originality in the application of knowledge, and they will understand how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research. They will be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, and they will be encouraged to show originality in tackling and solving problems. They will have the qualities needed for employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative, in complex and unpredictable professional environments.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the development and operation of media in a regional and national context
2.
Produce work in a journalistic discipline to industry standard meeting the criteria set by the National Council for the Training of Journalists
3.
Employ effective planning and organisational skills in managing time, resources and personnel in Newsday situations
4.
Initiate, develop and realise distinctive and creative work within various forms of writing or of aural, visual, audio-visual, sound or other electronic media
5.
Work in flexible, creative and independent ways, showing self-discipline, self-direction and reflexivity
6.
Gather, organise and deploy ideas and information in order to formulate arguments cogently, and express them effectively in written, oral or in other forms
7.
Organise and manage supervised, self-directed projects
8.
Work productively in a group or team, showing abilities at different times to listen, contribute and lead effectively
9.
Deliver work to a given length, format, brief and deadline, properly referencing sources and ideas and making use, as appropriate, of a problem-solving approach
10.
Put to use a range of IT skills from basic competences such as data analysis and word-processing to more complex skills using web-based technology or multimedia, and develop, as appropriate, specific proficiencies in utilising a range of media technologies
11.
Demonstrate an understanding of key production processes and professional practices relevant to journalism
12.
Demonstrate an understanding and practical knowledge of the impact of relevant legislation such as defamation, privacy, contempt of court and copyright on the working practice of journalists
13.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of the complex ethical and regulatory frameworks which affect journalism
14.
Engage critically and evaluatively with major thinkers, debates and intellectual paradigms within the field and put them to productive use
15.
Consider and evaluate their own work in a reflexive manner, with reference to academic and/or professional issues, debates and conventions
16.
Formulate appropriate research questions and employ appropriate methods and resources for exploring those questions
17.
Draw on the strengths and understand the limits of the major quantitative and/or qualitative research methods and be able to apply this knowledge critically in their own work
18.
Explore matters which may be new and emerging, drawing upon a variety of personal skills and upon a variety of academic and non-academic sources

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Students are taught with a wide mix of teaching methods including lectures, demonstrations, screenings, seminars, workshops, work simulations; tutorials, group and individual project work, live projects, supervised independent learning, open and resource-based learning, multi-media and new media learning, production practice; large and small group and individual learning and teaching situations; tutor-led, student-led and independent learning sessions. Specialist IT resources and other studio-based resources play an important part in the delivery. Essays, reviews and reports; examinations; individual and group presentations (whether oral and/or technology based); critical self- and peer-evaluation; role-analyses/evaluations; logbooks, diaries and autobiographical writing; individual or group portfolios of work (whether critical, creative, self-reflective, or the outcome of the professional practice); group and individually produced artefacts, including productions in sound, audio-visual or other media; individual and group project reports; research exercises; tasks aimed the assessment of specific skills (e.g. IT skills, production skills, research skills, skills of application).

Opportunities for work related learning

Students will engage in real-world learning throughout their programme. On Multi-Platform Journalism, they will be creating content and publishing to live digital platforms. On this and other modules they will engage in real-world journalism in terms of interviewing, filming, editing. They will also cover key sources of content in the real world such as criminal courts, local council meetings, inquests, press conferences, events etc. As part of Portfolio, they will be engage in a work placement, minimum two weeks, to employ their skills and knowledge in an external real-world environment.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

Semester 1 7109 JOURN Essential Sports Journalism and Professional Practice (20 credits) 7101JOURN Media Law, Regulation and Court Reporting (20 credits) 7100JOURN Journalism in Context (20 credits) Semester 2 7110JOURN Multi-Platform Sports Journalism (20 credits) 7111JOURN Sports Portfolio and Professional Practice (20 credits) 7102JOURN Research Skills for Journalists (10 credits) … For more content click the Read More button below.

Entry Requirements

Interview required
Undergraduate degree

Extra Entry Requirements

  • International students should have recognised qualifications equivalent to a British Bachelors degree preferably in a relevant subject (e.g. Journalism, Media Studies, English Language, English Literature, Politics, History, Law, Sociology, Sports Studies, Sports Science, Sport Performance) with a pass of at least 2:2 plus an IELTS score of 7.5 (minimum 7 in each component) or an equivalent English language test accepted by UKVI

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH24-01) media, journalism and communications