Awards

Target Award

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

Accreditation

National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)

Programme Offerings

Part-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.

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 engaged in a work placement, minimum two weeks, to employ their skills and knowledge in an external real-world environment.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

Year 1 students will study 60 credits: Semester 1 - 7101JOURN Media Law and Regulation and 7100JOURN Journalism in context (40 creds) Semester 2 - 7102JOURN Research Skills for Journalists plus either 7103JOURN Public Affairs for Journalists OR 7112JOURN Broadcast Journalism (20 creds) Year 2 students will study 120 credits: … For more content click the Read More button below.

Entry Requirements

Interview required
Other international requirements
Undergraduate degree

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH24-01) media, journalism and communications