This Master’s course is made up of a number of core practical modules, which run throughout the year, as well as an optional module and an extended journalism project.

Our compulsory extended module in Broadcast Journalism will provide you with a thorough overview of all aspects of mass-media journalism, reporting and editorial, as well as technical production elements such as audio recording and editing, camera operation, sound, video editing, and studio practice. You will be expected to generate your own stories, and to go out into the local community to research and produce them. This includes practice of radio news features and bulletin production.

Our Contemporary Journalism: Practice and Ethics module is designed to give you further practical experience of the issues and techniques of journalism, particularly as they relate to developing content for online news and information sites. It will enable you to develop your reporting and writing skills, as well as instilling appreciation of a proper ethical framework for your journalism. You will look at how newsrooms are run, the reporter’s working day and how stories are found and developed. And it will allow you to examine changes within the industry.

You will take Essential UK Public Affairs and Law for Journalists. As well as studying media law and regulation, you will survey the judicial system of England and Wales and a journalist’s rights and responsibilities within it. The public affairs section of the unit covers the principal elements of the UK political system. You will discover the rights, responsibilities and techniques of a reporter. You will develop a critical understanding and familiarity with UK current affairs, exploring the reporting of issues such as national identity, citizenship, cultural diversity and the role of the media in such matters. You will gain an awareness of the legal precedents established in online practice (now a core element of multi-platform journalism) and how they are gaining more widespread application.

In addition to your compulsory modules you’ll choose one optional module, selected according to your interests and specialisms.

Towards the end of your course you will complete an Extended Journalism Project, which is an opportunity for you to produce a video or audio project that is both a substantial piece of journalism and a demonstration of your broadcast production skills. You will also reflect on the development and practical execution of your project. The subject and format of your practice-based extended journalism project will be agreed in discussions with a supervisor. Modern digital video, audio and editing equipment will be available to you for this project, shared with other students.