Course summary

Our MA Journalism is an intense programme that prepares graduates for the dynamic and competitive world of journalism and communications. It has the rare advantage of dual accreditation by the National Council for the Training of Journalism (NCTJ) and the British Journalism Training Council (BJTC). This highly regarded combination, along with our impressive work placement and industry mentoring programmes, opens the doors to organisations including the BBC, ITV, The Express, Sky Sports and a whole network of local, regional and national newspapers and radio stations. The MA Journalism provides a comprehensive understanding of professional journalism practice, including researching and substantiating news stories, interviewing techniques and establishing contacts. Hands-on camera, studio, editing and mobile journalism skills are taught so that our trainees are confident and competent on their industry work placements. We also cover the increasingly important areas of social media skills, verification techniques, data journalism and analytics. And shorthand is embedded in the course. Awareness of professional roles, law, public affairs and the regulatory responsibilities of journalists is taught, along with a critical understanding of the political and commercial structures within which the media operate. News skills are refined and there are opportunities to research and over specific areas of interest to showcase a professional versatility across a range of media platforms. All the skills you learn come together for your Journalism Project when you can do more in-depth research on a topic of your choice to produce a multi-media project, a short video documentary or a podcast. Our established Journalism and Media Week every year hosts nationally-recognised journalists and presenters who share their tips and advice directly with our students, allowing them to forge valuable contacts in the industry. The gold standard of journalism training Our MA has rare dual accreditation by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the British Journalism Training Council (BJTC). These are the accreditations that editors look for when recruiting a trainee journalist because they effectively mean that the trainee has successfully completed a course that meets the 'gold standard' of journalism training. The accreditation recognises the quality of the course in developing journalists for the demands of a fast-changing multimedia industry. Students sit the NCTJ Diploma alongside their MA at no additional cost for their first attempts.