Television Journalism (MA)

Who is it for?

This course is suitable for students with a first degree looking to become good all-round television journalists capable of working in newsrooms, on multi-media and in documentaries and current affairs. Applicants should have an interest in video and TV films and have a broad general knowledge including lifestyle, sport and politics. While this course is NOT about TV presenting, it’s important that you aren’t afraid to be in front of the camera and even more important that you are keen to write and provide material for others to present. Vitally, you should want to communicate using moving pictures and be excited by the wonderful world of television!

Objectives

MA Television Journalism has an outstanding reputation in, and unparalleled contact with, the professional world - each Wednesday students work in the journalism industry.

With weekly newsdays, students learn practical multimedia skills: finding, researching, writing, newsgathering, interviewing, presenting, reporting, self-shooting, and editing content, all supported by core journalism principles (Media Law, Journalism Ethics, Data Journalism and Political Headlines).

Students make half-hour documentaries in teams of three in the final term. These have won such awards as Guardian Young Journalists of the Year, BJTC documentary award, and been re-worked for broadcast on BBC Newsnight.

30 students work in teaching groups of 15 ensuring daily personal contact with tutors including former BBC/ITV self-shooting producer-director Sally Webb; ABC news producer Mike Trew; investigative journalist Paul Lashmar; FOI campaigner Heather Brooke; BBC World Service’s Dr Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar; former Reuters editor Lloyd Watson and former editor of The Andrew Marr Show Professor Barney Jones.