Course description
Introduction
The MA Journalism offers a unique combination of features. It provides a challenging postgraduate programme with cross-platform, hands-on experience in print media, online, radio and TV, together with the opportunity to specialise.
This degree programme presents a professional education in journalism, equipping graduates for careers in the media, and an academic analysis of a range of critical approaches to the subject.
Key features
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Vocational elements of the programme are strengthened by an integral work placement, career advice and by regular contact with specialists in the field
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Students will have access to the School’s excellent facilities, including 7 newsrooms
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In line with the emphasis on cross-platform media skills, students will benefit from the opportunity to produce material for Siren FM, Lincoln’s new community radio station, based on the main University campus.
Jobs and the future
Although we recognise there are essential values that are common to all branches of the industry, the broad context within which journalism operates is one of continual change. These changing aspects include: the technology for journalistic production and distribution; the structures, ownership and control of media organisations; the audiences for journalistic content; and the professional identity of journalists.
Students will succeed in the digital age of convergence where journalists must be multi-skilled with research and analytical skills. The skills are in demand in a variety of information, creative and cultural industries, whether print-based, online or broadcast media. Alternative employment opportunities lie in the related areas of promotional, lifestyle, technical and feature writing; public relations, business-to-business and corporate communications. For those students who choose to take up reporting of a more generalist nature, they will also be able to offer a speciality and subject knowledge that is increasingly in demand.
Course Content
Weekly classes in shorthand will be offered throughout the first two semesters of the programme.
Semester A – Certificate Level:
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Core Writing – Students will learn the key skills required to write as journalists and then focus those skills on subjects of their choice. The module offers an essential introduction to reporting, researching, interviewing, news values and news writing necessary for employment in all areas of the profession.
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Core Broadcast (Radio) – Students will learn the key skills to become broadcast journalists and adapt those skills to their specialist field. This module allows students to experience first hand the differences between the broadcasting and print mediums in an increasingly ‘converged’ media landscape. Radio production provides an excellent means of improving verbal communication skills for all involved.
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Core Legal – All aspects of law relating to the media. This challenging module uses real case studies and up to date research to provide students with an understanding of the framework within which the industry operates, and the ethical dilemmas involved.
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Journalism and Society – This module provides students with a basic appreciation of systems of power, covering European, national and local government structures.
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Students doing the full Masters will take Research Methods. This module provides methodological understanding, support and advice on the final project. Students prepare a presentation and a written proposal for a dissertation, a documentary project, or a portfolio of articles. Assessment of this module forms part of the overall project assessment.
Semester B –Diploma Level:
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Specialist Reporting - In this module students decide on a specialist subject area, study the nature of correspondents’ work in their chosen field, and also prepare longer ‘feature’ pieces aimed at specifically targeted audiences. Writing and research skills are relevant to all media platforms.
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Production (Print or Broadcast) – Students will focus on one medium, producing a magazine or radio magazine programmes. This module provides the requisite technical knowledge and experience of professional practices such as layout and design in print, and running orders in broadcast.
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Online Journalism - Explores and critically evaluates online journalism sites and develops models for the best use of Internet resources. It will encourage students to use the web as a means of publication and develops skills in news, feature writing and design applicable to online journalism.
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Work Placement – Students will take up a work placement in one or several different media organisations of their choice and receive prior guidance, together with career advice. Students are encouraged to be flexible, thorough and focused in their approach.
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Optional ‘elective’ modules (students to choose two of the following options):
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Arts Reporting: This module deals with the skills of the reviewer, whether it is literature, film, exhibition, TV, events or the creation of other media artefacts.
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International Human Rights: Integrating theory and practice, students are given a grounding in the fundamental contemporary world issues, as well as the opportunity to participate in discussions and to do their own research and writing on selected areas of conflict.
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Comparative Media History: This module enables the student to appreciate trends and changes within media industries worldwide on a comparative basis between countries and between platforms.
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Journalism and Literature: Explores the relationship between literary production and different genres of journalism, through detailed case studies of significant writers, including Daniel Defoe, William Hazlitt, George Orwell, George Sand, Dorothy Parker, Ernest Hemingway, Tom Wolfe and Arundhati Roy.
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Contemporary Issues in Sports Journalism: This module is a ‘must’ not only for aspiring sports reporters, but also for those who take an interest in how sport issues relate to the world of news and current affairs.
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Ethics in Science: This module follows on from the Law and Journalism and Society modules in Semester A to provide more in-depth reflection on philosophical issues and an opportunity for students to consider more fully the kind of dilemmas that they are likely to encounter as working journalists.
Semester C – Masters Level:
* Dissertation, portfolio of articles, radio documentary, chapters for a book or webpages.
Students spend the final semester during the summer on self-directed learning, having already decided on the form of media product that they will produce. Each person is allocated their own tutor for support and guidance. This final project provides an opportunity to research and make an in-depth study of the student’s chosen subject. Whatever the platform for delivery, this is a challenging piece of long-form journalism that will attract the interest of future employers and prove that the student can achieve a truly high standard, reflective investigation and product at Masters level.
For those students who choose to stay on to study for a higher research degree, a dissertation provides the ultimate evidence of their ability.
Postgraduate opportunities
The MA in Journalism can form the starting point for progression to MPhil or PhD.
Assessment
Assessment for this programme is mainly assignment-based.
