MA Journalism (Arts)

• Introduction
• Modules
• Features
• Careers
• Fees

Introduction

This Master’s is designed to focus on the reporting of the arts for those wishing to enter one of the fastest-growing areas of journalism.

As well as the opportunity to learn the essential craft of reporting, you will also have the chance to develop the analytical skills necessary to reflect on developments in the arts. You can learn to appreciate artistic movements, genres and the sociological factors that underpin the culture industries, and to communicate this to an audience.

This programme emphasises reporting and reviewing the creative arts from the niche, such as sculpture, to the more popular, such as cinema and television, to emerging fields like web-based production. It involves a work placement scheme where you have the opportunity to develop the transferable skills necessary for career advancement.

Accreditations

The School of English & Journalism is one of the first institutions in Europe to be awarded a 'Recognised for Excellence' accolade by the European Journalism Training Association (EJTA).

Research Areas, Projects & Topics

The department has key research expertise in the following topics:

• Core Broadcast
  
• Research and Professional Placement
  
• Contemporary Art Theory
  
• Journalism and Contemporary Cinema
  
• Live Arts Reporting

Days Taught

Where possible, core sessions are scheduled on Thursday and Friday, although students may be required to attend on other days of the week depending on module options. Full time students should expect approximately 12 hours of contact time per week and should be prepared to undertake at least two hours of self-study for every taught hour.

How You Study

Study will be a blend of practical workshops, lectures and seminars.

How You Are Assessed

Assessments are a mixture of essays, presentations, portfolios of journalism, broadcast media packages and timed examinations.

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to you promptly – usually within 15 working days after the submission date.

Entry Requirements

2:2 honours degree or equivalent experience.

International Students will require English Language at IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each element, or equivalent. http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/englishrequirements

Key Contacts

Academic:
Gary Stevens
+44 (0)1522 886898

Enquiries:
unilincolnarts@lincoln.ac.uk
+44 (0)1522 886097

Master's Level

Advanced Research Methods

This module provides the opportunity to develop a methodological understanding and to receive support and advice on the final project. You will then be expected to prepare a written proposal for a dissertation, a documentary project, or a portfolio of articles.

Arts Reporting

This module provides an opportunity to critically explore the various genres of journalistic writing about the arts and popular culture. The module deals with the skills of the reviewer, whether in literature, film, exhibition, TV, theatre, or the creation of other media artefacts.

The module aims to:

• Develop skills in arts and cultural reporting, reviewing & profile/ feature construction through attending cultural events, consuming cultural products, meeting cultural workers, in a variety of environments.
  
• Encourage students to develop a range of different approaches in review features, and to reflect critically on them.
  
• Explore critically the various genres of journalistic coverage of the arts and popular culture, from fine arts to television.
  
• Acquaint students with the key concepts and debates concerning the principal forms of artistic expression.
  
• Examine processes by which critical judgements are translated into journalism.

Contemporary Art Theory (Option)

This module is designed to explore the ways in which arts theory has attempted to handle the challenge of contemporary art practice and its subversion of traditional ideas of artistic value. It focuses on the shift that has occurred in the key relationships within the art world, and the role of the artist, the art work and the audience will be investigated.

Core Broadcast

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop the key skills required by broadcast journalists and you have the chance to adapt those skills to your specialist field. Over twelve weeks, you will be given the chance to focus on newsgathering and writing news features for radio and video journalism.

The first set of workshops will concentrate on the basic radio production skills of writing for radio bulletins, recording sound and editing, interview and presentation skills and studio operation. In the second half of the term, the focus switches to basic video journalism, including camera work, editing and production.

Core Writing

This module provides the opportunity to learn the skills required to write as a journalist and then focus those skills in different areas of journalism. The module offers an essential introduction to reporting, researching, interviewing, news values and news writing necessary for employment in all areas of the profession.

Journalism and Contemporary Cinema (Option)

This module is designed to enable you to explore and develop an understanding of issues in journalistic film criticism in their historical, cultural and institutional context, with the aim of assisting you in the writing and production of your own reviews for specified outlets and audiences.

Journalism and Literature (Option)

This module aims to explore 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, Truman Capote, Hunter S Thompson, Ernest Hemingway and Arundhati Roy.

Law and Institutions

This module is designed to examine all aspects of law relating to the media with some focus on issues in science. This challenging module uses real case studies and up-to-date research to provide you with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the framework within which the industry operates, and the ethical dilemmas involved.

This module seeks to provide you with a basic appreciation of systems of power, covering national and local government structures and institutions.

MA Journalism - Final Project or Dissertation

The Final Project or Dissertation module consists of either a dissertation, portfolio of articles, radio or television documentary or chapters for a book or webpages. You are expected to spend the final term during the summer on self-directed learning, having already decided on the form of media product that they will produce. You will be allocated your own tutor for support and guidance. This final project provides an opportunity to research and make an in-depth study of your chosen study area.

Specialist Journalism Production

From a digital first perspective and focusing, in particular, on news and feature content in your specialist field(s) of interest, this module aims to develop the key skills of journalism through regular practice, including newsgathering, writing and interviewing, and live output production with text and audio and video output as required. Online skills will be used throughout, including social media to drive consumers to the content. The journalism and features produced will be outward facing, using techniques of electronic newsgathering, digital and non-linear editing, production/journalism for online and print, and an appropriate range of live news broadcasting techniques. On this module, you are expected to take up a work placement in one or several different media organisations of your choice. The module provides prior guidance, together with career advice. Tutors will help with research of the employment market, as you arrange international, national or local work placements, and will support you as you build an individual career profile, CV and work experience portfolio.

Special Features

A Newsroom Environment

Journalism teaching at Lincoln takes place in small groups within a newsroom setting, with plenty of opportunities for one-to-one interaction with tutors. The programme has a careful balance of practical skills using multi-platform media with the knowledge and intellectual skills to understand the world of modern journalism. A London-based art reporting module is a special feature of the programme.

Placements

There is a two-week assessed placement built into the course as part of the Research and Professional Placement module.

On this module you are expected to take up a work placement in one or several different media organisations of your choice and receive prior guidance, together with career advice. Tutors will help with research of the employment market, help to arrange international, national or local work placements and support students as they build their individual career profile, CV and work experience.

Please note that students are expected to cover their own travel, accommodation and general living expenses during their placement.

Facilities

This course benefits from a suite of newsrooms, with associated work stations and specialist print production software.

Broadcast journalism is catered for with exclusive access to the School’s radio and television presentation studios and opportunities for output on the University’s Ofcom-licensed community radio station.

Students also have access to a TV studio, where they have the opportunity to use the latest virtual studio technology to produce television news programmes.

Career and Personal Development

This course aims to prepare graduates for careers in print, broadcast and digital journalism and for roles in corporate communications and public relations. Recent graduates have gone on to work for the BBC, national and international newspapers and specialist magazines, including The Scotsman, the Irish Independent and the Yorkshire Post.

Careers Services

The University Careers and Employability Team offer qualified advisors who can work with you to provide tailored, individual support and careers advice during your time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing your course, including access to events, vacancy information and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual and website resources for the following two years.

This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice and interview preparation to help you maximise your future opportunities.
The service works closely with local, national and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.

Visit our Careers Service pages here http://bit.ly/1lAS1Iz.

Other Costs

For each course you may find that there are additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials or equipment required, depending on your course.

With regards to text books, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and you will find that our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that you are required to read. However, you may prefer to purchase some of these for yourself and you will be responsible for this cost.