MA Journalism

• Introduction
• Modules
• Features
• Careers
• Fees

Introduction

This degree aims to provide the professional and practical training needed for a career in the exciting world of journalism. It also offers an academically rigorous approach to critical analysis of the subject.

You have the opportunity to be taught the art of journalism from a hands-on, multiplatform perspective, with the chance to specialise in the medium of your choice.

You may also have the opportunity to hear from top names in the journalism industry – previous guest speakers include internationally renowned journalist John Pilger, BBC Director of London 2012 Roger Mosey and Head of Channel 4 News Dorothy Byrne.

The School of English & Journalism maintains close working relationships with the BBC and Lincoln’s award-winning newspaper, the Lincolnshire Echo. On campus, there are opportunities to gain experience in community radio, a multiplatform website, student newspapers, television and magazines.

Accreditations

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

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. The University of Lincoln boasts an extensive academic library which you can also use for independent study.

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
gstevens@lincoln.ac.uk
+44 (0)1522 886339

Enquiries:
mhpenquiries@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 (Option)

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.

Comparative Media History (Option)

This module is designed to enable students to appreciate trends and changes within all the main media industries including press, radio, TV, cinema, music & the Internet worldwide on a comparative basis between countries and between platforms.

The module offers an opportunity to develop an understanding of how the media has reached the state it is now in, and what trends are likely to continue in the future.

Contemporary Issues in Sports Journalism (Option)

This module explores the sports journalism industry and the work of sports journalists. Sports journalists are no longer just match reporters and commentators. They have a role to play in the greater industry of journalism, as court reporters, political correspondents and news gatherers.

This module aims to enable you to expand your knowledge of sport and sports journalism, exploring issues in sport such as drugs, racism, hooliganism, economics, media and the history of sport and sports journalism. The module will also reflect on the cultural and sociological impact of sport and major sporting events, such as the World Cup and the Olympic games.

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.

Ethics in Science and Environmental Journalism (Option)

This module aims to provide an 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 in the field of science and environmental reporting.

International Human Rights (Journalism) (Option)

This module aims to highlight the importance of a critical and comparative knowledge of human rights issues to the practice of journalism. You have the chance to explore human rights issues (such as privacy, confidentiality and freedom of expression) that are particularly relevant to the practice of journalism.

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.

Television News Production (M) (Option)

In this module you will have the exciting opportunity to present your own TV News bulletins, prepare and produce TV packages and develop your skills as a TV journalist. Television news is one of the fastest moving, most exciting and highly rewarding platforms in the media. A TV journalist can go from presenting news bulletins to live outside broadcasts and breaking the latest news in the space of a working day.

Based in the Lincoln School of Journalism’s TV Newsroom, you can learn how to use industry standard camera and editing equipment. You can be trained to use a TV studio gallery and have the chance to produce and present your own TV news bulletins and programmes.

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 can 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.

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

Career and Personal Development

Core modules are designed to support and prepare you for a career in journalism and there are a number of opportunities to gain experience by working on community radio, a multi-platform website, the student newspaper and the Students’ Union magazine.

You have the opportunity to develop the skills to succeed in the digital age of convergence where journalists must be multi-skilled with research and analytical skills. These skills are in demand in a variety of information, creative and cultural industries, whether print-based, online or broadcast media.

Alternative employment opportunities may lie in the related areas of promotional, lifestyle, technical and feature writing and public relations, business-to-business and corporate communications. For those students who choose to take up reporting of a more generalist nature, they have the chance to develop the skills that will be able to offer a speciality and subject knowledge that is increasingly in demand.

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.