MA, 1 year full time/2 years part time
Subject overview
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Journalism is undergoing many changes but remains a crucial part of democratic public life. We aim to provide you with a critical overview of journalistic practice, and practical training in how to be a reporter in different media: newspapers, magazines, online and broadcast journalism.
All of our journalism degrees combine advanced academic study with specialist practical training by our partners Brighton Journalist Works (BJW), at their training rooms in the offices of a daily newspaper operating in print and online, The Argus, in Brighton. You will learn the basic skills of journalism and their application across a range of media, with opportunities to have stories published during your degree.
You will be taught by very experienced faculty within a highly rated university. Media and Film at Sussex is ranked in the top 10 places to study in the UK in The Times Good University Guide 2013, in the top 15 in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2014 and The Sunday Times University Guide 2012, and in the top 25 in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2014.
BJW will prepare Multimedia Journalism students for the National Council for Training Journalists (NCTJ) Diploma in Journalism. BJW run one of the most successful media training courses in the UK and their students have frequently won prizes for their scoops and exam results.
Both BJW and the School of Media, Film and Music offer excellent technical facilities, including a dedicated newsroom equipped with the latest software, television and radio studios, and a suite of digital media labs.
You will have the opportunity to conduct original research in the form of a dissertation or practical project.
Graduates from BJW and Sussex work in the national and international press, digital and broadcast media, public relations, and a range of other professions.
Brighton Journalist Works (BJW) and the University of Sussex
Elements of our degrees are taught by experienced journalists at our partner institution, BJW, whose training rooms are located at Brighton’s daily newspaper, The Argus. This hands-on training is framed within the academic and intellectual agenda delivered at Sussex. Guest masterclasses by industry professionals are a regular feature of our degrees.
Accreditation
This MA is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).
The NCTJ delivers the premier training scheme for journalists in the UK and its accredited qualifications are highly respected and valued throughout the UK journalism industry. The University of Sussex is the highest ranking university in the UK to offer an NCTJ-accredited qualification in multimedia journalism. For more information, visit National Council for the Training of Journalists.
Alongside the NCTJ accreditation, this MA is also recognised by the Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF). The JDF offers bursaries to support the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds who do not have the financial means to attend NCTJ training courses.
Marcus's faculty perspective
‘I’ve been responsible for award-winning Panorama television programmes and Sony-winning radio documentaries as well as looking after all of BBC’s current affairs programmes for Scotland, from election coverage to stories on immigration.
‘I was incredibly excited when I discovered that the University of Sussex was starting an MA in journalism. As an alumnus I see this as an opportunity to give back to my University and impart some of the experience I have of working in the television industry for almost 20 years. I will be giving lectures but more importantly I will be giving workshops on practical skills that I have to use on a daily basis. I believe it is my practical experience that will be most useful to students, complementing the theory they will be learning.
‘Now that I am in charge of several programme teams of journalists I recognise that it is becoming increasingly competitive to enter serious journalism. We want to recruit people who not only understand current affairs but who have practical experience. I believe that Sussex’s MAs in journalism, with their mixture of theory, lectures by practising journalists and hands-on experience, will prove to be priceless for anyone aiming to work in the industry.’
Marcus Ryder
Honorary Senior Lecturer and Head of BBC Scotland’s Current Affairs programmes
Programme outline
The degree is NCTJ accredited and aims to produce future multimedia journalists with a strong professional journalism competence and attitude. It is designed to enable you to:
- learn how to turn out crisp engaging copy against tight deadlines for print, radio and TV news, and how to record, film and edit material for broadcast
- contextualise journalistic practice within a theoretical framework of journalism studies
- understand the many transitional processes in the news landscape at local, regional, national and global level.
All skills and knowledge will be put to good use in three weeks of work placement and then synthesised in a substantial journalism project or a dissertation.
Assessment
Assessment includes NCTJ exams, term papers, portfolios of journalism, multimedia artefacts, critical reflections on practical work and examinations.
We continue to develop and update our modules for 2014 entry to ensure you have the best student experience.In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.
Autumn term: modules may include Broadcast Journalism (Radio) • International Journalism in Transition • Journalism, Law and Power • News Researching and Writing in a Multimedia Environment • Shorthand.
Spring term: modules may include Broadcast Journalism (TV) • Global News Industries • Journalism, Law and Power (continued) • Shorthand.
Summer term: you undertake a work placement and journalism project or an 18,000-word journalism research dissertation, supervised by research-active faculty.
Current modules
Please note that these are the core modules and options (subject to availability) for students starting in the academic year 2012.
Broadcast Journalism (Radio)
15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
Broadcast Journalism (Television)
15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This module provides you with the essential knowledge and skills to work in television and online newsrooms. It will teach you to research, write and produce high-quality reports for television and the Internet. The aim is to ensure that you can
(a) gather information and put it into clear, accurate, rigorous, compliant and engaging news stories for broadcast media (radio, television, the Internet),
(b) find good interviewees and master interview techniques for broadcast,
(c) conduct broadcast interview yourself.
Along with practical skills, the module will introduce and explore theoretical approaches in relation to regulation, language and technologies of radio, television and online journalism. The module will thus reflect the best current practice in broadcast and multimedia newsrooms in the UK, but will be theoretically informed .
Global Journalism A
30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This module sets out to explore the role of journalism in an increasingly deterritorialised media environment and in an era when 'the global' has to inserted as a category of news between 'foreign' and 'domestic' stories. The module will examine information flows and institutional relations in the coverage of global issues such as climate change, the "war on terror", and the global economy. It will also investigate questions of transnational news production, and the extent to which the audiences of global journalism might constitute a putative global public sphere. One aspect of this discussion centres around the ethics of covering stories of 'distant suffering'. The areas outlined above are explored through critical reading, seminar discussion and presentation, and then via the written assessment.
Journalism in Transition
15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
This module explores the profound transformations affecting the practice and principles of journalism in an era of networked communication. Beginning with a historical overview of the development of journalism as a field, the module goes on to examine the contemporary tensions and possibilities emerging from technological innovation, particularly the pervasiveness, ubiquity and interactivity of media in everyday life and the apparent blurring of conventional divides between producers and consumers. Debates around the rise of online and 'citizen journalism' will be central to the module, engaging with debates about professionalism, changing news values, proliferation of sources and outlets, the rise of the 'blogosphere' and so on. The module takes an interdisciplinary approach. It will look at changing institutions, organisations, practices and texts from the perspectives of sociology, political economy and cultural studies. The areas outlined above are explored through critical reading, seminar discussion and presentation, and then via the written assessment.
Journalism, Law and Power
30 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, year 1
This module aims to develop students' understanding of legal, ethical and regulatory issues, restrictions and guidelines for multimedia journalists working in Britain, whether in print, online or for broadcast media. It will cover industry codes of practice: BBC, producers' and on-line guidelines; Ofcom, ITC, Standards Commission, NUJ and the Press Complaints Commission. It will cover defamation and contempt law and how matter can be published in the public interest, and how a journalist can challenge invalid restrictions. Freedom of Information law will also be addressed and you will be encouraged to make their own submissions to authorities leading to exclusive news stories for publication. You will be given the opportunity to reflect critically on current legal, regulatory or ethical issues in the field of journalism.
New Developments in Digital Media (J)
30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This module critically surveys developments in the expanding field of new media and explores the dynamics driving digital convergence, which is viewed as an industrial, political, social, economic and technological process. It asks what drives convergence between previously discrete industries, technologies, contents, and what limits convergence processes. It explores key developments in the field of new media - exploring phenomena such as social networks, pervasive and locative technologies, new forms of knowledge organisation and gathering. This version of the module is theoretical. Seminars explore the areas outlined above through critical reading, seminar discussion and presentation, and then via their assessed 3000 word term paper.
News Research, Writing in a Multimedia Environment
15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
This module is intended to equip you with the understanding, knowledge, insights and skills necessary for effective news gathering, writing and packaging for print and online platforms. It seeks to develop in you the theoretical understanding of and practical skills news research and writing in an increasingly converged news environment. These include learning to identify a news story, researching the story using all forms of social media, the internet and the more traditional methods of covering a local news patch and going to courts and council meetings. It will also cover effective interviewing skills, developing a news sense and understanding potential sources of news in a variety of settings.
You will be encouraged to write stories for The Argus website and newspaper in Brighton and relate your writing to a critical understanding of the relationship between the practice of journalism, the production values of the media and the definitions of news. Different writing styles will be explored, and you will be taught to write for newspapers, magazines and online. The different genres of reviews, comment and colour pieces will be explored and you will be encouraged to write for publication. You may visit courts and council meetings and will have a variety of external speakers from local and national newspapers, web sites and magazines. Throughout, you will be encouraged to explore relevant theories of news research and writing and to reflect critically on your own and others' professional journalistic practice.
Towards the end of the module, you will be introduced to the basic theories and techniques of digital story-telling, particularly the packaging of complementary content into a single web-based multimedia news product.
Shorthand (NCTJ)
0 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, year 1
Entry requirements
UK entrance requirements
A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. We also welcome applicants who do not have this academic qualification who are able to demonstrate in their application that they have relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Overseas entrance requirements
- Overseas qualifications
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If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
Country Overseas qualification Australia Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division Brazil Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8 Canada Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+) China Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university Cyprus Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5 France Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13 Germany Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better Ghana Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division Greece Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5 Hong Kong Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division India Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent Iran Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15 Italy Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105 Japan Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent Malaysia Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1 Mexico Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8 Nigeria Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 Pakistan Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3 Russia Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4 South Africa Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70% Saudi Arabia Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent South Korea Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent Spain Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4 Taiwan Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university Thailand Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent Turkey Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university United Arab Emirates Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent USA Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university Vietnam Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
Visas and immigration
Find out more about Visas and immigration.
Additional admissions information
In the induction week, you will be asked to take a 90-minute NCTJ aptitude test on competency in English and an awareness of journalistic conventions, plus a voice test. If you do not pass the test, you will normally be advised to take the degree without the NCTJ Diploma, or to consider switching to the MA in Journalism and Media Studies or the MA in Journalism and Documentary Practice.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex
For pre-application enquiries:
Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For post-application enquiries:
Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Related programmes
Fees and funding
Fees
Home UK/EU students: £7,3001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £7,3002
Overseas students: £14,1003
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The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Chancellor's International Scholarship (2014)
Region: International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 1 May 2014
25 scholarships of a 50% tuition fee waiver
Fulbright-Sussex University Award (2014)
Region: International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 15 October 2013
Each year, one award is offered to a US citizen for the first year of a postgraduate degree in any field at the University of Sussex.
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2014)
Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.
Santander Scholarship (2014)
Region: International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 1 May 2014
Two scholarships of £5000 fee waiver for students studying any postgraduate taught course.
USA Friends Scholarships (2014)
Region: International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 3 April 2014
Two scholarships of an amount equivalent to $10,000 are available to nationals or residents of the USA on a one year taught Master's degree course.
Faculty interests
Journalism is part of the School of Media, Film and Music at Sussex and our faculty is listed below. Also refer to the Media, media practice and cultural studies subject area. Profiles of members of staff at Brighton Journalist Works (BJW) are listed below.
- School of Media, Film and Music faculty
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Dr Monika Metykova Lecturer in Media Communications/Journalism Studies. Research interests include transnational media; cultural and media policies; citizenship, cosmopolitanism and European public spheres.
Marcus Ryder Honorary Senior Lecturer in Journalism. Head of Current Affairs at BBC Scotland.
- Brighton Journalist Works staff
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Chris Chandler Former Deputy Editor of The Argus, and group editor of the Leader and Life series of newspapers in Sussex and Surrey.
Louisa Hannah Journalism lecturer. Has experience of launching NCTJ postgraduate fast-track courses at Further Education colleges.
Richard Lindfield Lecturer, journalist and broadcaster. Weekend News Editor for Heart FM, and former BBC Producer who lectures on fast-track courses in public affairs, and video shooting and editing.
Mark Longhurst Presenter of Sunrise on Sky News, teaches broadcast journalism on our MA in Multimedia Journalism.
Paula O’Shea Managing Director. Journalist for ITN News, the BBC and local newspapers before setting up and running NCTJ courses at City College Brighton and Hove and at the University of Brighton.
Pete Taylor Lecturer. An experienced journalist online and on magazines and newspapers. He is a Media Law and Sub-Editing lecturer.
Careers and profiles
This degree will equip you with the knowledge and skills for professional entry-level journalism.
For more information, visit Careers and alumni.
School and contacts
School of Media, Film and Music
The School of Media, Film and Music combines rigorous critical and historical studies of media, film, music and culture with opportunities for creative practice in a range of musical forms and the media of photography, film, radio, and interactive digital imaging.
School of Media, Film and Music,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 873481
E mfm@sussex.ac.uk
School of Media, Film and Music
Postgraduate Open Day 2013
4 December 2013, 1pm-4pm
Bramber House, University of Sussex
- talk to academic faculty and current postgraduate students
- subject talks and presentations on postgraduate study, research and funding
- choose from our exciting range of taught Masters and research degrees
- find out how postgraduate study can improve your career prospects
- get details of our excellent funding schemes for taught postgraduate study.
To register your interest in attending, visit Postgraduate Open Day.
Can’t make it to our Postgraduate Open Day? You might be interested in attending one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions.
Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions
If you can’t make it to our Postgraduate Open Day, you’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.
Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.
Other ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.
You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.