The MA builds on the strengths and achievements of the postgraduate diploma course, which has been running since 1981.  Accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), the course has a reputation for the quality of its students and their success in obtaining employment in the industry.

We are committed to producing broadcast journalists who are realistically skilled and highly employable. The course is designed to prepare students for working in the broadcast industry, so the emphasis is on learning by doing. Students learn in a newsroom environment, producing interviews, stories and packages for radio and television and online. They also gain a thorough understanding of media law and public administration.

For the Masters award, students will demonstrate their practical skills and critical understanding of the medium by producing an extended broadcast project under the supervision of a module tutor.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

You will normally be expected to have an upper second or first class honours degree from a British higher education institution, or an equivalent overseas qualification. The degree may be in any subject, although complementary subjects, such as English, Politics or a foreign language are especially useful. You will also need a very good standard of written English and in normal circumstances, a good speaking voice. Mature students and candidates with non-standard qualifications may also apply, if they have substantial professional/relevant experience. All applicants are expected to show knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment, which may be demonstrated by a record of relevant work experience.
Candidates are required to submit a formal UCLan application form as well as a supplementary exercise MA Application pack 2012 

International applicants should be aware that a very high standard of written and spoken English is required. The focus of the course is the UK broadcast industry, and includes UK law and public administration.

Course Content

This one-year vocational course equips postgraduate students with the essential skills and knowledge to pursue a career in radio and television journalism in the UK. The Masters degree builds on the strengths of the prestigious postgraduate diploma course and offers students the chance to produce an extended practical broadcast project.

The course is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council. In 2009, we received the Course Award for “General excellence in broadcast journalism training” from the BJTC. The MA/PGDip Broadcast Journalism course at UCLan has been working closely with the radio and television industry since it started in 1981. Professional broadcasters visit Preston regularly, to work with the students – supervising radio and TV news days and giving guest lectures on specialist topics.  Our students are also deserved award winners; most recently, Postgraduate Broadcast student Cristina Garlington won Sky News’ Royal Wedding Student Video Competition in May 2011.  

We provide training and support in an environment that enables students to reach the high standards of professional competence demanded by the industry. Entry into the profession is competitive and most employers recruit new journalists only if they have completed a recognised postgraduate course.

Post graduate broadcast journalism students begin their course with an eight-week intensive introduction to practical journalism. Students also begin a digital module that will enable them to develop the skills and strategies needed to exploit the changing media landscape and to respond to the challenges presented by the emergence of multiplatform production.  In these first weeks, students enjoy a realistic and useful appreciation of collaborative and multi-skilled journalism since all our postgraduate journalism students will study and practice together.  During these first eight weeks, the broadcast students will also begin their medium-specific practical training – filming, recording audio, editing, writing and presentation skills.

In week nine, students will move into their broadcast newsroom module which will enable them to further develop and practise their radio and TV skills.

Then, as we move into semester two, with their digital skills in place, they will take part not only in broadcast news days, but also cross platform events with other trainee journalists. 
 
All the students undertake an extensive work placement in the weeks leading up to and including the Easter break. 

Course at a Glance

Year 1

Practical Journalism (Single Module)
Digital Journalism (Single Module)
Broadcast Newsroom Practice (Double Module)
Law for Journalists (Single Module)
Public Administration (Single Module)
Extended Project (Triple Module)

Assessment:

Most assessed work is in the form of practical assignments. For radio, students submit a portfolio of work, including a news bulletin, interview and news package. For television, students work on a variety of assignments.

For Law and Public Administration students must produce an essay and pass a final examination.

Learning Environment:

Greenbank Building has five sound studios, each with professional mixing desks and computers, a large talks studio, and a television studio, with remote cameras, lighting, Autocue, control room and AVID digital editing suite.

The broadcast newsroom is equipped with telephones, digital editing workstations, ENPS and Burli news management systems, AVID iNews and news feeds from Independent Radio News and the Press Association.

The course enjoys excellent support from the broadcast industry. Students benefit from frequent guest lectures and industry speakers as well as editors and producers from radio and TV who visit regularly to work with the students.

The work placements in the Spring are an essential part of the course and students are expected to spend at least three weeks in a BBC or commercial radio newsroom and one week at a television programme or company.

Careers:

Graduates of this course have gone on to successful careers in local radio and regional TV, network TV and radio, and television research. Tutors work closely with students to help prepare them for employment. This includes advice on writing CVs and preparing for interviews.

Fees and Finance

The standard fee for this course will be: £6,000 per year

For further information including the availability of bursaries/scholarships or student financial support please view our Fees and Finance pages.