Interactive Journalism MA
Overview
Open Evening: Wednesday 19 June
Join us on Wednesday 19 June (17.00-19.00) to find out more about the Interactive Journalism MA and talk to academics about the course and applying. Book your place now.
Overview
City's Interactive Journalism MA will prepare you to work in the rapidly-changing environment of online journalism, with a focus on two key areas: data journalism and community management.
You will develop these online specialisations alongside essential journalistic skills of writing, reporting, newsgathering, interviewing and features - core elements of City's renowned Journalism MA programme.
Journalism is changing to engage people more as active participants and less as passive consumers. This course prepares you for roles that reflect this change to a more interactive approach.
Further reading
- Online Journalism Blog by Paul Bradshaw [City Visiting Professor who helped develop this MA]
- Guardian Datastore edited by Simon Rogers [City class of '91]
- The Journalist is No Longer The Privileged Channel. Interactive Journalism MA course director Jonathan Hewett talks to online journalist Anita Zielina
- Data journalism: 2012 highlighted the gulf between the best and the rest, by John Burn-Murdoch [class of 2012] for OpinionPanel, January 2013
- Q&A with Laura Oliver [City class of '07], community coordinator, news at the Guardian. Managing Online Communities blog, March 2011
- City University launches new interactive journalism MA. Journalism.co.uk article, November 2010.
Course Fees:
- Full-time EU: £9,000 (2013 entry)
- Full-time Non EU: £18,000 (2013 entry)
Start Date:
23 September 2013
Entry Requirements
You should have at least a good second-class degree in any subject. Consideration will be given to mature applicants who can demonstrate substantial work experience
A high level of numeracy and familiarity with computers and software is expected, along with English at native-speaker level.
By the start of the course, you should have gained a minimum of four weeks' work experience at professional news organisations (ideally local/regional newspapers) - OR two weeks of such work experience PLUS two weeks working in online community management and/or data journalism. It is advisable to have undertaken some such work experience before you apply. You may be required to complete the four weeks' total as a condition of an offer of a place on the course.
English Requirements
English at native-speaker level.
Visa Requirements
City University London retains Highly Trusted Status from UKBA, enabling us to sponsor international students to study in the UK.
The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:
- Students on courses of more than 6 months
- Students on courses of less than 6 months
- Students on a pre-sessional English Language course
For more information see our main Visa page.
When and Where
- Start Date:
- 23 September 2013
- Duration:
- Full-time (10 months). We advise our students that they need to be available for classes and assignments from Mondays to Fridays during working hours, and occasionally outside those times.
- Frequency:
- Full-time (10 months). We advise our students that they.
Course Content
This course will prepare you to work in the rapidly-changing environment of online journalism, with a focus on two key areas: data journalism and community management.
You will develop these online specialisations alongside essential journalistic skills of writing, reporting, newsgathering, interviewing and features - core elements of City's renowned Journalism MA programme. Multimedia work is geared to online publication.
Journalism is changing to engage people more as active participants and less as passive consumers. This course prepares you for roles that reflect this change to a more participatory, interactive approach.
The course has been developed with Paul Bradshaw and the course director Jonathan Hewett.
* Read articles about the Interactive Journalism MA at The Guardian and journalism.co.uk.
Course Structure
Modules include:
- Data journalism
- Online communities and content management
- Online journalism
- Journalism practice
- Entrepreneurial journalism
- Media law
- Public administration
- Journalism and society
Read the full programme specification.
Teaching and Assessment
Tutors
Jonathan Hewett | Course Director
Paul Bradshaw | Online Journalism
Ann McFerran | Journalism Practice
Prof Roy Greenslade | Journalism and Society
John Battle | Media Law
Joy Johnson | Public Administration
Read the full programme specification.
Recommended Reading
Sample reading list for Journalism & Society 1
- Belsley, Andrew, Chadwick, Ruth (eds) Ethical Issues In Journalism And The Media, Routledge, 1992
- Hicks, Wynford, English for journalists, Routledge,1998.
- Morrison, James, Public Affairs for Journalists, Oxford University Press, 2009.
- Quinn, Frances, Law for Journalists, Pearson Education, 2007.
Fees
- Full-time EU: £9,000 (2013 entry)
- Full-time Non EU: £18,000 (2013 entry)
Funding
For up-to-date information about tuition fees, living costs and financial support, visit Undergraduate Fees and Finance or Postgraduate Fees and Finance.
Bursaries
The following organisations have supported students in the Department of Journalism in the past. This is not a guarantee of future sponsorship, and you are advised to check the websites of these organisations for details of future bursary and scholarship schemes.- The Guild of St Bride Bursary. One bursary of £3,000 is available for 2013 entrants to this MA. Find out more and download the application form. (N.B. Application deadline is midnight on 21 May 2013.)
- NUJ (George Viner Memorial Fund). See the George Viner website.
- Postgrad Solutions. Two bursaries of £500 each, open to both international and UK students. See the Postgrad Solutions website for more information.
Placements
Work placements are an integral part of the Interactive Journalism course, giving you the chance to put your learning into practice and, more importantly, make contacts in the industry. All students undertake at least two work placements.
Career Prospects
Prominent alumni
We have been running Journalism courses at City since 1976. In the 34 years since, over 4,000 students have graduated and are now working in the media in the UK and internationally.
Read alumni stories and see the full list of graduate destinations in the 25th anniversary issue of our alumni magazine XCity.
Employment
City Journalism alumni working in interactive journalism include:- Simon Rogers | editor, Datablog, The Guardian
- Kate Day | communities editor, Telegraph.co.uk
- Martin Stabe | producer, FT.com interactive desk
- Conrad Quilty-Harper | data mapping reporter for Telegraph.co.uk
- James Ball | interactive journalist, The Guardian
Find out more about City University London
Application Deadline
There is no formal application deadline. However, places on the course are limited and we recommend that you apply as early as possible, as admission will close when the course is full.
MA Interactive Journalism
Please submit the following:
- One application form. You can download a pdf file of our application form or apply online by following the links below (under 'Application Forms').
- Two references. We prefer you to submit one academic reference, and one reference from a journalism-related work placement.
Please note that you are responsible for ensuring that your references reach us. - A copy of your degree transcript. We require one of the following: an original transcript; a copy certified by your university; or an electronic scan of your transcript. If you have not yet graduated, you will be required to submit your degree transcript as soon as it is available. You will not be able to register as a City student without having supplied your degree transcript.
- Details of your work experience in journalism, online community management and data. You should be able to demonstrate commitment to these areas through relevant work and/or other experience and interests.
Either include these on a separate sheet with your postal application, or copy and paste the details into the "Personal Statement" section of the online application form. - The following two articles. Either include these with your postal application, or copy and paste them into the "Personal Statement" section of the online application form.
* Article 1: explain in not more than 200 words why you want to come on the MA in Interactive Journalism and what you expect to gain from it. (This replaces the "Statement in Support of Application" requested in the application form.)
* Article 2: a 250-word article suitable for a local newspaper or website, based on an interview you conduct with someone interesting in your local area.
Application forms
or
- Download a PDF version of the application form (pdf)
- Download a PDF version of the reference form (pdf)
Selection process
- Application deadline
There is no application deadline. However, places on the course are limited and we recommend that you apply as early as possible, as admission will close when the course is full.
- Selection days
Interviews will take place from April 2013.
- Offers
You should expect to hear whether or not you have been selected for a place on the course within 2-4 weeks of your interview.
- Return address
Please return all application material, marked "Postgraduate Applications 2013", to: Admissions, Graduate School of Journalism, City University London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK.