Broadcast Journalism/Television Journalism MA

Course overview

City University London has been training aspiring broadcast journalists since 1981, and our broadcast training courses are among the best-known and most highly-regarded in the UK today. Course alumni include Gillian Joseph (Sky News), Sophie Raworth (BBC News), Brigid Nzekwu (Channel 4 News) and Barbara Serra (Al Jazeera).

 

These two MA courses prepare you for a first job in radio or television journalism. Both are accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC).

 

All students use our new, state-of-the-art facilities opened earlier this year, including a purpose-built digital television studio, two radio studios, and five newsrooms. 

 

Course content

Which course is for you?

  • Broadcast Journalism: offers practical training in radio and television. Newswriting, television and radio journalism are taught through lectures, workshops and broadcast simulation
  • Television Journalism: this covers news, documentaries and lifestyle TV journalism. Please apply for this course if your interest is primarily in television journalism of any kind
  • If your first language is not English, you are advised to apply for the International Broadcast Journalism MA, which is designed specifically for students from outside the UK

Core modules

Optional modules

Part time option

There is a part time option available for a very small number of students on the Broadcast Journalism MA. Part-time students study on Monday and Tuesday in the first year and on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the second year. Part-time students also need to be prepared to take week- or fortnight-long holidays from other work in order to study some modules and to undertake work placements.

 

Being a part-time student requires strong motivation and excellent personal organisation skills. Part-time places are awarded at the discretion of the pathway director. 

 

Teaching and assessment

Tutors

 

Regular guest lecturers include:

 

Employment

City Journalism alumni occupy top positions in broadcast journalism in the UK and overseas. They include:

  • Samira Ahmed, Channel 4 News presenter and journalist
  • Richard Klein, Controller of BBC4
  • Kirsty Lang, BBC presenter
  • Dermot Murnaghan, Sky News presenter
  • Sophie Raworth, BBC News presenter

 

See more leading City Journalism alumni in broadcasting.

See also where graduates of the 2008/9 MA class are working now.

Work placements

Work placements are an integral part of both broadcasting MA courses, giving you the chance to put your learning into practice and, more importantly, make contacts in the industry. Broadcast Journalism students do two work placements, one of which must be in radio. Television Journalism students have a weekly placement in the TV industry during term time. 
 

How to apply

Entry requirements

  • You should have at least a good second class degree in any subject. As well as new graduates, we also welcome applications from mature applicants with substantial work experience in radio and/or television journalism.
  • The Broadcast Journalism and Television Journalism courses are taught together for two-thirds of the syllabus. We urge applicants to look at both courses, but please only apply for one. We reserve the right to suggest you transfer your application between these courses if we feel you are better qualified for one or the other.
  • Applicants for both courses must demonstrate a knowledge of TV and/or radio news and current affairs. We expect a high standard of general knowledge relating to politics, international news, sport and entertainment.
  • Broadcast Journalism applicants should also have work experience in a local radio station.
  • Television Journalism applicants should also have work experience with a TV company or student TV, but this is desirable rather than essential. You should be able to demonstrate an interest in visual media
  • If your first language is not English, you are advised to apply for the International Broadcast Journalism MA, which is designed specifically for students from outside the UK.

How to apply

You can apply either in hard copy by post or online. Please follow the instructions below carefully.

 

To apply for a course, please submit the following:

 

1. One application form. You can download a pdf file of our application form or apply online by following the links below.

 

2. 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 no later than 1 March 2010.

 

3. 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.

 

4. Details of your work experience in journalism. Applicants should be able to demonstrate commitment to journalism through relevant work experience.
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.

 

5. Two written critiques:

  • write a critique of 200 words on a factual or news radio programme broadcast at any time in the last month
  • write a critique of 200 words on a factual or news TV programme broadcast at any time in the last month

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.

Application forms

 

Selection process

1. Application deadline
  • Monday 1 March 2010 for submission of applications and all supporting documents (references, articles, etc.)
  • It is your responsibility to submit a completed application, including references and articles specified above, by the application deadline. We do not accept applications submitted after the deadline.
2. AHRC Scholarships

If you wish to be considered for an AHRC Scholarship, you are required to submit a separate scholarship application.

Please note: only applicants with an actual or predicted degree result of First Class or a very high Second Class Upper Division (2.1) will be considered for an AHRC Scholarship.

3. Consideration of your application
  • Your application will only be read and considered after the deadline has passed.
4. Interviews
  • Interviews will take place in April 2010. Further details will be posted here as soon as they are available.
5. Offers
  • You should expect to hear whether or not you have been selected for a place on the course in early May 2010.

Return address

Please return your postal application form and/or supporting documents, marked "Postgraduate Applications 2010", to: Admissions, Graduate School of Journalism, City University London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK.

  

Fees & bursaries

Tuition fees

The fees for 2010/11 are available here.

Bursaries

A number of bursaries are offered by media organisations, charitable trusts and occasionally by City University London. Check our bursaries and scholarships page for further details.

  

News

 

further information