Journalism (Joint Honours) BA (Hons)

First year

Core modules:

• Reporting 1 – this module introduces you to news in a multi-media environment, looking at what it is, where it comes from, how to get it and how to write it successfully
• Journalism and Society – this module will help you to understand the history, political context and regulation of journalism.

Second year

Core modules:

• Reporting 2 – this module looks at specialist forms of journalism, particularly feature writing
• Issues in Journalism – this module will continue your study of the context of journalism and prepare you for a journalism dissertation, if you have chosen to write your dissertation in journalism rather than your other subject
• Critical Perspectives on Journalism – if you are not writing a journalism dissertation, this module looks at the context of journalism and the many issues arising from within or around it.

Third year

Core module:

• Reporting 3 – you will prepare a portfolio of your own work, including that published while on work experience or on Demon Media platforms. The major part of the portfolio is a publication, produced with a group of fellow students which you will conceptualise, write and design from start to finish

Optional modules:

• Journalism Dissertation – in this module, you will write a 10,000 word project on a subject of your choice, surveying existing literature and carrying out original research into your own topic
• Sports Journalism – this module is very practically focused and will help you to develop key sports reporting skills, particularly covering football, rugby and cricket and involving links with Leicester’s three most prominent professional clubs in those three sports
• Magazine Publishing – this module looks at how magazines are developed, marketed and run, allowing you to really get inside the fascinating world of magazines
• Arts and Entertainment Journalism – this module allows you to explore the theory and practice of reviewing many different aspects of the arts and entertainment
• Political Communication – this module looks at how politicians communicate with the public using the media, and the roles of the various media professionals, especially journalists, within that process.

Journalism at DMU has a strong practical focus and is taught by a range of respected and award-winning professionals and academic experts, including five former newspaper editors. Lecturers are active in newspaper, radio, magazine and digital journalism and staff have won four university-wide awards for teaching excellence.

Your precise timetable will depend on the Joint Honours subject and optional modules you choose to take; however, you will normally attend around 12-16 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and can expect to undertake at least 24 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research. A wide variety of assessment methods are used, especially practicals, including: portfolios, presentations and an exam.

You will also learn from a range of experienced guest lecturers from across the industry, ensuring your learning is relevant to current practice.