International Journalism MA

This strongly vocational programme is distinctive in allowing students to develop their own journalistic practice at the same time as learning about the impact of technological change, cultural developments and political issues on different forms of global journalism.

Particular attention will be paid to the global versus the local, which will be examined through practical assignments as well as media ownership, the legal context, issues pertaining to journalistic ethics, and the role of journalism in the international political process.

The programme builds on the success of the School of Arts' postgraduate provision by providing a broad-based programme, within a credit framework, offering you the opportunity for specialisation. It consists of a common core of study in journalism, with an offer of specialist study in print/online or broadcast journalism, which will facilitate student entry into different aspects of the industry.

This is particularly relevant in the context of a converging media industry requiring multi-skilling and the ability to adapt to new media environments.

The programme will be delivered by a combination of academics based at Brunel (who also have considerable journalistic experience) and visiting journalists and legal experts working in key positions within the media industries.

You will greatly benefit from the College's excellent links with the journalism, broadcasting and publishing industries, and will be offered the opportunity for work placement.

The MA consists of compulsory modules, a typical selection can be found below. Modules can vary from year to year, but these offer a good idea of what we teach.

• Journalistic Practice 2
• International Institutions
• Journalism Issues
• Global News Analysis
• News and Feature Writing
• Major International Journalism Project

Journalistic Practice 2
Main topics of study: classifications of news: news values, sources and the implied reader; news writing, news language; techniques of news interviewing and video for online, digital journalism research in a new media context; introduction to layout and on-screen page make-up; image, text and design relationships in a print/online media context.

International Institutions
Main topics of study: the structures of the institutions within which journalism is practiced; professional ideologies of journalism; the ownership of the institutions within which journalism is practised; the political framework within which journalism operates; major UK parliamentary institutions; institutions of the EU and the EU Constitution; world organisations including the UN, NATO and G8.

Journalism Issues
Main topics of study: the impact of the global economy on journalism output; journalism and the public sphere; journalism and the political process; 'spin'; celebrity culture; journalistic ethics; the regulation of journalism; the privacy issue; two week work placement.

Global News Analysis
Main topics of study: the rise of 'global' journalism in the digital age; notions of the audience in global news targeting; comparative analyses of case study local and global versions of the same story; understanding the key differences between local and global standards of journalistic writing; applying skills and knowledge to repackaging news for different markets; using local journalism as a source to produce global journalism; repackaging global news for local audiences; ethical and legal considerations.

News and Feature Writing

This unit introduces you to the fundamental skills of news reporting and writing for print and online. The focus will be on learning-by-doing. Working intensively as a real-world journalist, you’ll gain a strong news sense, sharpen your copy, work faster and more accurately.

Contact Hours

Full time option only:

• Term One: 11 Contact hours + 3 hours optional lecture + tutorials and guest speakers
• Term Two: 10 Contact hours + tutorials and guest speakers

The course provides for an optional data journalism course in term one.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course.