MA Arts and Lifestyle Journalism

Content

MA Arts and Lifestyle Journalism covers journalism about fine art, contemporary art and mass and popular culture including painting, music, photography, literature, cinema, travel, celebrity culture. The course encourages a rigorous journalistic approach, with a focus on ethical, international and professional standards.

Situated in the heart of the city, London College of Communication is the ideal place to study this dynamic branch of journalism. Guided by tutors with professional and multi-platform experience (gained at national newspapers, websites, the BBC and Sky TV), you'll develop key practical journalistic skills and learn how to apply them to your particular area of interest.

You will gain invaluable work experience by undertaking a placement in a media organisation and benefit from our guest lecture programme that has included talks from Jon Snow of Channel 4 News, Luke Lewis of Buzzfeed, Mary Hockaday of the BBC and Bruno Bayley, editor of Vice UK (and a former student at LCC), as well as journalists from a range of national newspapers and other publications.

The course culminates in your producing a substantial piece of journalism in the medium or media of your choice.

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24 September 2018

Course units

Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves six units, totalling 180 credits.

Units summary:

• Journalism in Print and Online (40 credits)
• Critical Perspectives One (20 credits)

In this unit, you will develop the skills and understanding necessary for the research, development and production of successful arts and lifestyle news and feature stories in written and online media.

You will analyse examples of journalism from a range of media and countries and explore the technical, practical and journalistic aspects of narratives, including the generation of ideas, research, sourcing, news-gathering, editing, writing and production. There's a particular focus on what makes a compelling story and the application of appropriate multimedia techniques.

This unit examines theoretical and contextual issues concerning arts and lifestyle journalism, with a particular focus on ethical and legal questions. You'll analyse and explore the ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks within which journalism operates and the particular issues that face practitioners in the field of arts and lifestyle journalism.

The aim is to provide you with a thorough understanding of ethical issues and debates in journalism and the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks and the ability to analyse and consider these in the context of your own practice.

Units summary:

• Journalism and Print Online (continued)
• Critical Perspectives Two (20 credits)
• Collaborative Unit (20 credits)

Critical Perspective Two examines the development and contexts of arts and lifestyle journalism, identifying significant practitioners and movements, analysing and discussing key theoretical principles within an international framework which takes account of social, political, cultural, ethical and economic factors.

The aim is to provide you with a thorough appreciation of the significant issues and analytical approaches relating to arts and lifestyle journalism, allowing you to situate contemporary practice with a wider critical context and appreciate the role of the media and journalism in relation to society, including issues of representation, ownership, technological change and the commercial environment.

This unit is designed to enable you to identify, form and develop collaborative working relationships with a range of potential partners. These could be: postgraduate student colleagues at the college or university level; postgraduate students at other Higher Education Institutions; external parties (e.g. companies, cultural organisations, community-based groups, NGOs, charities etc.)

The nature of the collaboration will involve working on a project whose outcomes are agreed by your tutors and will take the form of group work that can happen within the college or digitally / remotely. The focus of the unit is student-driven collaborations with projects being developed to meet the specific requirements of student groups within and across disciplinary boundaries.

Units summary:

• Audio and Video Journalism (20 credits)
• Final Major Project (60 credits)

The aim of this unit is to help you develop the technical, production and critical skills you will need to be able to produce audio-visual content in the context of arts and lifestyle journalism. It will enable you to sample and practise skills you may decide to employ in your final major project. During this unit, you will be introduced to broadcast interviewing and production techniques, recording/shooting equipment for both audio and video, as well as editing skills.

Part of the learning process will be to critically examine the conventions and requirements of broadcast media, with particular reference to arts & lifestyle features, documentaries and podcasts. There will be opportunities to practise and experiment with audio and video before you create your own piece of journalism in your chosen medium.

Units summary:

• Final Major Project (continued)

This unit allows you to develop your specialist interest in arts and lifestyle journalism through the completion of a major project. You will produce an authored piece or body of journalism, based on substantial primary research and secondary sources, which will demonstrate your awareness of the contextual, theoretical, professional and ethical aspects of the field. Your final portfolio will comprise:

• the authored piece or body of journalism using one or more suitable media (as a guide, a written piece would be expected to be 10,000 words in length);
• A business plan and pitching document setting out the potential audiences and markets for your work.

Details of your individual project will require a written proposal of 1,000 words for discussion and agreement with your tutors.

MA Arts and Lifestyle Journalism Programme Specification 2017/18 (PDF - 106KB)

Staff Course Leader

Dr. Lucia Vodanovic

Simon Hinde

Bryan Pirolli