Media BA

What you study

This offers the flexibility to study and explore different aspects of the media sector and decide where you want to work in the future, or if you already know exactly what career you want you can tailor the course to specialise in that area.Everything you learn is backed up by practical examples from the industry. For example, on our storytelling module you learn how stories are developed for different media forms, before critiquing a real TV pilot as a script consultant and eventually developing your own story and practising pitching your idea to commissioners.

Throughout the course, you build your understanding of the cultural, political and economic roles of media forms, organisations and technologies in contemporary society. You also learn to effectively conduct research, write for different audiences, verbally present ideas with clarity and confidence, and work both individually and in teams.You analyse and study the workings of core media institutions and learn about key approaches for analysing media texts.

You also examine the general characteristics of media industries, such as the trend towards conglomeration and convergence.

Key areas include

• analysing media texts
• media representations
• news media
• media and politics
• media technologies
• media audiences
• postcolonial media
• media industries
• globalisation and the media
• broadcast media
• media writing, design and layout.ExpertiseYou are taught by a team of media industry professionals who have worked in radio, newspapers, TV and film. They have an open door policy, so if you have any queries or need some help you can speak to your tutor or supervisor.

In the National Student Survey our students described their tutors as supportive, enthusiastic and inspiring.Your lecturers also carry out research projects into different aspects of the media. Recently our tutors have worked with drama schools to improve the training of actors for TV work, explored the relationship between race and the media, investigated media fan practices, and studied global media developments.

This kind of research feeds into your teaching, giving you the latest thinking in this fast-moving industry. We regularly welcome high-profile guest lecturers from industry and academia. Recent speakers have included cult media expert Professor Matt Hills, who gave a talk on Doctor Who, and former Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere, who is a graduate from this course. We also hold an annual event where recent students come and talk about their experiences of work since graduating.

Work experience

You will have opportunities for work experience throughout your course. Using our strong links with the creative and media industries, we will help you find work in your chosen field, from script development to market research.

Previous students have completed work experience with

• the BBC
• regional newspapers
• PR and advertising agencies
• the voluntary sector.We make sure you can network and make industry connections throughout your course.

Every year we have students working at Sheffield Doc/Fest – one of the top three documentary film festivals in the world – attending exclusive workshops with international industry experts.We also run an annual field trip to the Berlinale, the Berlin International Film Festival. Spend a week watching the latest releases, meeting fi