Entry Requirements

A good honours degree (2:1 or above) but appropriately experienced applicants will be considered for entry in line with the University’s APL procedure.

Accreditation for Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.

The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

English Language Requirements

For admission to programmes of study at the University an applicant whose native tongue is not English must possess a current qualification deemed acceptable by the University as evidence of proficiency in the English Language.

For entry to this programme such a qualification must equate to a minimum average overall  score of 6.5 or above from the Cambridge/British Council English Language Testing Service (IELTS) or alternative examinations as recognised by the University. The score for writing skills must be a minimum of 6.5, while all other components must be 5.5 or above, to give an overall score of 6.5 or above.

Suitable For

Students progressing from an undergraduate journalism course or media professionals looking for a cutting-edge journalism postgraduate course. You should want to explore concepts, trends and challenges in journalism and related fields of communication. And you should have an interest in the impact of social media on journalism.

Applicant profile

You will be a well-organised, strongly motivated individual with a keen interest in journalism from an international perspective and in the ways mobile communication technology has impacted on journalism, the production and distribution of news, and on the audiences’ ability to access it.  

You will have excellent communication skills, be determined and focused, and be keen to acquire the high level journalistic research skills, organisational expertise and subject knowledge to take your personal and career development forward.  

You will have excellent general knowledge of events happening in the world today, and a keen interest in the differing political, cultural and social perspectives in societies around the globe.  

You will either have a strong academic background in a journalistic field, demonstrated through the attainment of a good undergraduate degree, or you will be experienced at working in a field related to journalism. 

Teaching

This course will be taught through lectures, presentations, seminars and workshops aimed at developing your understanding of the theory and practice of international and online journalism. There will be a number of visiting speakers and guest lecturers, and full use will be made of the growing links between our courses and the BBC and ITV through our base at MediaCityUK to facilitate joint projects and enable students to attend and participate in industry events.  

Student-led independent research, independent study, and project work such as newsdays, will be used alongside ‘problem-based’ and ‘task-based’ teaching, learning and assessment strategies. These will be integrated with an assessment strategy based on outcomes, students’ reflective self-assessments and learning plans. You will also undertake a period of work placement within the journalism community of practice, which will be supported by your module tutors. In certain cases, international students may be able to undertake this work placement in their home country.

Assessment

Assessment methods will include:

• production exercises and portfolios of work
• practical media projects
• peer reviewing
  
• essays
• oral presentations by students
• work-based learning diaries and reports
• a dissertation or major project supported by substantial self-reflection.

Postgraduate Staff Profile

Marek Bekerman
After more than 20 years with BBC Global News, Marek Bekerman joined the University of Salford as lecturer in International and Radio Journalism to become programme leader for MA International and Online Journalism in 2014. He had worked as broadcast journalist, news and current affairs editor and producer for a range BBC World Service radio programmes before going into journalism training and media development work for the BBC on overseas assignments in the Former Soviet Union, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. He has provided training and consultancy for many international organisations including the UN, the European Commission, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Apart from radio and international news, Marek’s research interests include media regulation, public service broadcasting, and global development issues.

Seamus Simpson
Seamus Simpson is Professor of Media Policy in the School of Arts and Media. His research interests lie in European and global media policy and regulation. Seamus's research has been funded by the ESRC and the European Commission and he is a member of the ESRC's Peer Review College. With PricewaterhouseCoopers, he undertook the first EU-funded evaluation of the pan-European electronic communications regulator, BEREC, in 2012. Seamus was elected Vice-Chair of the Communication Law and Policy Division of the International Communication Association in 2011, which he now Chairs. He is also a member of the ICA Board of Directors.  

Dr Carole O’Reilly
Dr Carole O’Reilly is a lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies having graduated from the National University of Ireland (Cork) and worked as a feature writer on various local and national newspapers and magazines. Her research interests include published work in the area of representation of Irish people on British television, women in popular music video, and newspaper history. She is also working on a history of newspaper journalists and journalism in Manchester with a specific emphasis on the reporting of municipal matters in the city.

Kate Feld
Kate Feld specialises in cultural journalism and innovation in digital media practice. An active blogger and social media activist, Kate has run and advised on a range of digital journalism projects, delivered blogging, social media and writing workshops for corporate clients including the BBC, Manchester Digital Development Agency, and Arts Council England. She writes about contemporary art, film, literature, music, food, trends and people. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines on both sides of the Atlantic including Art World, New York Newsday, The Guardian, and The Independent. She is Digital Engagement Coordinator at Manchester Literature Festival, and founding director of arts organisation Openstories.

Steve Boulton
Steve Boulton is one of the most experienced current affairs executives in the UK. A former editor of Granada's iconic World In Action, he has been working since 1998 with Channel 4 Dispatches and has taken charge of major projects for leading broadcasters including BBC Panorama, Five and Al Jazeera English. He has won many awards, including a Bafta, and was consultant to the feature documentary Virunga, nominated in the 2015 Baftas and Oscars.

Sara Hadwin
Sara joined University of Salford in 2015 after leading international programmes in journalism at the University of Cardiff for many years. She was Director of MA International Journalism there – one of the most successful and popular programmes in the UK. Her journalism career spanned roles from reporter to publisher. She launched a newspaper and edited an evening newspaper, weekly newspapers, websites and lifestyle and arts magazines. Most recently, she edited the North West Evening Mail, Barrow, with four editions daily. Sara is a member of the Society of Editors and was national vice-president from 1997-98 and national treasurer for two years, serving on parliamentary and legal committee.