Law and Government for Journalists
Postgraduate
MA/PgDip
Journalism: News / Broadcast / Sport
Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
Attendance
Full-time
Course
One year
Next enrolment
September 2024
In a nutshell
Do you want to become an incisive and ethical journalist? Are you interested in understanding how to tell great news or sports stories online, in print, on radio or on television? Whatever your professional goals, this NCTJ accredited MA in Journalism will give you the practical skills you need to achieve them.
Designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in professional journalism in the UK, you’ll gain the skills you need and learn how to work within the industry codes of conduct. These skills will enable you to become a well-respected and forward-thinking media professional. What’s more, you’ll be able to align your interests with your programme by choosing the pathway that interests you most – whether that focus is online or in the broadcast media; news or sport.
Based at our state-of-the-art MediaCity campus, you’ll be immersed in a world of media greats, including national broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV. What better way to sharpen your journalism credentials and set yourself up for success?
When you graduate, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism, or an MA degree if you choose to complete a personal project. The course aligns with and builds on the NCTJ Diploma (separate exam fees apply) – a qualification highly sought after by UK editors.
This course combines the high standards for which Salford has become known in the industry with the rigour of the full NCTJ programme. This includes the necessary aspects of British law and the Teeline shorthand desired by editors in UK newsrooms. Students who intend to work outside the UK, or for organisations not based here, might be better suited to our MA in International Journalism for Digital Media, which explores how foreign correspondence professionals are taking advantage of digital technology to reach diverse audiences.
Follow us on Twitter and read real news created by our students #JournalismAtSalford
International applicants: Please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.
You will:
- Learn from leading academic staff with a wealth of real-world journalism experience
- Study at our state-of-the-art MediaCity campus, adjacent to reputable media organisations such as the BBC and ITV
- Undertake practical placements, giving you the tools and training you need to establish yourself as a media professional
- Study for the Diploma qualification from the National Council for Training of Journalists – for more than 70 years the benchmark of UK journalism
- Graduate with a portfolio of work for employment or further study
Placement
options available
International
students accepted
Course accreditations
This is for you if...
1.
You want to have a career as a professional journalist and study in MediaCity
2.
You want to gain the NCTJ Diploma to boost your employment opportunities
3.
You want to learn from experienced media professionals
All about the course
In today’s fast-paced industry, becoming a successful journalist is about more than being able to write well. It’s about using all the tools available to you to tell compelling stories and understanding the rules and ethics that govern modern media outlets. It is vital you have the practical experience and confidence to help you stand out from the crowd.
Our Journalism masters programme is designed to give you the tools you need to hit the ground running. From learning the skills and professional standards expected of the 21st-century journalist to researching and conducting interviews, this course offers the perfect springboard into the world of professional journalism.
During trimester one, you’ll focus on gathering and reporting news, gaining an awareness of the legal and ethical obligations and professional frameworks of the industry. As you move into trimester two, you’ll specialise in the area of journalism that interests you most – whether that’s broadcast or online; news or sport. What’s more, you’ll develop a strong portfolio of work that you can share with potential employers.
Throughout the programme, there is regular shorthand tuition – a traditional skill still valued by the modern news industry, including broadcast organisations. You will be expected to achieve a shorthand speed of 100 words per minute.
No matter the pathway you choose, all of your modules will align with the requirements for the NCTJ Diploma, allowing you to complete an industry qualification alongside your MA or PgDip. Students are also encouraged to achieve the NCTJ Gold Standard Diploma (candidates must achieve A-C grades in every NCTJ subject taken, including the mandatory modules, and pass 100 words per minute shorthand). Separate exam fees are charged by the NCTJ to complete the Diploma.
Students who earn a place on the MA/PGDip programme are eligible to apply to the NCTJ Journalism Diversity Fund which awards bursaries to people from diverse backgrounds who need help funding their NCTJ journalism training.
An offer for this programme may also provide eligibility for support with university fees from the Stationers’ Company Postgraduate Bursary Scheme. Bursaries under this scheme are offered to UK residents holding offers for specific programmes, including all pathways of MA Journalism at the University of Salford.
Sound interesting? Learn more about what each module includes in our course breakdown below.
The University of Salford is tremendously proud to have been the premier partner for the Asian Media Awards over the last ten years and is determined to play its part in inspiring the next generation of Asian talent to consider and pursue a career in the creative industries.
Trimester one
You will learn that incisive and ethical news gathering and reporting are underpinned by a sound knowledge of UK media law and an understanding of the workings of central and local government. You will gain a broad comprehension of the legal and political processes which enable journalists to operate more effectively.
News and Ethics
This module is designed to help you to become effective news gatherers and to be able to write accurately, fluently and incisively in news reporting, while being acutely aware of the ethical obligations and professional standards expected of the 21st century journalist and laid down in industry codes of practice.
Trimester two
News Journalism
This module will enable you to become effective news gatherers and be able to write accurately, fluently and incisively in news reporting and news features to a publishable standard recognised by the news industry. It is designed to help you to become multi-skilled and employable in journalism and in related areas. Our newsdays will also help you to complete the NCTJ’s E-Portfolio.
Sports Journalism
The exciting field of sports journalism encompasses everything from football matches and rugby games to global Olympic events. In this elective module, you will learn essentials skills for writing clear and concise sports copy, interviewing players and officials, and producing match reports for print and online sports publications.
Broadcast Journalism
This module explores the practice of broadcast journalism. You will look at radio and television journalism in the UK, including ethical frameworks and regulations you must work towards (this will also assist with preparation for NCTJ exams). You will develop news gathering skills for broadcast news and understand what stories work best in this medium. You will learn how to write to pictures, use audio edit stories effectively. You will produce a portfolio of work.
Professional Practice (MA Journalism)
You will contribute to live weekly newsdays in rotating roles to create real world outputs in a range of formats and on a variety of topics working in our newsroom and studios with students across MA Journalism.
You will create a portfolio of your strongest contributions to be assessed at the end of the module.
Trimester three
Major Project
This is a piece of independent work that will build on the practical, intellectual and research skills of trimesters one and two. It provides an opportunity for you to follow your own interests, demonstrate your strengths and produce a rigorously researched and clearly written/produced portfolio of original journalism that is capable of achieving publication/broadcast for a relevant media organisation.
This is a student-led project which is produced under supervision (supported by tutorials) and builds on the learning outcomes of your chosen pathway.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
BE A PART OF A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
All our Journalism courses are delivered by the Salford School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technology. Our focus is to ensure that you have the skills you need to pursue your dreams, and we encourage our students, past and present, to collaborate with each other and achieve great things.
Each year - through the Create Student Awards – our school rewards the incredible achievements and successes of our final year and postgraduate students. Our students are regular winners of other awards, including the Royal Television Society.
Whatever you choose to study with us, you’ll be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it won’t end there. You’ll join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond, meaning you’ll be supported professionally and personally whenever you need it.
JOURNALISM FACILITIES
Our MediaCity facilities are industry-standard – indeed they are used by our industry partners themselves.
When you study for a Journalism degree with us, you’ll learn from our experienced tutors and demonstrators, who’ll teach you how to use our facilities. These include:
TV News studio – a state-of-the-art news set, including three HD cameras with teleprompters.
This studio also can link up to the other two TV studios in the building based on the ground floor, enabling live feeds.
TV studios – our TV studios have been used by the BBC for a variety of broadcasts, such as the Olympics and Christmas music concerts, and they’re equipped with the same audio-visual systems used by the ITV and Sky too.
The studios have green screen facilities as well as basic props so you can design and build sets for a range of projects.
Newsroom – you’ll use this space as a hub to simulate a full working day in a newsroom, covering breaking stories. We encourage live story monitoring via rolling news channels on our overhead screens. Broadcast software includes Avid iNews and Avid NewsCutter, Adobe Premiere and Audition and Adobe Indesign, regularly upgraded and always reflecting industry.
It is from this newsroom that our two news publications, Quays News and Salford Now are masterminded, whether our team of reporters, producers, editors and presenters are working in the building or out in the field.
Radio studios – three cutting edge studios, which have been used for live contributions to shows on talkSPORT and Capital.
Finishing and editing suites – these allow you to learn and excel in all elements of post-production work. They feature 4K monitors and 5.1 surround sound systems, so you can pick out all details of your work as you create your masterpiece, as well as all the software you’ll need and use when you start your career.
Explore our Journalism facilities at the University of Salford
THE TUTORS
All tutors, full and part-time, are highly regarded journalists with print, broadcast and/or online backgrounds.
Click on their names to find out more about the programme team:
Andrew Lindsay (Programme Leader)
Paul Broster (Director of Journalism)
Sara Hadwin (Academic Lead for Journalism)
Andrew Fletcher
Philo Holland
Rachel Howarth
What about after uni?
EMPLOYMENT
With our location in one of the UK’s most established media hubs, combined with our close links to a variety of media organisations across Salford and Greater Manchester, our news, sport and broadcasting journalism graduates have a strong record of successfully gaining employment within the industry.
Many of our students have gone on to secure professional roles with national broadcasters, such as the BBC, Sky and ITV, as well as leading UK print and online media publications for companies including Bloomberg, the Manchester Evening News and the Cavendish Press national news agency. Read Freya Chappell’s story about how she went from education to an Output Producer at Sky News.
With media becoming increasingly important in today’s digital age, there’s never been a more exciting time to pursue a career in professional journalism. And with the skills and practical experience you’ll gain throughout your time with us, you’ll be well positioned for a longstanding career in whichever specialism you choose.
FURTHER STUDY
Graduates showing strong academic and research skills can pursue a further academic research path through our doctoral (PhD) programmes on a full-time or part-time basis subject to a satisfactory proposal.
Career Links
During the course, you will get the opportunity to undertake industry placements in your chosen specialism area. This gives you valuable experience of working in newsrooms, having content published or broadcast, and the chance to establish useful links with professionals. Our placement partners include the BBC, ITV (Granada Reports), the Manchester Evening News and Bolton News, and locally-based news agencies.
What you need to know
APPLICANT PROFILE
To gain a place on this MA Journalism: News, Broadcast and Sport course, you’ll have to submit a personal statement and meet our entry requirements when you apply.
Within your personal statement (up to 500 words), we’ll want to understand:
• what motivates you and what current experiences do you have with journalism; whether it’s writing for a local publication or as part of your undergraduate studies, for example?
• how have you been involved and what did you do?
• do you have any knowledge of the Journalism sector; are there any projects that inspire you?
• What are your future goals?
• why the University of Salford and this course is the right choice for your future goals.
If you are an international applicant we will want to see a short statement on why you want to study an NCTJ accredited course, and demonstrating an understanding of the requirements and why NCTJ is important.
You should also provide a CV and references (at least one should be an academic reference) provided on letterhead and signed. Suitably qualified applicants will be invited for interview.
Once you’ve made your application to study with us, we’ll contact you and let you know the next steps.
If you intend to work outside of the UK, or for organisations not based here, our MA International Journalism for Digital Media might be a better suited programme.
Standard entry requirements
Standard entry requirements
A good honours degree (2.1 or above) with a personal statement and evidence of engagement with journalism (i.e work experience).
International Students
If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 7.0, with a written element of 8.0 and no element below 6.0 We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.
Alternative entry requirements
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
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).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2024/25 | £8,820.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2024/25 | £16,380.00per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Aziz Foundation Scholarship
The Aziz Scholarship Programme offers 100% tuition fee Masters scholarships to support British Muslims who wish to advance their careers and bring positive change to their communities by studying at one of their partner UK universities. One of the eligible programmes at the University of Salford is MA Journalism: News/Broadcast/Sports. Find out more about the Aziz Foundation Scholarship.
Scholarships for International Students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.