Course summary

We will help you become a professional journalist and join the media industry. You’ll learn how to tell a great story, and how to get it ready for publication in a range of different media platforms. This option includes a foundation year, which will provide you with a sound introduction to key elements needed for studying Journalism at degree level. The foundation year is carefully designed to build confidence in your abilities, develop essential academic and study skills, and provide you with the subject specific knowledge essential for success. Whether you want to work as a journalist, learn about the world of media or become an effective communicator in another industry, our all-encompassing BA Journalism will provide you with a springboard to success as a storyteller and content producer. The Roehampton programme is tailored to prepare you for the modern media industry. From the basics of news reporting and the emergence of new media to the production of magazines and multimedia packages, our degree offers hands-on, practical modules that focus on the skills employers want. You will study the British media industry, examine the history of leading newspapers, and analyse the differences between broadsheets and tabloids. In doing so, you will determine how journalism helps shape public opinion and popular culture, and will learn about the political, economic and legal context in which journalists produce their work. As you learn how to research, report and develop a story, you will also be trained in how to present it in the most compelling way, using industry-standard digital tools. As you progress, you will be able to specialise and focus on subjects and formats that interest you and develop your own multimedia projects, such as podcasts or investigative reports, allowing you to develop your writing, reporting and multimedia production skills to a professional level. You will have the opportunity to choose from a range of modules covering a number of subjects, including radio and podcasting, politics, travel and lifestyle journalism, as well as the ethical dilemmas journalists face, such as where to draw the line when covering celebrities’ private lives, and learn how to report on crime. In your final year, you can explore multimedia journalism by building an audio-visual portfolio, or focus on the academic aspect of journalism by writing a dissertation on a subject of your choice. You will be taught by established academics from around the world, who have extensive experience of the industry, having worked for the BBC, Reuters, the Financial Times and numerous other media companies. We also bring professional journalists and newsmakers to the campus to participate in workshops and advise students on their projects and career options. Students looking to begin a career in journalism and communications can get a head start with modules that teach you how to prepare a CV and make contacts in the industry. Additionally, students have the opportunity to apply for year-long work placements at established media companies. Our BA Journalism will provide you with the practical skills and theoretical grounding you need to excel in an ever-changing and dynamic media industry. This course offers all students the option of a one-year paid work placement, to boost your employability even further. If you choose this route, you will take the placement following year two of your main degree, and then return to complete your degree. A placement year is the perfect opportunity to gain valuable work experience, to build on the career skills we will teach you on this degree. The connections you make on the placement will improve your career prospects further, and equip you with the skills you need to secure graduate-level employment.