BA (Honours) Journalism

UCAS code

P500

Attendance

Full-time

Three years full-time

At a glance

Learn from award-winning journalists with a wealth of experience and strong links with the industry on this practical journalism course. You build core skills gathering and presenting information to a professional standard before specialising in two out of three distinct pathways Ц print journalism, magazine journalism and broadcast journalism. We also focus on digital technologies ensuring you can understand and use the latest journalism tools.

Key Points
Х Learn from award-winning journalists with a wealth of experience and strong links with the industry.
Х Choose between two out of three journalism pathways Ц print, аmagazine and broadcast journalism, all complemented by online skills.
Х Gain practical experience through professional work tasks, such as creating a live online newspaper.
Х Previous students have worked at the London Olympics in 2012, the Beijing Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

What is journalism?
Journalism has been called Сthe first draft of historyТ and in broad terms it is the collection and broadcast of news and current affairs to an audience. There are many types of journalism but increasingly journalists are multi-skilled professionals working across a range of media platforms Ц print, online and broadcast.

Whether you regard journalism as a trade or profession it is a varied, ever-changing and rewarding career for anyone with a talent for writing and breaking the news.

About this course

During the course you learn how to gather, organise, write and present information to a professional standard across a variety of platforms such as print, magazines, online, radio and TV. You are also introduced to specialist areas of expertise needed by journalists working in areas such as sport, travel writing, investigative and consumer journalism.

We are pioneers in teaching digital journalism and place great emphasis on encouraging students to utilise new technology as a tool for news gathering, and on developing skills like blogging and social media.

Our students create their own online newspapers and magazines and publish live to the public in the third year of the course, utilising the latest social networking tools to reach their audiences.

The course is delivered by a team of award-winning journalists with extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to practical journalism teaching. Our teaching team include journalists with both recent and current experience working for BBC News, BBC Radio 4, ITV regional news, Radio 5 Live, Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star. This enhances our ability to offer work experience opportunities for our students.

Our students have gained professional experience working at the London Olympics, the Beijing Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
We also have a guest speaker programme that has included visitors from Sky News, the political editor from The Independent, and a former News of the World journalist, as well as editors and writers from some of the UKТs best-selling consumer, business-to-business and customer magazines.

Alongside practical skills, the course also examines the ethical, legal and regulatory context in which journalism is practised. Theoretical content deepens your understanding and critical awareness of on-going debates about the economic and political role played by journalists and news organisations in modern societies.

We work closely with the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Periodicals Training Council (PTC) to ensure a strong vocational focus on the core personal, practical and professional skills required for a career in journalism. These include the ability to write fluently and clearly in plain English, shorthand, applied media law, knowledge of the political process and the ability to use the latest digital technology to communicate successfully.

The course is a member of the Association of Journalism Educators (AJE). Thisаensures our teaching team are at the cutting edge of the latest developments in best practice for a rapidly changing industry.

Print pathway
The print pathway develops the skills to operate effectively as a news journalist. This means learning how to identify what makes a good news story, how to conduct an effective interview and how to work to strict deadlines to produce a tightly written news story.

Magazine pathway
The magazine pathway develops the skills needed to work in the magazine industry. These include how to source and write lively and creative features, edit copy and write attention-grabbing headlines and coverlines, and how to design and layout magazines.

Broadcast pathway
The broadcast pathway focuses on developing your radio and TV broadcasting skills. You produce radio and TV packages in a dedicated TV/radio studio and two dedicated newsrooms.

Key areas of study
Key areas include Х print Х broadcast Х digital journalism Х writing and presentation skills Х professional practice Х ethical, legal and regulatory context.

NCTJ Diploma
This course enables you to sit the NCTJ Diploma exams as an optional extra if you wish to pursue a career in news reporting.

Associated careers

Journalists are by their nature adaptable and have the transferable skills to find jobs in a variety of professions.

Although the course prepares you for a career in the media industry, the skills and knowledge you gain are highly valued by employers in other industries. These include Х publishing and advertising Х creative writing Х public relations Хаcivil service Хаpolice Х teaching Х research Х politics Х social professions.

Course content

Year one modules

Include Х approaches to journalism Х making media Х journalism, law and society Х understanding popular culture Х journalism skills

Year one options

Include Х writing the message online Х communicating sex and gender

Year two modules

Include Х writing the news Х breaking news Х investigation and research skills

Year two options

Include Х reporting and shorthand Х applied photography Х web design Х introduction to feature writing Х TV and Radio 1

Year three modules

Include Х applied project/dissertation for journalism and PR Х journalism professional practices (newsroom module)

Year three options

Include Х media specialisms Х work-based learning: professional communication Х media law Х public affairs Х celebrity culture Х TV and Radio 2

Assessment

Х essays Х examinations Х reports Х electronic assessment Х oral presentations Х projects Х portfolio work Х group work

Entry requirements

2014 entry requirements

Normally GCSE English language and mathematics at grade C or above, plus one of the following

Х 280 points from at least two GCE/VCE A levels or BTEC National qualifications, including at least 80 points in a relevant* subject, or from a VCE double award plus one GCE A level in a relevant* subject, which must contribute at least 80 points. AS levels and Key Skills may count towards these points.

Х Access Ц an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in a media-related programme from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate

If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 7.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

* Relevant subjects are Х media studies Х communication studies Х film studies Х English Х a foreign language Х sociology Х politics Х history Х psychology.

We welcome applications from people of any age. There may be some flexibility in entry requirements provided you have other relevant learning or experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.

2013 entry requirements

Normally GCSE English language and mathematics at grade C or above, plus one of the following

Fees

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically г10,680 a year

2014/15 academic year

Typically г11,250 a year

How to apply

You apply for this course through UCAS.

Contact details

For more information or to check the progress of your application phone +44 (0)114 225 5555, fax +44 (0)114 225 2167, e-mail admissions@shu.ac.uk