MA / Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Media Communications

The MA in Journalism and Media Communications is Level 9, QQI accredited programme which runs on a full-time and part-time basis. The course is for people who wish to embark on a career in the fast-changing industry of contemporary journalism and media communications.

The course has been designed with input from Irish journalists and is delivered by journalism and communications professionals and full-time academics to ensure that students acquire the skills most relevant to the needs of current industry. The course immerses learners in a professional a media production environment enabling them to acquire the practical skills needed to conceive, produce, edit and publish their own media content for specific audiences across multiple platforms such as web, mobile, video, radio, print and photography. The programme team cultivates a commitment to the production of high quality and ethical journalism amongst students, as well as leadership and innovation skills.

The programme allows students with an existing undergraduate degree in a non-journalism or media discipline, to acquire the skills of journalistic writing, production and communication. It integrates critical media understanding with application so that theory is combined with practice. During the course students are challenged in real journalistic situations in print, broadcast and online media and in doing so become aware of a media working environment.

The programme is assessed mainly through continuous assessment. As assignments are designed to reflect the specific educational requirements of each particular module, assignments can differ significantly from one module to another (e.g. essays in Sociology of the Media, research proposals in Research Methods; the production of a radio programme/ newspaper article in Writing and Editing, exercises in layout and design in Media Design and Production etc.)

On completion, students possess an extensive array of skills enabling them to secure media based employment. National Union of Journalists recognition of this programme entitles students to apply for an NUJ Press Card for the duration of their course.

Careers

Graduates of this course are likely to find media-based employment as journalists in print or broadcast media, or as researchers, presenters, producers, or technical writers in media-related positions. In addition to traditional journalism, graduating students may be eligible to take up employment in areas where visual media or multi-media skills are in demand. A sample of recent graduates’ job titles include:

 Senior News Reporter,
 Editorial Assistant,
 In-House Editor,
 Lifestyle and Entertainment Reporter,
 Video Producer,
 Web Partnerships Manager,
 Digital Content Executive,
 Communications Associate / Executive,
 Social Media Analyst / Manager,
 Research Assistant,
 Data Scout,
 Freelance Copywriter / Journalist / Producer,
 Mobile Journalist,
 Documentary Director.

Structure

The MA in Journalism and Media Communications is a 90 credit programme consisting of twelve taught modules. There are nine mandatory modules on the programme and students also acquire subject specialisations by completing two electives (from a choice of seven). Shorthand is also offered, on the full time programme, as a non-credit elective.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Media Communications programme is a 60 credit programme which consists of the twelve taught modules but does not include a dissertation.

Mandatory Modules:

• Media Law and Ethics
• Mojo: Mobile Video Journalism
• Radio Production
• Research Methods
• Sociology of the Media
• Writing and Editing: News, Features, Content
• Communications and Audience Theories
• Online Media: Creation, Curation
• Media Design and Production
• Dissertation (Masters programme only)

Electives (choose three):

• Video Journalism and Documentary
• Investigative Journalism
• Business of Media
• International Media Landscapes
• International Political Economy
• Photojournalism
• Sports Journalism

For further details on schedules, please contact [email protected]