MA / Postgraduate Diploma in TV and Radio Journalism

About the Course

The MA in TV and Radio Journalism is a Level 9, QQI accredited programme available on a full-time and part-time basis. The programme is designed to address the demand for specialisms in TV and Radio Journalism. It is aimed at those who wish to graduate as industry-ready, journalism and communications professionals with advanced TV and radio production skills. With six dedicated TV and radio production modules delivered in our industry-standard radio and TV studios, learners get hands-on content production and editing experience. Learners will acquire both a theory-based understanding of the media industries as well as journalism-specific production skills. The teaching staff is made up of industry professionals and full-time academics, who aim to instil in learners with the skills required to apply intellectual depth to their production of media content.

Learners on this programme will be expected to display practical theoretical competencies that demonstrate mastery of the elements required to become advanced media practitioners in relation to TV and radio journalism. The course aims to produce graduates who can combine reflective thinking with practical skills to produce a range of media content across multiple platforms. In their assessed work, learners are expected to deliver a critical understanding of the social, political, legal and economic dynamics of media production.

The first semester of this programme is common taught with MA Journalism learners and provides an understanding of the workings of the media industry as well as developing specific skills in journalism. The second semester builds on this knowledge and contains broadcast journalism specialisms such as Video Journalism and Documentary and Radio Production.

The programme allows students with an existing undergraduate degree in a non-journalism or media discipline. The programme is assessed mainly through continuous assessment and assignments are designed to reflect the specific educational requirements of each particular module
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 employed in a wide variety of fields across the communications industries in media and communications companies, non-governmental organisations, video production firms and media outlets as journalists, editors, media content creators, researchers, video producers and radio production managers. A sample of recent graduates’ job titles include:

 Video Producer,
 Radio Journalist / Researcher,
 Editorial Assistant,
 Content and Community Manager,
 Social Media Coordinator.

Structure

The MA in TV and Radio Journalism is a 90 credit programme consisting of twelve taught modules.

There are eleven mandatory modules on the programme and students have a choice of two electives.

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
• Video Journalism and Documentary
• Radio Documentary Research and Production
• Radio News and Current Affairs
• TV-Studio News and Current Affairs
• Dissertation (MA only)

Electives (choose one):

• Virtual Studio Mastering and Delivery
• Online Media: Creation, Curation

Class Times and Location

There are two intakes for this courses, February and September.

Full-time students are expected to be available Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm during the week (although they will not be in class all day, every day).

The part time course runs three evenings per week (6:30 – 9:30pm) – generally Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (although this is subject to change).

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