Journalism BA (Hons)

Program Overview

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Journalism BA (Hons)

Overview

Accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, this course equips you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the journalism industry. You'll learn practical and professional skills, growing your confidence to produce journalistic content suitable for TV, radio, magazines, print, and social media.

Course Structure

Year 1 Core Modules

• Collaboration Project (20 credits)
• Current Issues in Journalism and Media (40 credits)
• Introduction to the Creative Industries (20 credits)
• Journalism: Principles and Practice (News and Sport) (40 credits)

Year 2 Core Modules

• Creative Research Project (20 credits)
• Digital Storytelling (Sport, News and Public Relations) (40 credits)
• Industry Project (40 credits)
• Working in the Creative Industries (20 credits)

Optional Work Placement Year

• Work placement (available after Year 2)

Final-Year Core Modules

• Major Project (60 credits)
• Professional Practice (60 credits)

Entry Requirements

• 96-112 points from any combination of recognized Level 3 qualifications
• Consideration given to students without formal qualifications but with evidence of practical journalism experience
• English language and maths requirement: normally GCSE English language at grade C, or 4 under the new grading system

Employability

Graduates have secured successful careers with BBC, ITN News, Sky Sports News, Reach PLC, and Newsquest.

Professional Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), allowing you to study for your professional (pre-entry) qualifications alongside your degree, with no additional tuition charges.

Tuition Fees

• Full-time: £9,535 per year (UK applicants), £17,000 per year (international applicants)
• Part-time: £4,635 per year (UK applicants)

Duration

• Full-time: 3 years (4 with work placement)
• Part-time: 6 years

Start Date

• January or September

UCAS Code

• P501 BA/Jour

Campus

• Middlesbrough

School

• School of Arts & Creative Industries

Research Areas

• Journalism
• Media
• Creative Industries

Facilities

• Latest digital resources, software, and digital recording equipment
• Newsroom environment
• Two television studios
• Radio station
• Multimedia newsroom

Student Profiles

• Lauren Heslop, BA (Hons) Journalism
• Jack Kenmare, BA (Hons) Journalism
• Katie Andrews, BSc (Hons) Multimedia Journalism

News

• Industry support for future journalists' study journey
• Budding journalists celebrated at awards ceremony
• Teesside University and Reach PLC collaborate to support local journalism

Open Days and Events

• Undergraduate open day (Sat, 06 Sep)

DiscoverUni Data

• View the part-time DiscoverUni data
• How to understand the DiscoverUni data

What is DiscoverUni?

• How to understand the DiscoverUni data

Also of Interest

• Sport Journalism BA (Hons)
• Sport Journalism (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)
• Journalism (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)

Program Outline

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Degree Overview

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Overview

The Journalism BA (Hons) program at Teesside University equips students with the skills and knowledge to become successful journalists in today's digital age. Through a combination of theoretical and practical learning, students develop their writing, reporting, editing, and multimedia production skills. The program is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), allowing students to simultaneously earn their professional journalism qualifications. This offers a significant advantage in the competitive job market.

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Objectives

The program aims to:

• Prepare students for a career in journalism across various platforms, including print, broadcast, and online media.

• Develop students' critical thinking, research, and writing skills.

• Equip students with the technical skills necessary to produce high-quality journalistic content.

• Nurture students' understanding of media ethics and law.

• Offer students the opportunity to gain practical experience through work placements and internships.

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Program Description

The Journalism BA (Hons) program provides a comprehensive and practical education in journalism, encompassing both traditional and digital media. The program focuses on developing students' ability to:

• Gather and verify information.

• Produce accurate and engaging news stories.

• Conduct interviews and write compelling human-interest stories.

• Shoot and edit video and audio packages.

• Use social media effectively as a reporting tool.

• Understand the legal and ethical implications of journalism.

• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

Throughout the program, students work on a variety of real-world projects, including producing content for TUXtra, the University's multimedia news platform. This allows them to gain valuable experience and build a portfolio of their work.

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Outline

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Program Content

The Journalism BA (Hons) program covers a wide range of topics, including:

• News reporting and writing: Students learn how to write news stories, conduct interviews, and use a variety of sources.
• Feature writing and storytelling: Students develop their skills in writing engaging and informative feature articles.
• Multimedia production: Students learn how to produce video and audio packages, as well as how to use social media effectively.
• Media law and ethics: Students gain an understanding of the legal and ethical considerations of journalism.
• Digital journalism: Students learn how to use digital tools and platforms to produce and disseminate news content.
• Research methods: Students develop their research skills, including how to find and verify information.
• Media history and theory: Students gain a historical and theoretical understanding of the media landscape.

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Program Structure

The Journalism BA (Hons) program is a three-year program (four years with a work placement). The program is divided into six semesters, with each semester focusing on a different set of topics.

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Course Schedule

The exact course schedule for the Journalism BA (Hons) program can vary from year to year. However, some of the typical courses offered include:

• Year 1: Collaboration Project, Current Issues in Journalism and Media, Introduction to the Creative Industries, Journalism: Principles and Practice (News and Sport).
• Year 2: Creative Research Project, Digital Storytelling (Sport, News and Public Relations), Industry Project, Working in the Creative Industries.
• Year 3: Major Project, Professional Practice.

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Modules

Each course in the program consists of one or more modules. Each module covers a specific topic and is assessed separately. Here are descriptions of some of the modules offered in the Journalism BA (Hons) program:

• Collaboration Project: Students collaborate in teams to produce a small-scale creative project related to journalism.
• Current Issues in Journalism and Media: Students explore the current issues facing journalism and the media industry.
• Introduction to the Creative Industries: Students learn about the structure and operation of the creative industries.
• Journalism: Principles and Practice (News and Sport): Students learn the basic principles of news and sports reporting.
• Creative Research Project: Students conduct research on a topic related to journalism and the media industry.
• Digital Storytelling (Sport, News and Public Relations): Students learn how to use digital tools to produce engaging and informative stories.
• Industry Project: Students work on a real-world project with an industry partner.
• Working in the Creative Industries: Students explore the challenges and opportunities of working in the creative industries.
• Major Project: Students complete a major project that demonstrates their skills and knowledge in journalism.
• Professional Practice: Students develop their professional skills and prepare for the job market.

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Assessment

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Assessment Methods

The Journalism BA (Hons) program uses a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Essays: Students write essays on a variety of topics related to journalism.
• Reports: Students write reports on their research projects.
• Presentations: Students give presentations on their projects and research.
• Portfolio: Students create a portfolio of their best work.
• Exams: Students take exams on some modules.

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Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria for the Journalism BA (Hons) program vary depending on the assessment method. However, some of the common assessment criteria include:

• Accuracy: Students' work should be accurate and free from factual errors.
• Clarity: Students' work should be clear and easy to understand.
• Objectivity: Students' work should be objective and unbiased.
• Originality: Students' work should be original and not plagiarized.
• Presentation: Students' work should be well-presented.

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Teaching

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Teaching Methods

The Journalism BA (Hons) program uses a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures: Students attend lectures to learn about different topics in journalism.
• Seminars: Students participate in seminars to discuss their work and the work of others.
• Workshops: Students participate in workshops to develop their practical skills.
• Guest lectures: Students hear from guest speakers who are working in the journalism industry.
• Field trips: Students go on field trips to visit media organizations and other relevant places.

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Faculty

The Journalism BA (Hons) program is taught by a team of experienced and qualified academics and industry professionals. The faculty members have a wealth of experience in journalism, media, and education. They are passionate about teaching and are committed to helping students succeed.

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Learning Environment

The Journalism BA (Hons) program is taught in a state-of-the-art media center that includes a newsroom, TV studio, radio studio, and multimedia editing suite. The program also has access to the University's library, which has a wide range of resources on journalism and the media industry.

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Careers

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Career Paths

The Journalism BA (Hons) program prepares students for a variety of careers in journalism, including:

• Reporter: Reporters gather and write news stories for newspapers, magazines, websites, and other media outlets.
• Editor: Editors review and edit the work of other journalists and make decisions about what content to publish.
• Producer: Producers plan and coordinate the production of news and other programs.
• Broadcast journalist: Broadcast journalists

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

• Full-time
• Entry to 2024/25 academic year
• Fee for UK applicants: £9,250 a year
• Fee for international applicants: £17,000 a year
• Part-time
• 2024/25 entry
• Fee for UK applicants: £4,500 (120 credits)