Data Journalism MA

Overview

Data journalism is an important part of the news process, and it is quickly becoming a critical competency across all industries. According to a Google News Lab survey on data journalism conducted in 2017, 51 per cent of companies in the United States and Europe have data journalists on staff.

Our MA Data Journalism programme is designed to give you a competitive advantage in your career.

This programme:

• provides a detailed, critically oriented, and career-oriented knowledge of data as a meaningful record accessible to journalists to prepare you for jobs of the future.
• investigates how technology and big data have created new intersections between data and journalism, responding dynamically to the future of journalism, data and technology, as well as discussing novel approaches to traditional news reporting methods.

Course Options

• Start date: September 2025
• MA: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Entry Requirements

• UCAS: Ordinary Degree | DipHE
• Other Accepted Qualifications: Minimum 2:2 Honours in a relevant subject.
• Mature Students: Applicants without a first degree but with years of professional practice in relevant fields may be considered in special circumstances, but they may have to complete an oral interview or written test.

Fees

• Home Applicant (Full-time): £11,340 per year
• Home Applicant (Part-time): £1,890 per 30 credit module
• International Applicant (Full-time): £16,140 per year

Funding

• Postgraduate Loans Scheme: £10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
• Postgraduate Scholarship: 50 per cent discount on your tuition fees
• Alumni Discount: up to 15% fee waiver
• Early Payment Discount: 5% fee waiver
• Asylum Seekers scholarship: 100% fee waiver
• Civic Engagement: £1,000
• Hardship Bursary: up to £2,000
• Sport Scholarships: Up to £6,000

Additional Costs

• Textbooks
• Computer equipment
• Printing
• Travel

Course Modules

• Data in Context: Strategies for Effective Communication (Core Module)
• Data Visualisation Tools and Technologies (Core Module)
• Visual Analytics and Multimedia: Creating Insights (Core Module)
• Professional Practice and Research Methods (Mental Wealth) (Core Module)
• Final Major Project (Core Module)
• Broadcast Journalism (Optional Module)
• Investigating Media and Communication Industries (Optional Module)
• Global Communication and Development (Optional Module)
• Employment and Industry Engagement (Optional Module)
• Big Data Analytics (Optional Module)
• Quantitative Data Analysis (Optional Module)

What We're Researching

The future of the newsroom depends on the data and technology available and those able to participate in it. Data-informed efforts are altering the way information is disseminated. The developments in digital technologies and data journalism approaches have changed many environments, including business and journalism.

As such, we look at data as an authoritative influence on knowledge transmission, given its growing role in society. In the last ten years or so, a broader process of datafication has transformed many aspects of contemporary life. Although some journalists have traditionally had an uneasy relationship with data, this complex array of data-informed methods can provide new opportunities, in any case, to understand, interpret, and present data in order to assist the general public in making informed decisions. Our research aims to scrutinise these opportunities and to initiate a broader discussion about the role of emerging technologies and data in shaping news discourses.

Your Future Career

Data journalism, which was once considered a fringe experiment, is now an essential part of the news process. In the first 18 months of the BBC Shared Data Unit, for example, it assisted in the generation of over 600 stories across more than 250 titles in the regional press.

Data journalism is an essential component of the newsroom. But it goes beyond that as well. Data handling has become an essential part of any job, from banking to business and charity. As organisations, governments, and businesses recognise the power of giving the public access to insights into public data, the role of the data journalist grows.

According to David Ottewell, the head of Trinity Mirror's data unit, "a journalist without data skills is handicapping themselves."

Career Options

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.

How We Support Your Career Ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

Our dedicated and award-winning team provide you with careers and employability resources, including:

• Online jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work.
• Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
• 1-2-1 career coaching services
• Careers workshops and employer events
• Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth Programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you’ve mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

How You'll Learn

You will investigate how data journalism operates within news organisations and news cycles. You will be taught by a diverse group of faculty members, including data journalists, data scientists, and researchers. Our teaching is career-focused, as a result, you will be taught by lecturers who are active professionals in their respective fields, ensuring that everything you learn is current and industry-relevant.

Data journalism presents new approaches to storytelling, newsgathering, and news dissemination. Our new MA Data Journalism programme aims to train students to develop a detailed, critically oriented and career-oriented knowledge of data as a meaningful record accessible to journalists. To that end, each module includes a variety of experiences that involve finding, collecting, and analysing data for storytelling, presentation, and investigative reporting, to introduce and develop knowledge and skills related to professional practice.

Guided Independent Study

When not attending timetabled lectures, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and Moodle.

Academic Support

Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including Health and Wellbeing, and Dyslexia and Disability support.

Dedicated Personal Tutor

When you arrive, we will introduce you to your Academic Advisor. Your Academic Advisor can be invaluable in guiding you through your studies. They will show you how to get the most out of all of the assistance and resources that we provide.

Your Timetable

Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.

The approximate percentages for this course are:

• scheduled teaching - 300 hours
• guided independent study - 900 hours

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 10.00am and 5.00pm. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

This is the first time this course is being taught; however, to provide you with a more personalised experience, classes will be limited to no more than 30 students.

How You'll Be Assessed

The assessment for this course is based on:

• 60% coursework
• 40% practical

We strive to provide feedback on all summative and formative assessments within 15 working days of the submission deadline. We offered in a variety of formats appropriate to the module and student in order to be inclusive.

Campus and Facilities

Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.

Join us and you'll be able to make the most of our facilities including contemporary lecture theatres and seminar rooms, art studios and exhibition spaces, audio and visual labs and a multimedia production centre.

Features include our 24/7 Docklands library, our £21m SportsDock centre, a campus shop and bookstore, the Children's Garden Nursery, cafés, eateries, a late bar, plus Student Union facilities, including a student lounge.

The University of East London is one of the few London universities to provide on-campus accommodation. Our Docklands Campus Student Village houses close to 1,200 students from around the world. We are well connected to central London and Canary Wharf, with London City Airport just across the water. We also run a free bus service that connects Docklands with Stratford campuses.

Who Teaches This Course

This course is delivered by the School of Arts and Creative Industries

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

• Course leader: Dr Renata Brandao
• Course leader: Daniel Gallan

Related Courses

This course is part of the Media subject area.

• MSc Data Science
• MSc Big Data Technologies
• MA Global Sports Journalism

University of East London

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Overview:

University of East London (UEL) is a public university located in London, United Kingdom. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines. UEL is known for its commitment to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment, with a focus on practical skills and real-world experience.

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Strong focus on practical skills and real-world experience:

UEL emphasizes practical learning and provides opportunities for students to gain valuable experience through internships, placements, and other initiatives.

Supportive and inclusive learning environment:

UEL is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Vibrant campus life:

UEL offers a range of student activities, clubs, and societies, providing opportunities for students to connect with others and develop their interests.

Excellent career support:

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