Media, Campaigning and Social Change MA

Program Overview

Media, Campaigning and Social Change MA

Overview

This innovative Master's degree aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and strategic approach to develop and analyze social change campaigns and activism, with a particular focus on the role of communications and the media.

Course Structure

The course builds on our close links with leading campaigners and communicators in London's vibrant social change sector. An advisory panel, with representatives from Amnesty UK, Friends of the Earth, Save the Children, Advocacy Hub, Tearfund, FairSay, and The National Council of Voluntary Organisations among others, will ensure we always reflect the skill sets in demand and deliver an exciting learning experience.

Core Modules

• Critical Issues in Campaigning (Semester 1)
  • In this module, you will consider the factors that influence social change in the context of current campaigns around the world, and the historical development of campaign techniques and practices.
  • 20 credits
• Media, Activism and Politics (Semester 1)
  • The module investigates the relationship between media, activism, and politics.
  • 20 credits
• Strategic Campaign Communications (Semester 2)
  • In this module, you will learn how to research and plan a strategic campaign for social change based on the theories of social change examined in Semester One.
  • 20 credits

Option Modules - Practice Pathway

• Media, Content and Engagement
  • The contemporary media relations environment revolves around a core understanding of the roles of, and opportunities provided by, paid, owned, earned, and social media.
  • 20 credits
• Introduction to Documentary for Social Change
  • The module will critically examine the influence, responsibility, and power of journalism with a focus on broadcast media across a number of genres in reporting on and representing gender, sexuality, age & disability.
  • 20 credits
• Fundraising for Social Justice
  • In this module, you will learn how to plan and implement fundraising techniques for progressive social change.
  • 20 credits
• Podcast Production
  • In this module, you will learn about the different facets of podcast making, exploring genres (e.g., journalistic/investigative, personal storytelling, fictional narrative, sports, comedy, interest groups) and the production techniques required for specific formats.
  • 20 credits
• Interactive and Immersive Storytelling
  • This module provides you with a theoretical and historical overview of digital and immersive non-fiction narratives.
  • 20 credits

Option Modules - Theory Pathway

• Researching Media and Communication
  • This module is designed to introduce you to some important methods in social and media research.
  • 20 credits
• Media and Communication Theory
  • This module covers a range of theoretical approaches to studying media and communication in a loosely historical order.
  • 20 credits
• Media Audiences in the Digital Age
  • The first part of the module reviews a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, focusing on and critiquing key debates on media audiences.
  • 20 credits
• Political Economy of Communication
  • This module provides a broad introduction to the political economy approach to the media, communication, culture, and digital media.
  • 20 credits
• Social Media
  • This module provides students with a theoretical understanding of the development, significance, and contemporary uses of social media.
  • 20 credits
• Artificial Intelligence and Society
  • We are surrounded by artificial intelligence (AI) applications, whether we are aware of this or not.
  • 20 credits
• Digital Media and Critical Theory
  • This module introduces students to the main critical theories of digital media, and provides specific focus on the implications of race and culture on the development, infrastructures, and ownership of digital media.
  • 20 credits
• Policies for the Digital Age
  • This module explores key policies shaping the dynamic landscape of the networked digital media environment.
  • 20 credits
• Data in Communication and Society
  • This module is intended to lay the theoretical foundations when it comes to investigating and understanding how digital data and society intersect.
  • 20 credits
• Data and Digital Research Methods
  • Building on Data and Society: Concepts and Applications, this module places an emphasis on methods for researching datafication.
  • 20 credits
• Global Media
  • This module will provide an overview of contemporary developments in the global media and communication industries and their impact on cultures worldwide.
  • 20 credits
• Communications Policy and Global Development
  • This module provides you with an overview of the theoretical and practical history of communications within the development process of middle and lower-income economies and asks you to consider the impact of international institutions in the expansion of western media.
  • 20 credits
• The Sociology of News
  • A critical study of the news media in the context of current society.
  • 20 credits
• Approaches to Social and Cultural Diversity
  • The module covers a range of theoretical debates and approaches to social and cultural diversity, ranging from assimilationism to variants of multiculturalism and examines the conceptual tools devised to make sense of diverse societies as well as related concepts such as social cohesion, integration, pluralism, diversity, super diversity, and more current debates on ‘post-multiculturalism’ or ‘post-diversity’.
  • 20 credits

Dissertation or Professional Project

• MA students only
  • The module will provide you with the opportunity to undertake independent research in the form of a dissertation that critically, systematically, and theoretically develops an understanding and analysis of the role of media in campaigning and social change.
  • Alternatively, you can complete a professional practice project (which can be work-based).
  • 60 credits

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of an upper second-class honors degree (2:1) or a lower second-class honors degree (2:2) and substantial relevant work experience.
• Applicants who do not meet the normal entry requirements can be considered if they have significant work experience.
• The Personal Statement must reflect the understanding of the course and how you will contribute.
• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in all components.
• Applicants are required to submit one academic reference.

Tuition Fees

• UK tuition fee: £1,211 (Price per 20-credit module)
• International tuition fee: £2,000 (Price per 20-credit module)

Research Groups

• Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI)

Careers

• This course is particularly relevant if you want to start, or to progress, a career in communications and campaigning for social change, whether in a charity or non-governmental organization; in a public sector body; in a political party or election campaigning setting; or even in a corporate social responsibility role.
• It could also be a stepping-stone towards a PhD and an academic career in this growing field of study.

Student Work

• Students on the Media, Campaigning, and Social Change programme create strategic campaign plans, produce campaign communications materials, publish a reflective blog, draft codes of conduct, write essays, take part in debates, and make presentations in teams on case studies.

Field Trips

• We take full advantage of our location in London to visit relevant institutions, including the Houses of Parliament and the Museum of London suffragette archives, as well as exhibitions such as Disobedient Objects at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods across all our postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories: practical and coursework.