Overview

If you have a passion for cars and communication, this course can help you turn that passion into a career. Most of our graduates find jobs in automotive media, for example at Autocar, EVO, Top Gear, Car Throttle, Pistonheads and What Car? Others manage PR for automotive companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and Continental.

Currently endorsed by the Guild of Motoring Writers, the course capitalises on our current strong industry links: motoring publishers like Haymarket, Dennis and Bauer; motoring journalist groups like the Guild and the Midland Group of Motoring Writers; and successful local car producers such as Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin. It was developed and is delivered in partnership with experts from the automotive publishing industry. 

The course combines journalism theory, practical skills and study of motoring and the automotive industry. You will be taught by a teaching team which currently includes an award-winning motoring journalist, author and editor, alongside a team of specialist tutors each of whom has considerable practical journalism experience. As well as web, audio and video content, you will get the chance to contribute towards the content and design of the university’s own automotive magazine, Automotive, which is published online  and in print form.

Course information

From the outset, this course immerses you in the world of automotive journalism and equips you with the skills needed to become an automotive journalist.

Previously, our students have found themselves invited on press launches to write about new cars, reporting from press day of the Geneva motor show for a unique live blog or writing articles on motoring issues and motorsport for our in-house Automotive magazine and website.

Automotive manufacturing, a $1trillion global business employing more than 50 million people, is experiencing far-reaching change. Issues over environmental sustainability and climate change, changes in vehicle use and ownership models and trends towards electric and autonomous vehicles may all be discussed during the course. Journalism is also experiencing a revolution with the emergence of digital platforms and the gradual decline of print readerships. As a result it is a fascinating time to be involved in automotive media.

We provide you with the essential knowledge and practical skills required for a successful automotive journalism career. You will get used to working with multiple forms of media – generating traditional print, audio and video content, all the while embracing new technologies and creating parallel digital content, including social media, blogs and web-based content.

You will be taught the key techniques required in automotive media. These include how to work with press offices to obtain vehicles for testing, and then how to evaluate and describe vehicles for specific audiences. We also consider other forms of automotive journalism including news writing, interviewing, motorsport reporting and writing about classic vehicles and automotive history.