Specialist Journalism - MA

Want to work as a Film, Music, Fashion or Sports Journalist?

The MA Specialist Journalism at Cardiff Metropolitan University is a master's degree with a practical focus. Designed and delivered by academic staff who are both industry professionals and researchers, the course aims to create practicing Specialist Journalists and prepare them to be industry ready for employment in journalism. Written in collaboration with practicing journalists from the BBC to ensure we teach contemporary journalism for the digital, new media age, this distinctive degree is aimed to support students while they develop their journalistic skills and techniques within a particular specialism, such as: film, music, fashion or sports journalism.

Students at Cardiff Met will not only develop their print and online journalism, but also a wide range of multimedia production skills, learning to self-shoot and edit, record and produce audio, create digital content while sharpening their journalistic instinct, news values and editorial judgment. Students will also study elements of media law, and analyse how ethics, a sense of fairness, impartiality, accuracy and a robust knowledge of regulations and rights play a crucial part in operating within the modern journalistic landscape.

The course has a strong employability focus allowing students to combine journalistic techniques and perspectives with practical vocational skills, which are reinforced by work placements. Whether for professional development purposes, to enhance your freelance career, or as your first step into the world of journalism, the MA will help you gain the knowledge and confidence to be a specialist journalist. We have expertise across a number of fields and our academic community is vibrant and dynamic with strong industry links and guest speakers giving real-world insight to this fast-changing industry.

One of the great strengths of the programme is its flexibility. MA Specialist Journalism can be studied either full or part time allowing you to control the pace and depth of your postgraduate study. Programme delivery is also enhanced by the university's commitment to e-learning.

Career

As well as a career in journalism, the MA is also a great choice for those wishing to enhance their employment and professional opportunities in editorial and publishing careers.

Key journalistic skills and techniques are, of course, central to the degree. However, this degree will also encourage you to develop the valuable transferable skills of autonomy, effective collaboration, self-direction, organisation, initiative and adaptability that are highly regarded in the workplace.

As well as journalism, a Master's degree in Specialist Journalism could also lead to a variety of other careers, such as: teaching, research, public relations, marketing, the civil service, publishing, the media, and employment in the public or voluntary sectors.

The Cardiff Met EDGE supports you to thrive in the modern world. Throughout your degree you will experience a range of opportunities to develop your Ethical, Digital, Global and Entrepreneurial competencies through problem-based learning and work-based learning placements. We will ensure that you get a range of opportunities to develop transferable skills such as communication, team work and leadership.  

We will also support you to seek opportunities to work or study abroad. Work placements can give you a critical EDGE in gaining professional employment on graduation. Graduates from our MA Specialist Journalism programme are now working in the professional media industry with Future Fusion New York, Cardiff City FC, Dead Press and GTFM Radio.  

Many students also pursue their own opportunities and set up businesses based on ideas that they have generated during their studies. There is on-going enterprise support available from the Centre for Entrepreneurship designed to help provide the best chance to create a successful enterprise. This includes business mentoring, funding advice, free office space and networking opportunities.