Newspaper Journalism, MA, PGDip

The top-rated postgraduate National Council for the Training of Journalists' accredited course in the country*. This course prepares you for work on a newspaper editorial team. Based in the ultra-modern Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism building you will get the opportunity to go on work placements with some of the most influential news groups in the UK.

The Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism at Nottingham Trent University has been training aspiring journalists for 20 years. Our journalism courses are among the most highly-regarded in the UK and our graduates have gone on to work with the BBC, ITN, Sky News, major newspapers and numerous BBC and commercial radio stations across the country.

The Newspaper Journalism course offers specialist training to equip students with the well rounded skills required within this industry. The course focuses on areas such as interviewing, story construction, specialised reporting such as court, council and sport plus writing columns, reviews and features. It will also introduce you to subbing – headline writing, layout and proof reading – using QuarkXPress, the industry-standard desktop publishing package. You will be taught by our team of experienced media professionals, and their knowledge is supplemented by a lecture and tutorial programme of visiting professors, journalists and other guests.

This course has been developed in consultation with a consortium of major industry employers . The course has a practical focus, and you are expected to develop story ideas and contacts, and gather your own material for journalistic work. Online production is an integral part of the course with students focusing on the key multi-media skills required by the industry. The course incorporates a work placement to allow students to put their newly developed skills into practice and build valuable experience.

Based in new, state-of-the-art facilities our resources include professional standard TV and radio studios and one of the UK’s largest student newsrooms.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the NCTJ and all exam fees are included in course costs. Please visit the Journalism Diversity Fund website to view what funding opportunities are available.

Postgraduate Open Event

Our next postgraduate open event is Wednesday 13 November 2013. Come along and meet our academics, find out more about this course and tour our award-winning facilities. Book a place.

Email

Telephone: +44(0)115 848 5803

Any questions?

General course enquiries
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Admissions enquiries
Telephone: +44(0)115 848 4200

*according to the National Council for the Training of Journalists' (NCTJ) accredited course performance awards 2010 and 2011.

Course content

On this course you will learn the essential skills of reporting, feature writing, subbing, interviewing, researching, and design and layout.

Following induction, students take the following core modules:

• Newspaper Journalism Skills and Production
• Media Law
• Communication and Ethics
• Online Journalism
• Public Administration.

Assessment
All students are assessed according to their results in the core modules mentioned above. MA students are also required to complete a module called the Multiplatform Project which includes a 2,000 word feature, an online version of this feature and research essay. All students must also successfully complete a placement in a professional environment. Applicants should be aware that each module involves a considerable amount of independent learning.

Professional development

Students are encouraged to contribute journalism to local newspapers such as the Nottingham Post, as well as the university's Union of Students' newspaper, Platform. You may also become involved with the Centre's dedicated news website which broadcasts radio and television programming and publishes student journalism online.

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Our award-winning range of journalism courses are based in the Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism, centrally placed on our City site. This multimillion pound development includes one of the largest student newsrooms in the UK, a fully functioning TV studio with production facilities and three radio studios.

Virtual tour

Watch our short video of the Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism.

Journalism facilities

TV Studio

This provides:

• six high definition SDI cameras incorporating pedestals
• live weather green screen
• a studio news set with back video projection
• automated newsroom reading system (autocue).

TV Production/Viewing Gallery

This is a dedicated production facility incorporating:

• live multi-channel audio mixing desk
• digital high definition vision mixer
• operation stations including Director (with access to multi-functional communications system), a Production Assistant (accessing automated programme time counts), Autocue Controller (synchronising camera on-screen prompts in live TV studio), Play-out Operator (responsible for queuing and output of pre-record and news packages).

Newsroom

This provides:

• 96 work stations including two hydraulic work stations for disability access
• a specialised production facility for television, radio, print, magazine and online news production
• integrated 1GB network system
• Adobe Master Collection software (continual updates to latest versions)
• multi-screen workstations
• newsroom live production points, live links to external camera feeds
• live news feeds Independent Radio News feed
• Press Association Feed.

Three radio studios

The radio news production facilities incorporate:

• one larger studio with six-microphone hex desk (used for multi-presenter panel debates)
• fully sound proofed with acoustic isolated floating floor system
• news production consoles
• automated newsroom reading system (autocue)
• a three-presenter news desk
• automated live bulletin recorder
• audio news package play-out system (BPM)
• real-time audio monitoring for newsroom
• convergence systems for online platforms
• two voice-over recording cubicles.

Student technical resources

Free hire of broadcast equipment that can be used on location including:

• 70 wide screen digital video cameras
• high definition cameras
• video camera kits including balance line, microphone, Sony Pro headphones, Manfrotto Pro floating tripod system
• over 60 digital audio recorders (digital Marantz recorders)
• over 40 digital still cameras and production lighting equipment.

Photographic production area

This includes:

• a pull-down white Cyclorama curtain
• three point lighting system
• soft and hard lighting
• white defusing tent for photographing smaller objects (for print magazines).

Technical support

The Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism production facilities have a dedicated team of five friendly and experienced engineers. They provide constant technical support for students and update and create systems that mirror the latest innovations in industry.

Books and library resources

In our library you will have access to an extensive and diverse range of books, periodicals and other resources that focus on specialist areas within Broadcast Journalism.

IT resources

Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City site, with PCs providing access to:

• Microsoft Office
• email
• web browsing
• networked file storage
• high-speed online printing services (with a free printing allowance for each student).

Resource rooms are available 24 hours a day.