Journalism Studies, BA (Hons)

Course summary

Practice journalism for real with your own patch in the city. Each day will present you with a new challenge: you could be on location filming for a breaking TV news story, heading to the courtroom to hunt down details of a criminal prosecution, or interviewing a sports star for an Instagram reel.Our students go on to specialise in areas such as TV news, sports reporting, political journalism or even PR and communications.Before you find your niche, you’ll learn and perfect the full range of skills you need as a contemporary media professional, including:

• knowing the difference between 'good' and 'bad' journalism;

• the ability to craft razor-sharp copy for a range of audiences;

• practising within the bounds of media law and ethics;

• and how to spot and tell great stories across all platforms, including print, television, radio, web and social media.

You’ll get the chance to make contacts and learn on the job. Our long-standing connections in the media industry open up a huge range of placement opportunities at media organisations like the BBC, Press Association, Bloomberg and the Guardian.We also offer you the option to take a placement year to help gain vital experience and get ahead of the competition before graduation day. As a hands-on department at a prestigious Russell Group university, we're uniquely placed to offer you the best of both worlds. You’ll be taught by award-winning editors and authors, active journalists and world-leaders in media and communication research.If you're interested in understanding as well as doing journalism, this course delivers the perfect balance of practical know-how and theoretical knowledge on the history, theory and key debates of the industry.Why study this course?

• Greater employability - we have award-winning employability support tailored specifically to the competitive fields of Journalism, PR and marketing. You’ll receive regular alerts for work placement opportunities from some of the most famous newsrooms in the world, as well as digital agencies, PR companies and local events like Tramlines and Sheffield Documentary Festival.

• Practice-based learning in outstanding facilities - hone your craft with industry-standard equipment in The Wave, the University of Sheffield’s flagship social sciences building. You’ll have unlimited access to five newsrooms, four radio recording booths and state-of-the-art TV and radio studios and galleries. We also have a fully-stocked media store, so you’re guaranteed access to the latest cameras, microphones and editing software.

• Fully accredited - we are currently the only Russell Group university to be accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Professional Publishers Association (PPA). You’ll have the opportunity to earn your NCTJ diploma alongside your degree, free of charge, which will prepare you for the newsroom and help you stand out to any employer within the fields of journalism, PR or publishing.

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