Journalism and Media

Journalism and media studies brings together the practical craft of journalism with the critical and theoretical understanding of how media industries work and what role they play in society. Journalism training develops the skills of reporting, researching, writing, editing, and broadcasting, preparing you to produce accurate and compelling content across print, digital, audio, and video formats. Media studies situates this within a broader intellectual framework, examining how media institutions operate, how news and entertainment are produced and distributed, and how media content shapes public understanding and cultural life.

Together, the two strands develop practitioners who are both skilled and critically aware.

At Birkbeck College this three-year full-time programme combines academic analysis with practical teaching from experienced industry professionals, giving you both the scholarly understanding of journalism and media and the hands-on skills you need to practise as a journalist. You will engage with the history of journalism, media law and regulation, investigative techniques, digital journalism, and the rapidly changing landscape in which media organisations now operate. Birkbeck's evening teaching model has traditionally served students with existing professional commitments, and the programme draws on the intellectual resources of the University of London and its location in central London, close to the national media industry.

Graduates from journalism and media programmes go on to careers in print, digital, broadcast, and online journalism, as well as in public relations, communications, content production, and media management. The critical media literacy the degree develops is also valued in policy, advocacy, and any professional context where an understanding of how media works is an asset. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study or specialist professional training, deepening their expertise in a particular area of journalism or media practice.

The programme is suitable both for those who are aspiring to enter the profession and those who already work in media and want to develop a stronger theoretical foundation.