Journalism

Journalism is the practice of gathering, verifying, contextualising and communicating information to public audiences, and it matters more than ever in an environment saturated with content of uncertain reliability. Good journalism demands curiosity, scepticism, speed, accuracy and the ability to communicate clearly across different formats and platforms. It is a discipline that sits at the heart of democratic life, holding power to account and giving citizens the information they need to make sense of their world.

Understanding how the modern news industry works, and how to practise journalism ethically and effectively within it, is both a practical and an intellectual challenge.

At the University of Leicester this three-year, full-time programme teaches core journalistic techniques alongside a critical understanding of the global news industry and its changing relationship with technology, politics and audiences. You will develop skills in reporting, interviewing, research, writing and editing across print, broadcast and digital formats. You will also explore how journalism functions under different political and commercial conditions, what the ethical obligations of journalists are and how the industry is responding to the challenges posed by social media, platform economics and the spread of misinformation.

The programme includes a foundation year for those who would benefit from additional preparation before the main degree content, as well as a sandwich placement year, a year abroad and work placements, giving you direct professional experience and an international perspective.

Journalism graduates pursue careers as reporters, correspondents, editors, producers, digital content creators, data journalists and media managers across newspapers, broadcasting organisations, online publications, wire services, podcasts and the growing world of independent media. Many also move into adjacent fields including public relations, communications, political and parliamentary work, charity campaigning and content strategy. Postgraduate study in journalism, media studies or a specialist area of reporting is another path that some graduates choose, deepening their expertise before entering the industry.