Journalism

Journalism is the practice of gathering, verifying and communicating information to the public, holding power to account and informing democratic participation. It is also a craft that has been fundamentally transformed by digital technology, with the skills of a working journalist now extending across text, audio, video, data, and social platforms in ways that previous generations of reporters would barely recognise. A journalism degree at its best develops both the enduring principles of the profession and the practical versatility to work across the contemporary media landscape.

At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year full-time BA (Hons) Journalism is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the industry body that sets standards for professional journalism training. This accreditation is valued by employers across the industry, as it signals that graduates have completed a recognised programme of skills development. You will develop news judgment, shorthand, media law, ethics, interviewing, reporting, feature writing, digital journalism, and audio and video production, working to real deadlines and professional standards from early in your studies.

A sandwich year gives you extended professional experience in a media organisation, and a year abroad and work placement are also available.

Graduates of NCTJ-accredited journalism programmes enter a wide range of media roles, including news reporting, feature writing, broadcast journalism, digital and data journalism, social media editing, magazine journalism, and investigative reporting. Others move into public relations, communications, content strategy, and media management. The practical training and professional accreditation that Portsmouth provides are meaningful signals to employers in a competitive market.

Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in journalism, media, or communication.