Journalism with Creative Writing

Journalism and creative writing are disciplines rooted in the same fundamental skill: the ability to use language with precision, clarity, and intention. Journalism trains you to report on the world accurately, to find and verify information, to construct a narrative from evidence, and to write for a public audience in ways that inform, engage, and hold power to account. Creative writing extends and deepens those skills, exploring the literary techniques, forms, and modes of expression that make writing resonate beyond the merely factual.

Together, the two subjects develop a writer of unusual versatility and range.

At the University of Portsmouth this three-year full-time programme brings journalism training together with the craft of creative writing, equipping you for careers that span the full spectrum of professional writing. You will develop the reporting, interviewing, editing, and production skills that journalism demands, working across print, digital, and broadcast formats, while also practising and refining your creative voice through fiction, narrative non-fiction, and other forms. A sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement are all incorporated into the programme, giving you substantial professional experience before you graduate and the chance to develop your writing in real editorial and publishing environments.

Graduates from journalism with creative writing programmes go on to careers as journalists, reporters, feature writers, editors, and content producers, as well as in publishing, broadcasting, digital media, copywriting, public relations, and communications. The creative writing element opens additional paths as an author, scriptwriter, or literary professional. The combination of factual rigour and literary craft is valued in a wide range of professional contexts, from investigative reporting to narrative non-fiction to brand storytelling.

Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in journalism, creative writing, or media.