BA Journalism and Media at Birkbeck

Birkbeck's BA Journalism and Media is a University of London honours degree, which combines the academic analysis of media with practical teaching from experienced industry professionals. At Birkbeck, we prepare you with both the outlook and means to navigate the many answers that arise around this contentious question. The BA Journalism and Media is a BA Honours Degree of the University of London, taught in the evening. It was launched in 2008, but builds on a long tradition of journalism courses at Birkbeck. It combines the academic analysis of media with practical teaching from experienced industry professionals. The course’s signature feature is its multi-disciplinary approach, drawing on sociology, cultural studies, media theory and politics to tackle the key issues facing journalism today – from ethics and industry structures to cultural shifts and the impact of new technologies. In practical modules, you will acquire the most up-to-date skills in print and online journalism across a range of specialisations, genres and platforms. These modules are designed to help you discover how the industry works, and also gain the insights you’ll need to build and manage a career in journalism. We take pride in offering an independent, university-level qualification in journalism and media, deliberately opting out of National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) accreditation. Employers routinely tell us that what they most value in a journalism programme is a focus on strategic and high-end skills, and an ability to transform as fast as contemporary journalism, media and technology. This degree offers you the opportunity to explore a uniquely interdisciplinary range of modules in the Department of Film, Media and Cultural Studies. At the same time, from day one you will be encouraged to think of yourself as a journalist, and to develop and build your own portfolio for future employment prospects. Some journalism students start out by getting involved in Birkbeck’s student magazine, Lamp & Owl, which is written, edited and published from The Newsroom, an exciting new base in the School of Arts at 43 Gordon Square. The classroom environment in our BA programme is characterised by small, highly interactive classes. We aim to help you develop the interpersonal and team-working skills that are crucial for a career in the media and creative industries. Our London location, and the varied life experiences of our students, provides an interesting and intellectually stimulating learning environment well attuned to the changing workplace of the twenty-first century. Our graduates go on to a range of careers, working in newspapers, online journalism, magazines, trade publications, public relations, professional communications and the creative industries. We also provide first-rate preparation for those students interested in further academic study.