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Journalism

MA

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Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026

Full time: MA: 12 months; PGDip: 8 months; PGCert: 4 months

Part time: MA: 24 months, PGDip: 12 months, PGCert: 8 months

Location: Headington

School(s): School of Arts

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Overview

What does it mean to be a journalist in today’s world? What does the future of news look like?

Our MA Journalism will equip you with skills in multiplatform journalism and authorship of news and features to non-fiction and branded content that will future-proof your career. You’ll develop industry-standard expertise in digital and multiplatform news and features production, and you'll study evolving models of journalism including data analysis, crowdsourcing, and mobile journalism.

As part of the Oxford International Centre for Publishing (OICP), we enjoy great international standing and many of our graduates go on to work globally. We’re also supported by two industry advisory boards, made up of high-profile figures from the BBC, Substack, Haymarket Media Group, Journo Resources, ITV Meridian, and more.

By the end of the course, you’ll have developed an exciting portfolio of journalism in different media formats to showcase your skills, and you’ll have built key contacts to help kick-start your career, as well as secure an NCTJ Diploma in Journalism alongside your master’s. 

Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus

student studying

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Top ranking
    Oxford Brookes is ranked number 2 in the UK for journalism in the Guardian's league table 2025 and number 1 in 2024.
  • Multimedia resources
    You’ll have remote and on-campus access to Adobe Creative Cloud to help you create videos, podcasts, and websites and print layouts. As well as access to a dedicated podcast recording studio, MAC suite, and a new, state-of-the-art TV studio.
  • Taught by journalists
    Gain insights from our team who’ve all worked in the industry. Take part in our Live News Days where you’ll gain experience of a simulated newsroom environment.
  • Stunning location
    You’ll be studying in the beautiful city of Oxford, home to many industry professionals, publishers, and media companies. A great opportunity to make contacts for the future.
  • Practical experience
    Get inside access by visiting newsrooms, media company HQs, and media summits. Get involved with our student magazine, Hybrid, to put your skills to work.
  • Accreditation(s)

    Accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)

    • National Council for the Training of Journalists NCTJ

Course details

Course structure

Throughout the course you’ll be trained to produce commercially relevant journalism. You could be crafting a feature, shooting and editing video for social media or creating a compelling podcast.
 
There are four compulsory modules. You’ll look at the practice of journalism where you’ll cover topics such as finding news, conducting interviews and engaging your audience through multimedia. As well as the role of technology including how to use Artificial Intelligence tools in line with industry best practice, you’ll cover law and ethics and the media in relation to power and propaganda.

The fourth compulsory module is a dissertation or major project. Both enable you to tackle a significant industry issue through in-depth research. Or you may develop an editorial concept and business proposal or media startup.

In our optional modules you can choose from subjects such as data and investigative journalism, TV and radio broadcasting, and lifestyle journalism.

Learning and teaching

This degree is built upon a scholarly foundation which integrates industry expertise:

  • Lectures offer the knowledge and framework for study that will enable you to achieve learning outcomes.
  • Seminars encourage discussion with tutors and peers to test your understanding and ability to apply ideas, to develop transferable skills, and to encourage deeper learning.
  • Practical workshops give you the opportunity to test, clarify, and apply your skills.
  • Studio modules enable hands-on activities and the development of project work in our dedicated suite of Mac computers equipped with industry standard software.
  • Moodle is used to offer extra resources and learning materials.
  • Field trips enable you to experience what you have learnt. They will also develop academic understanding.
  • Publications offer the chance to write and edit copy, and put into practice multimedia skills.
  • Student presentations provide opportunity for self-evaluation and feedback from visiting professionals.
     

Assessment

The assessment strategy is designed to take a holistic view of the programme, and to ensure that assessment methods are varied and challenging. The following are possible types of assessment:

  • Essays on academic or research topics
  • Business reports and case studies
  • Project work across areas such as news stories, live reporting, and long-form reporting
  • Presentations in role
  • Pitches of new ideas and concepts
  • Podcasting and video reports
  • Role plays using professional scenarios
  • Teamworking assignments. 

The aim is to support students in the creation of an effective portfolio of content, across media formats, to facilitate their career progression.

Formative assessments are included in each module to ensure that you receive regular, clear guidance on your work and advice before you reach a summative assessment point.

Field Trips

There are field trips to local, national and international newsrooms, media and journalism summits, international book fairs, the Oxford Literary Festival and the London Book Fair.

Study modules

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • The Practice of Journalism

    This module introduces and hones the core skills you'll need to become a journalist. These include finding stories, telling stories and developing stories. The module features Live News Days where you will gain experience of working in a simulated newsroom environment.

    Topics covered on this module include:

    • News and where to find it
    • Essential skills in news writing
    • The art of the interview
    • Working with figures
    • Approaches to features writing
    • Interacting with and engaging your audience.

  • Journalism and Technology

    Multimedia skills are vital in most journalist roles now and this module will deepen your abilities to manage video and audio journalism.

    Topics covered on this module include:

    • Shooting, framing and sequencing stories
    • Editing video for broadcast, online and social media
    • Captions, graphics and audio processing
    • SEO, newsletters and branding.

  • Media Law and Ethics

    In this module, you'll develop an insightful understanding of the ethical, regulatory, and legal aspects of journalistic and media practice. You'll study a range of media law guidelines for journalists and media practitioners.

    Topics covered on this module include:

    • Regulation – IPSO, Ofcom and the legal systems governing UK media
    • Defamation
    • Court reporting
    • Laws protecting court reporting
    • Inquests and door knocks
    • Reporting on protected characteristics
    • Cancel culture
    • Inequality and diversity in UK media.

  • Media, Power and Public Affairs

    In this module, you'll blend debate and discussion on the role of the media, reporting politics, and holding power to account, with a deep applied knowledge of UK political and societal systems.

    Topics covered in this module include:

    • Propaganda and holding power to account
    • The monarchy and the media
    • The NHS, the education system and the emergency services
    • The role of the media and government
    • Local government structures
    • Central government and the civil service
    • Truth and outrage in contemporary journalism
    • Conglomerations
    • Democracy, class and mainstream media.

     

Optional modules

  • Data Journalism and Investigation

    Data is at the heart of many stories. You'll gain the knowledge and skills to collate, analyse and present data to a variety of audiences. The use of data in investigative journalism forms a core element here, and you'll develop your ideas for investigation on real-world stories.

    Topics covered on this module include:

    • The influence of data on the media industry and how it is driving change
    • The alignment of data journalism with public interest: citizenship, politics, censorship, press freedom and truth
    • Handling data: use of a range of spreadsheet techniques and functions to extract and analyse
    • Visualisation: industry best practice and the importance of using visualisation to help tell the story
    • Writing about data: humanising data through storytelling.

  • TV Newsroom Operations

    In this module, you'll get to grips with the principles, workflow, techniques and practice of a digital state-of-the-art broadcast TV newsroom. You'll create and deliver multiple original products and you'll take a closer look at the logistics behind the delivery process. 

    Topics covered in this module include:

    • Visualising news and camera operation for ENG (Electronic News Gathering)
    • Sound recording for spoken word and environments
    • Legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks in which television news producers operate
    • Recording and conducting location and studio interviews (live and pre-recorded)
    • TV studio operation and roles
    • iNews correct usage and run order creation
    • TV Studio directing and running interviews
    • Critical analysis and evaluation of individuals work and the work of others.

  • Lifestyle Journalism

    In this module, you'll discover the practical aspects of lifestyle writing for a range of multi-platform publishers and brands in the consumer and B2C sectors. From fashion, film and music to sport, travel and food, you'll focus on developing the craft of criticism, ranging from intellectually stimulating reviews and informative reports to entertaining listicles and image-led copy. You'll investigate the practice of lifestyle journalism within the wider context of consumer culture and how it links to topical issues within society at large.

    Topics covered on this module include:

    • Analysis of genres of lifestyle writing 
    • The ethics and integrity of lifestyle journalism and the impact of influencer culture
    • The lifestyle journalist’s toolkit: developing a specialism and building a network of contacts
    • Writing for diverse and target demographics
    • Styles of writing, developing relevant research strands
    • Tackling the visual components of lifestyle journalism.

  • The Craft of Storytelling (20 credits)

    In this module, you'll discover that crafting and telling a story are central to all forms of publishing, and increasingly key in all industries worldwide. You do not need any prior writing experience; as an aspiring editor or writer, you'll hone your skills. You'll examine and practise the techniques involved in writing and shaping narratives across all forms of fiction and non-fiction. You'll uncover the craft of storytelling within the publishing industry and the process of publishing. You'll also explore written stories within the broader world of IP and the entertainment business.  

    Topics covered in this module include:

    • The writer’s toolkit
    • Writing from theme to character and plot
    • Writing genre and non-fiction 
    • Story structure, adaptation, self editing
    • Working with an editor
    • Fiction and non-fiction submission packages
    • Understanding your changing audience

  • Audio Storytelling

    In this module, you'll hone your skills in the craft and technical processes of developing audio narratives into podcasting, radio and audiobooks. You will investigate the ongoing processes and developments of media technologies and crucially, evaluate how they intersect; how audiences and readers connect with stories across developing and emerging channels of communication. By the end of this module you will be fully developed as a future-proof practitioner. 

    Topics covered in this module include:

    • Evaluating the influence multimedia has had on broadcast journalism and book publishing
    • Evaluating the differences between audiobooks, radio, and podcasting
    • Mass audiences and the commercialisation of the political
    • Copyright and production editing
    • Producing output for different audiences 
    • Developing and applying audio storytelling skills
    • How to record and edit compelling scenes for audio storytelling platform needs and delivery.

MAJ Dissertation

Optional modules

  • Dissertation or Major Project

    The Dissertation or Major Project is the defining and essential component for the award of the MA degree. It is a major in-depth investigation of a subject, theme or issue significant to the study of journalism through research and extended written work (15,000 words or equivalent for major projects).

    The Major Project is a practical application of technologies, commerce or enterprise and results in a defined artefact and an analytical report (5,000 words) that places the work in the context of contemporary journalism.  For example, your work may be a  project with a focus on the practical elements of either a printed or electronic publication. Alternatively, your artefact might be a business proposal for a new web platform or media start-up.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Research

Your study is grounded in up-to-date knowledge of the media, taught by experienced professionals, researchers, and scholars in their fields.

The curriculum develops from a foundation of theory and skills, from multimedia to media law, and towards a focus on strands of journalism and authorship.

The programme offers a local, national and international context for your studies, alongside an understanding of the cultural importance of the media.

students studying

Careers

Our MA Journalism equips you for many different paths in the industry so you may become a:
  • features writer
  • video journalist
  • broadcast journalist
  • news editor 
  • producer.
  • social media journalist.
Journalism, however, is in high demand across many different brands, organisations and platforms. Our course gives you a broad skill set to pivot into other creative businesses.

While many of our graduates become journalists, others have gone on to successful careers in:
  • public relations
  • content marketing
  • humanitarian journalism for charities or NGOs.
Employers value the fact that our MA course is practice-focused and covers new technologies, which means our graduates find jobs quickly with higher salaries. Our Careers Networking Day offers you the opportunity to meet leading journalists and media professionals and make career-enhancing connections.

Journalists at a news conference taking notes

Our Staff

Alexandra Shakespeare

Working with retail brands and newsstand publications to create compelling content for a variety of audiences, Alexandra is expert at both crafting copy and strategising editorial concepts.

Read more about Alexandra
Left
Right

Alexandra Shakespeare

Working with retail brands and newsstand publications to create compelling content for a variety of audiences, Alexandra is expert at both crafting copy and strategising editorial concepts.

Read more about Alexandra

Entry requirements

How to apply

Application process


Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
Masters £10,250; Diploma £9,250; Certificate £5,125
Home (UK) part time
£5,125
International full time
£17,950
Home (UK) full time
Masters £10,450; Diploma £9,450; Certificate £5,225
Home (UK) part time
£5,225
International full time
£18,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
Masters £10,250; Diploma £9,250; Certificate £5,125
Home (UK) part time
£5,125
International full time
£17,950
2026 / 27
Home (UK) full time
Masters £10,450; Diploma £9,450; Certificate £5,225
Home (UK) part time
£5,225
International full time
£18,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

The full-time fees quoted are for the taught Year 1. Fees will be charged for the placement year in Year 2 and are available on request from finance-fees@brookes.ac.uk.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Job interview attendance funds from the Journalists' Charity Journalism Diversity Fund Bursary Postgraduate Master's Loan - England Part-Time UK Faculty Scholarship
Featured funding opportunities available for this course:
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/study/funding/postgraduate-masters-loan-england
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/study/funding/part-time-uk-faculty-scholarship
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/study/funding/job-interview-attendance-funds-from-the-journalist

Applicants who hold an offer for this course can apply for the NCTJ Journalism Diversity Fund. To find out more about the bursary and eligibility, visit the Brookes Funding & Financial Support page and the NCTJ Journalism Diversity Fund website.

 

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.