Cardiff University

The degree is concerned with the production, content and reception of all journalism and communications.

On a practical level, you will produce portfolios (including digital portfolios), practice journalistic writing skills across a number of platforms including online, broadcast, print and magazines, pitch ideas for new editorial products and businesses, and use a variety of software to produce graphic outputs, blogs, apps, and social media campaigns.

While you will be able to take a number of practical modules, the emphasis of the degree is academic and analytical. You will be able to follow a clear journalism and communication path throughout the three years of study which will culminate in journalism based dissertation.

Crucially, students will gain the ability to research, write and critique their own written projects according to highest academic standards. They will utilise modern information technology in researching and presenting their work. You will develop your ability to work both independently and in groups. Finally, students will develop and hone an awareness of the practical and economic forces which frame the media, cultural and creative industries, leaving you ideally placed to work in any field where communication skills are required.

While Journalism and Communications in particular is a product of the school’s extensive and growing communications environment, the degree also benefits from the school’s experience teaching and researching both journalism and media studies from national and international perspectives.

For the first time, students will have the opportunity to study a Joint Honours degree in Welsh and Journalism.

The Welsh programme is relevant to contemporary Wales and delivered by a school noted for its research quality and impact. The programme’s main aim is to produce graduates who have three key attributes: firstly, a thorough academic and practical understanding of the Welsh language, its literature and culture; secondly, a high level of skill in written and spoken Welsh; and thirdly, well-developed employability and creative skills that are highly valued in today’s competitive workplace.

The programme has been carefully designed with these attributes in mind, and so offers a wide range of core and optional modules which will provide you with a grounding in language and literature as well as the opportunity to specialise in areas of personal or vocational interest.

The overall aim of Journalism is to equip students to become well informed citizens in a media saturated society.

While students will be able to take a number of practical modules, the emphasis of the degree is academic and analytical. Students will study the production, content and reception of journalism and communications. They will have the opportunity to develop academic, professional and digital literacies that are invaluable in the workplace. The study of Welsh provides students with well-developed linguistic and critical skills, as well as a deep understanding of the language’s literature and culture. A Joint Honours degree is equal in status to a Single Honours degree, although the time spent on each subject is effectively halved. Applicants to this degree will normally have studied some post-16 qualifications through the medium of Welsh.

Sociology and media affects us all, making the close link between Journalism and Sociology undeniable.

The School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and the School of Social Sciences both place great emphasis on student choice with numerous elective modules available for you to choose from alongside your core modules of study. This enables you to tailor your degree to meet your personal interests.

The aim of Broadcast Journalism degree is to impart a set of knowledge and skills that should enable any graduate of the course to compete effectively for any recognised entry-level job in broadcast journalism.

Radio and Television training

Broadcast Journalism covers both radio and television journalism training and it is aimed at those wishing to pursue a career in these industries.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate a lively interest in news and, ideally, some evidence of their commitment to the field acquired through student journalism or some other means.

At Cardiff, you will learn all the fundamentals of the business: how to write, report, present and interview for radio and television.

The course can be studied as a 1 year Masters which includes a dissertation or a 9 month Diploma which does not include the dissertation.

Core production skills training

You will be taught core production skills to get stories on air. Most important of all, we will develop your skills in finding stories, judging them and presenting them in the most effective manner.

All of this takes place in a highly realistic broadcast newsroom, with digital desktop editing facilities.

Students also work in the TV news studio, its control room and editing gallery, and in the radio suite, which combines a studio and two news booths.

During the Easter period, you will go on work attachment to a UK broadcaster.

Practical work includes the coverage of live events, such as the National Assembly for Wales, courts, council meetings, press conferences, sports and entertainment events and other news stories.

Students are expected to generate their own stories during the course and to learn to construct their own radio and television features.