BA (Hons) Journalism
- UCAS code: P500
- Mode of study: Full time
- Duration: 3 years
- Entry requirements 2013: 240-300 points from 3 A levels or equivalent. Evidence of interest and some relevant experience in Journalism will be required. An admissions test will be set. All applicants are subject to interview.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8299
Email: humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies
Course overview
Studying Journalism at Portsmouth will let you develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in the exciting, fast-changing world of news media.
If you want to make a difference in the exciting and challenging world of journalism then this is the course for you.
You’ll learn how to produce apps and web pages, newspaper and magazine spreads, all with flair, along with the all-important skills of uncovering and writing the best stories to deadline.
Alongside the practice of journalism, you'll also learn how to research and evaluate information, assess news priorities and reflect on and analyse the history and development of the press.
You will learn about the role journalists play in society, and the law that covers their activities; how to interview and research, how to produce websites, newspapers and magazines in our state-of-the-art newsrooms. You’ll also learn the key skill of shorthand.
Throughout this degree, you will study under highly experienced journalists, using industry-standard equipment and software. It is intellectually and vocationally challenging.
The journalistic skills acquired through this course will also equip you for work in fields such as public relations, or any industry where communication skills, analysis and strong IT abilities are valued. We are committed to helping you progress in your career.
Our BA (Hons) Journalism course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). Students are automatically entered for the NCTJ Diploma qualifications. Further accreditation, by the magazine industry, is being sought in 2013.
Placements
You will complete a 10-day journalism-based work placement as part of a Placement and Digital Portfolio module in the third year of this course. During placement, you gain relevant work experience, learn more about the professional application of journalism and produce material for your portfolio which may also be used for NCTJ professional qualifications. Past students have gained work placements on a variety of weekly, evening and national newspapers, national magazines, radio and television stations and web publications.
This course also allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option, which lets you earn credits toward your degree for work / research placements, volunteer roles or internships undertaken alongside your studies. The option gives you the opportunity to enhance your employability skills, to reflect on the ways in which you've done so, and to learn to express this to potential employers.
Course content
Shorthand is taught as part of our core teaching – it isn’t an option. We back up traditional methods of teaching shorthand with online support materials. Students are also automatically entered into the NCTJ Diploma qualifications. These are the professional qualifications recognised by many journalism employers in the UK and overseas.
From your first year, you will be following a programme of practical training in the techniques of journalism and news research, alongside courses in theory, law and ethics relating to journalistic practice. Shorthand is a core topic, and our training will enable you to reach speeds of 100 words per minute.
Options in years two and three allow you to specialise in media such as magazines, video or the Web, or in topics including sport and lifestyle matters. Depending on your interests, you may take a theoretically-focused dissertation in your final year, or undertake a special exercise that enhances your journalistic skills.
Throughout your studies, you will be using our state-of-the-art newsroom to put what you learn into practice.
Year one
- Web Research
- The Development, Role and Influence of Modern Journalism
- Law for Journalists
- Theories & Techniques of Journalism
- Introduction to Studying Journalism
- Copywriting and Web Editing
Year two
- Government in Britain
- Newsbeat 24/7
- An Introduction to Editorial Design
- Visual Journalism
- Feature Writing
- Option from:
- Sports Journalism
- Ethical Issues in Modern Journalism
- Learning from Experience (Faculty wide option)
Year three
- EITHER Dissertation/Major Project (Journalism)
OR Journalism Special Exercise - Writing and Producing Magazines
- Placement and Digital Portfolio
- Options from:
- Stranger than Fiction
- Money, Government and Power
- Journalists and Propagandists at War
- Advanced Editorial Technologies
- Broadcast Journalism
- Press and Public Relations
Teaching and Assessment
You will attend lectures, take part in seminars, tutorials, presentations, projects, practical workshop sessions and group-based activities including the production of magazine, newspaper, web pages and videos. Your lecturers will be members of staff with extensive experience as professional journalists. Their practical knowledge of journalism means that you will learn from experts in the field. They have experience working on international, national, regional, and online publications.
You will be expected to participate fully in group discussions and projects, apply word processing and other digital skills will be encouraged to make effective use of information from a wide variety of sources, including video and DVD audiovisual materials, CD-ROM and web searches, the University Library and our well-stocked resources area. You will also have the opportunity to sit the pre-entry examinations set by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
We use a range of assessment methods including essays, close textual analysis, in-class tests, seminar presentations and a dissertation. You will produce a range of journalistic writing and artefacts for assessment and be required to sit in-class tests. The final classification of the degree award is determined by your overall performance in both your second and third years. You may also sit the NCTJ external examinations.
Students are also automatically entered for the NCTJ’s professional Diploma qualifications. Entry for these takes place in year two and three.
Your learning experience as an undergraduate will be different to pre-degree study, but we will teach you the necessary skills to progress. At each stage of study you will be assigned a personal tutor who will help ensure that you realise your academic potential. You will also have access to personal support throughout your time with us.
Please note that whilst a range of options will be offered, there will inevitably be some variation in the availability of individual units at any given time.
Students will be expected to participate fully in group discussions and group projects. The learning experience for undergraduates is different to pre-degree study and we address this issue by teaching the skills necessary for degree level.
Wide ranges of assessment methods are employed, including individual and group seminar presentations, essays, tests, projects (both individual and collective), media artefacts, in-class tests, and a dissertation or in-depth investigation. The final degree award is determined by the overall performance of students in units in both Year two and Year three.
Career prospects
This is a vocational course and at the end of it we would expect you to find employment as a journalist on websites, magazines and newspapers. In addition, this new course offers tremendous advantages to graduates, providing them with valuable transferable skills in analysis, writing, presentation, editing, design, layout and video.
Previous graduates from our journalism courses have found work editing magazines, working on fashion blogs and new media.
Students’ career prospects are significantly enhanced by gaining the NCTJ Diploma qualifications. These are considered vital qualifications by many journalism employers.