Do you have a passion for journalism? Are you looking to further your career and increase your knowledge of multimedia communications and content? With an emphasis on brand journalism, content creation and campaign management across paid, owned, earned and shared platforms, Solent’s MA Journalism and Multimedia Communications will leave you well-placed to bring these skills to the workplace.
Moving forward from traditional news media journalism, this course focuses on the strategic development of brand and corporate journalism content. Students on this course will learn how to commission and manage work from PR, marketing and advertising specialists, to ultimately integrate brand journalism and run corporate newsrooms.
Journalism is about crafting and managing communication, altering perceptions and changing people’s lives. The power of a journalist comes through their ability to hold people to account – this is a central foundation to the course, which places students alongside the creative pathways of advertising and public relations to forge an innovative and far reaching working relationship. The course focuses on journalism as an originator of content and a driver of perception as they meet the boundaries of communications.
The Professional Practice unit gives students work-placement and freelance opportunities, enhancing their professional skillset. Students will also be able to pitch for paid work at Solent Creatives, who specialise in connecting students with businesses who need creative support. These projects can help students to strengthen their portfolio of professional work.
The course concludes with a major project or dissertation. This is another opportunity for students to specialise their knowledge, conducting in-depth research into an area that complements their unique career ambitions.
Solent University’s MA Journalism and Multimedia Communications places an innovative emphasis on brand journalism, content creation and campaign management across paid, owned, earned and shared platforms.
What does this course lead to?
Journalism courses here at Solent University prepare students for a variety of careers both within the traditional journalism newsroom, but also within the wider world of corporate communications.
Who is this course for?
Graduates who have studied a journalism degree or communications-related discipline and who wish to further explore new and emerging communications channels will be well-suited to this master’s programme.
We have a fully-equipped IT centre with both PC and Mac computers. These feature industry-standard image manipulation, video, and audio editing software. Access to camera equipment and professional recording devices for podcast and video creation is highly likely, and access to photographic equipment is always available.
Solent is proud to offer students a range of high-end media facilities. Students also have the opportunity to access an extensive media loans service, where they can borrow high-end video production and photography equipment.
Students are taught by industry experts who have strong practitioner careers. The course is delivered by interactive seminars rather than lecture based.
YOUR FUTURE Previous graduates from Solent’s journalism degrees have gone on to work for BBC; Closer Magazine; Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Communications Manager; Haymarket Media Group; Basingstoke Gazette; Sun Woman; The Argus newspaper, Brighton; TalkSport; Palm 105.5, Torquay; BBC Sunday Politics South; Athletics Weekly magazine; Mid Somerset News and Media; Taylor Newspapers; Bonhams, London; Mail Online; The News, Portsmouth; Bristol Rugby Club, Bristol.
INDUSTRY LINKS
The University’s in-house publisher, Solent Press, has existing business relationships with Haymarket and Archant
Solent Creatives, the University’s own student-run agency, enables students to pitch for paid work and get involved on live client briefs and projects with local, regional and national businesses.
Students studying courses in the School of Business, Law and Communication can also benefit from an exciting and varied industry speaker programme. Recent speakers on our journalism courses have included Andrew Harrison, Editor of Esquire Weekly; Don John, founder of Black History Month; Lloyd Bradley, former commissioning editor at GQ and Men’s Health; Kate Hutchinson, journalist with Time Out, NME and The Guardian; David Davies, former MD of Bauer Publishing; Laura Miller, freelance writer for Grazia, Elle and Red; Tim Southwell, co-founder of Loaded Magazine and founder of award-winning magazine, GolfPunk; Mike Goldsmith, head of digital publishing at Future Publishing; and Kat Romero, Solent University journalism graduate and senior showbiz editor at Closer.
PLACEMENTS
The Professional Practice unit requires students to undertake a work placement or complete a freelance project. Students are encouraged to source their own client (through Solent Creatives) or to find a work placement that is appropriate to their career ambitions. The minimum requirement for a placement is two weeks, however placements and projects can vary in length, depending on client needs.