BA (Hons) Journalism (Joint Honours)

Overview

Journalism and the media play a vital role in democracy, and this course offers the opportunity to pursue a career that’s not only fast-paced and extremely diverse, but also crucial for informing debate and discussion on a wide range of questions affecting people’s lives.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to DMU’s own student media group Demon Media, with the chance to produce content for multimedia platforms including a magazine, radio station, YouTube channel and website.

Students can study from a range of optional modules including, Journalism Studies, Sports Journalism, Lifestyle Journalism, Court Reporting, Arts and Entertainment and Music Journalism. In your final year, you can choose to complete a dissertation or a major practical journalism project.

Our Journalism tutors have close links with all forms of news media and have worked for – and continue to work for – many of Leicestershire’s newspapers and radio stations. This means our Journalism courses have strong industry links with newspapers and radio stations in the local area. The courses have an excellent reputation both regionally and nationally, allowing our students to win prestigious work experience placements.

Widen your skillset and enhance your employability prospects further by studying Journalism joint with another specialist subject, such as Creative Writing, English, English Language, Film Studies, International Relations, Politics or Media.

Key features

DMU is in the top 10 most popular universities in the UK for home and EU students, according to the latest measures by UCAS acceptances (2017).
Develop your practical and professional skills in our dedicated newsroom within the Leicester Centre for Journalism.
Gain valuable, industry-relevant experience by contributing to DMU’s award-winning student media group Demon Media, including The Demon magazine, Demon FM radio station, Demon TV YouTube channel and The Demon website.
Enhance your employability and gain industry experience by undertaking an optional work placement, with your studies helping you to gain places volunteering with local news organisations. This will enable you to forge useful contacts within the industry and provide opportunities to create content for your portfolio. Recent Journalism Joint students have secured Journalism and Editorial internship placements at RootsCo Group Ltd in London.
You’ll be taught by a team of respected professionals within the industry and academic experts, including a former newspaper editor and award-winning feature writers. Their knowledge and experience will inform their teaching and help you to become an effective, multiplatform journalist once graduated.
Enjoy an international experience with DMU Global, which can enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons. Previous DMU Global trips have included New York, Berlin, Hong Kong, China, Canada, Japan, South Africa, Russia and Italy.

The course is available to study alongside Creative Writing, English, English Language, Film Studies, International Relations, Media and Communication and Politics.

Reasons to study Journalism (Joint Honours) at De Montfort University (DMU):

DMU has achieved Gold, the highest ranking possible under the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Indicating the outstanding learning and teaching on offer at DMU.
DMU is in the Top 10 of most popular universities in the UK for home and EU students, as measured by UCAS acceptances in 2017
88.9% of our Journalism (Joint Honours) graduates from summer 2017 are in work or further study after graduating
According to the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) 2016-17 report
Enhance your employability further by studying Journalism joint with another specialist subject
Joint Honours options include; Creative Writing, English, English Language, Film Studies, History, International Relations, Politics and Media
Dedicated facilities
Develop your practical and professional skills in our dedicated news room within The Leicester Centre for Journalism
Award winning student group, Demon Media
Gain valuable, industry-relevant experience by contributing to the Demon Media group, including; The Demon magazine, Demon FM radio station, Demon TV and The Demon website
Work placement opportunities
Enhance your employability and gain industry experience by undertaking an optional work placement
Academic Expertise
Taught by a range of respected professionals and academic experts, including five former newspaper editors; teaching you to become an effective, professionally qualified, multi-platform journalist
Exchange opportunities
Students regularly participate in exchange programmes to other countries. Recent destinations have included Baltimore, South Carolina and Prague
Continue your study at master’s level
Upon successful completion of Journalism BA (Hons) specialist postgraduate courses include Investigative Journalism MA, developed with Channel 4
Enjoy an international experience with #DMUglobal
We offer all students the opportunity to take part in a #DMUglobal experience, which can enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons. Previous #DMUglobal trips have included New York, Berlin, Hong Kong, China, Canada, Japan, South Africa, Russia and Italy to name a few

The course is available to study alongside Creative Writing, English, English Language, Film Studies, History, International Relations, Media and Communication and Politics.

Structure and assessment

In addition to the modules listed below you will also study modules from your chosen joint subject each year.

First year

Core modules:

Reporting 1 – this module introduces you to news in a multi-media environment, looking at what it is, where it comes from, how to get it and how to write it successfully
Journalism and Society – this module will help you to understand the history, political context and regulation of journalism.

Second year

Core modules:

Reporting 2 – this module looks at specialist forms of journalism, particularly feature writing
Issues in Journalism – this module will continue your study of the context of journalism and prepare you for a journalism dissertation, if you have chosen to write your dissertation in journalism rather than your other subject
Critical Perspectives on Journalism – if you are not writing a journalism dissertation, this module looks at the context of journalism and the many issues arising from within or around it.

Third year

Core module:

Reporting 3 – you will prepare a portfolio of your own work, including that published while on work experience or on Demon Media platforms. The major part of the portfolio is a publication, produced with a group of fellow students which you will conceptualise, write and design from start to finish

Optional modules:

Journalism Dissertation – in this module, you will write a 10,000 word project on a subject of your choice, surveying existing literature and carrying out original research into your own topic
Sports Journalism – this module is very practically focused and will help you to develop key sports reporting skills, particularly covering football, rugby and cricket and involving links with Leicester’s three most prominent professional clubs in those three sports
Magazine Publishing – this module looks at how magazines are developed, marketed and run, allowing you to really get inside the fascinating world of magazines
Arts and Entertainment Journalism – this module allows you to explore the theory and practice of reviewing many different aspects of the arts and entertainment
Political Communication – this module looks at how politicians communicate with the public using the media, and the roles of the various media professionals, especially journalists, within that process.

Journalism at DMU has a strong practical focus and is taught by a range of respected and award-winning professionals and academic experts, including five former newspaper editors. Lecturers are active in newspaper, radio, magazine and digital journalism and staff have won four university-wide awards for teaching excellence.

Your precise timetable will depend on the Joint Honours subject and optional modules you choose to take; however, you will normally attend around 12-16 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and can expect to undertake at least 24 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research. A wide variety of assessment methods are used, especially practicals, including: portfolios, presentations and an exam.

Facilities and features

Facilities

You will have access to excellent facilities, including five dedicated computer suites within the Leicester Centre of Journalism and a dedicated newsroom, to enhance your practical and professional skills further.

You will also be able to use our multi-million pound Creative Technology Studios which include a suite of high-tech radio and TV studios, as part of your studies and as part of your extra-curricular activities with Demon Media.

Journalism graduate lands job at ITV news

A DMU student has beaten more than 1,200 applicants to win a highly sought-after job at ITV News.

Haddy Ndure, who graduated in 2017 with a Journalism and History degree, is one of just ten people who won a place on the ITV News graduate scheme out of more than 1,200 applicants.

Haddy said: “It’s all very exciting. I have always been sure that I wanted to be a journalist and like in most careers, experience is essential.

“Knowing this, I have engaged myself in as much work as possible before and during my degree.

Opportunities and careers

Graduate Careers

Journalism graduates go on to work for some of the UK’s biggest media companies, including major newspaper groups, PR companies and the wider communications industries.

Our students increasingly find employment in the digital economy, where their ability to communicate effectively on a variety of platforms gives them a significant advantage.

Graduates are also well positioned to continue their academic careers by embarking on postgraduate study, in either research or taught areas, which offers the opportunity for further specialisation and enhances their existing skills. If you decide to continue your study on our established Journalism MA (NCTJ accredited) or Investigative Journalism MA (which has been newly developed with and endorsed by Channel 4), as a DMU graduate you may be eligible for one of our generous postgraduate scholarships (terms and conditions apply).

#DMUglobal

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through #DMUglobal, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Our #DMUglobal High Flyers Award offers students a discount of up to £1,000 towards a #DMUglobal opportunity (terms and conditions apply).

Placements

Journalism students participate in a vast range of work experience opportunities, ranging from their own local newspaper, to local, regional and national broadcasters and a wide variety of magazines. Students also have the chance to contribute to the Demon Media stable of multi-media platforms, including; The Demon newspaper, Demon FM community radio station, Demon TV and The Demon website.