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Birmingham City University

Broadcast Journalism

Birmingham School of Media is recognised as a centre of excellence in interactive media training, television production and education by Skillset, the UK Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries. You will learn about media law and regulation, as well as the public institutions we’re so often involved with. We will expect you to be interested in all news: we want you to be an all-rounder. To that end, we invite a wide range of guests to come in and speak to you: judges, prison governors, community activists. If they’re going to broaden your knowledge and give you a broader base of contacts, you’ll meet them here.
Duration Full time (25 week intensive programme)
Level MA, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma
Cost 2012/2013: £4,800 per year. (International): £10,300 per year.
 
It is a 25 week intensively taught programme, accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council. On this course, you will learn all the things you need to know to start working in a broadcast news environment, as well as adapting to the disciplines of working under pressure and to tight deadlines. The course has been going for 19 years, has an excellent track record in students moving into the industry and is taught by skilled practitioners in a school that has very strong links to key UK broadcast organisations. Almost all your time is dedicated to “hands on” broadcast journalism; students will be expected to find stories, record, edit and report them for radio primarily, but also for television and the web.
Requirements
Applicants should have studied to degree level or equivalent, or have considerable experience in a related field. Candidates must also be able to demonstrate outstanding ability and potential, as well as excellent spoken and written English.
Modules
It is essentially a practical programme with the explicit aim of giving students a depth of skill and understanding, through reflective practical work to professional standards, of UK broadcast journalism. We start by immersing you in the subject. You will be expected to listen to and watch a lot of news broadcasts, both bulletins and programmes. You will be taught how to identify news stories, where to find them and the basic rules of reporting. We concentrate on making sure you understand the law so that you can operate safely in a live medium. At the same time, we will teach you how to use all the equipment needed to communicate the news: this will range from radio studios to television cameras, from digital editing to audio recorders.Throughout this period, you will be given a lot of feedback so that you develop keen critical faculties.You will then be given opportunities to develop your journalism in its daily form or in longer features. We run a two-week broadcast station in the second semester, where you will be required to work on a rota, doing different shifts and with different responsibilities.Throughout, you will be expected to analyse the process you are undertaking and be required to reflect on the ethical, professional and legal standards you meet.The course also requires you to undertake a 4-6 week work placement in a broadcast newsroom. As part of the course, students are required to undertake a 4-6 week work placement. The course tutors will provide advice, information and support in finding and applying for placements. Past students have had placements in the BBC, commercial and local radio, national network radio and TV, and regional TV.
Contact Information
Institution Birmingham City University
Birmingham School of Media
Perry Bar,
Birmingham
B42 2SU

Tel: 0121 331 5478
Fax: +44 (0)121 331 6501
www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/broadcast-journalism
Department: Faculty of Performance, Media and English
Contact Name: Diane Kemp: Course Director
Contact Email: diane.kemp@bcu.ac.uk / media.admissions@bcu.ac.uk