Multimedia Journalism BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  You often learn best when you are doing – and on University of Northampton’s Multimedia Journalism course you will have plenty to keep you busy. Read more about our modules below and watch this short video of Multimedia Journalism students covering the 2024 General Election:

  Year 1

  • News skills: the practical skills you need to produce online radio and television news, learning in our newsroom and in our radio and television studios.
  • Newswriting: this is such an important skill in multimedia journalism. You learn how to write stories for different platforms clearly and concisely
  • History and ethics of journalism: you need to understand how the industry has developed and you look at the key controversies
  • Law and public affairs: nobody wants to be sued. You learn how to produce legally safe articles. And you learn how to learn power to account.

  Year 2

  You develop your broadcast skills and learn both digital and design skills, making your own websites and magazines.

  You deepen your knowledge of law and media regulation and examine media theory.

  The highlight of Year 2 is your 15 newsdays where you go out, find the news and produce your own news programmes and content.

  Year 3

  In your final year of the journalism degree, you produce a major practical project, typically a television or radio documentary or a magazine. Past students have won awards for their projects which helped them secure jobs.

  You round off your legal training, examine media across the world, examine future trends in journalism and complete a dissertation and get yourself ready for the world of work in a special launchpad module.

  During your studies, you will also complete at least 15 days of work placement.

  You are assessed through a mixture of practical work, essays and examinations with a dissertation in your final year.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Storytelling for News (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU1021

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is The purpose of this module is to introduce learners to non-fiction storytelling, developing their skills and building confidence in writing across a variety of styles including news, comment and features.
    • Law and Public Affairs for Journalists (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU1022

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is lay the groundwork for students? ability to newsgather important public interest stories effectively and legally safely. It covers the key civic structures for the UK and the essential elements of media law.
    • Reporting Power
      Module code: JOU1023

      Status: Compulsory
    • Newsgathering Skills
      Module code: JOU1025

      Status: Compulsory
    • News Production Skills
      Module code: JOU1026

      Status: Compulsory
    • Journalism Now (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU1030

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to equip students with an understanding of the contemporary practice of multimedia journalism, by examining the current models of communication with reference to its origins, context and likely development. Through an examination of practice, past and present, you will learn to understand the ethical challenges and practices of journalism now. The module will look at evolving modes of communication, the business models that need to keep them stable and their impact on society.
  • Stage 2
    • Design Skills for Journalists (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU2018

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop students? skills in hands-on page design, layout, sub-editing and proofreading, as well as associated content management. Students will be using industry-standard graphic design and publishing software to produce their own individual magazine or newspaper project.
    • Digital Skills for Journalists (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU2019

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop awareness of digital toolsets and critical thinking on development of content on digital platforms. Students will enhance their analytical and teambuilding skills by devising and delivering a digital service to a defined target market.
    • Law and Regulation for Journalists (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU2020

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to analyse the legal and regulatory framework under which a journalist operates and learn to apply it in content creation scenarios. Students will apply their knowledge through exercises in multiplatform court reporting and enhance their knowledge of regulation, which governs published and broadcast material.
    • Broadcast Skills (Newsdays 1) (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU2025

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is for students to develop their professional journalistic skills in research, newsgathering and reporting relevant to broadcast and on-line digital news production. This module will serve as the preparatory upskilling module for the Semester 2 module JOU2026 News Days when students will report on the news in a near-professional work environment, with a specific deadline.
    • Newsdays (2)
      Module code: JOU2026

      Status: Compulsory
    • Academic and Journalism Long Form Skills
      Module code: JOU2027

      Status: Compulsory
  • Stage 3
    • Law and International Media Regulation (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU3001

      Status: Compulsory
      This module will add to students' legal knowledge and relate that study to an examination of how the media is regulated in the UK and globally. This will include the rights of journalists, protection of journalists, and the role played by trade unions and campaigning organisations.
    • Journalism Practical Project (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU3002

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to facilitate independent creative and critical work in a specified area of journalistic production. It requires students to initiate, discuss and negotiate a body of work for the year, and then to take responsibility for the successful completion of that work to deadline.
    • LAUNCHPAD: Careers in Journalism (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU3003

      Status: Compulsory
      This module prompts students to consider a specific role or function within journalism, and to investigate how this might become a future career path. Teaching and learning requires students to research and critically reflect on the structure of the sector and their personal intentions and professional development.
    • Multiplatform Journalism (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU3019

      Status: Compulsory
      This module is the principal module for Multimedia Journalism students. The focus is on establishing and managing a local journalism newsroom with outputs on digital, radio and television. Students will submit a portfolio providing evidence of their journalistic contributions during the period of the project.
    • Future Trends in Journalism (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU3020

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to examine the development of future trends in journalism. Journalism has undergone several waves of significant change, such as the emergence of digital journalism, social media, and data journalism, this module aims to critically examine those changes and critique emerging future trends.
    • Journalism Dissertation (20 Credits)
      Module code: JOU4001

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide an opportunity for students to develop, at length, a particular disciplinary interest. This may derive either from study in the first two years of the degree, or from reading and/or practice activities on their own initiative.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full-time Multimedia Journalism degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

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• Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught on Multimedia Journalism BA (Hons)?

  For this course your taught study will be a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops, both face to face and online through blended learning.

  Will I have the opportunity to go on study trips?

  Yes, we look out for great extracurricular opportunities. In 2019/2020, students went to Berlin to report the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. You can see them in action here on the inspiring trip to Berlin.

  Are there any specialist facilities and features of the Multimedia Journalism degree?

  The course has its own:

  • dedicated room for the creation of print, audio and video artefacts
  • dedicated newsroom
  • digitally equipped radio and television studios.
  • professional voice training
  • master classes with industry practitioners

  Do you have any award-winning students?

  We are immensely proud of our award-winning students. One third of our students who graduated in July 2019 either won or were highly commended in national or regional awards.

  Kirk Asiedu won the Broadcast Journalism Training Council’s award for the best radio documentary and their overall award for journalism excellence for his practical project on dementia care in the UK and Ghana. Kirk now has a flourishing career in broadcast journalism.

   

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