Journalism
BA (Hons)

Journalism at Derby has been ranked in the Top 20 in The Guardian University Guide 2019.

We teach the next generation of talented journalists. This degree gives you all the skills you need to go behind the headlines and build a career as a journalist in the age of the internet.

• ‌Gain substantial practical experience of researching and producing powerful print, audio, video and online stories
• Get to grips with the latest techniques and technologies which are transforming journalism in an era of digital news
• Enjoy work placements with media organisations in the UK or overseas
• Hone your skills in our outstanding facilities which include TV and radio studios as well as a fully equipped newsroom
• Take the chance to specialise in a journalistic genre of your choice – from film to fashion, sport to crime, science to politics
• Prepare for a rewarding career in journalism, online or broadcast media production, PR, advertising, corporate communications, law, public administration or politics
• Spend time studying abroad in America or Europe
• We have a strong focus on employability: 91.7% of graduates from this course had reached graduate level destinations within 6 months of completing this course (HESA 2016).  

We've developed this course with your future in mind. New technologies are revolutionising the industry and the ways in which people receive their news. We’ll equip you to be a multi-skilled multimedia professional who can rise to the challenge.

New skills for a new era

In an age of digital news, there has never been a more exciting or challenging time to study journalism. This dynamic course enables you to produce compelling content for both traditional and emerging media platforms.

You'll gain the core journalistic research and writing skills as well as studying media law, ethics and public administration. At the same time, you’ll develop a multi-platform mindset - producing print, radio and TV reports as well as creating blogs and podcasts, digital photos, audio/video stories and content for websites and external devices.

Hone your expertise in news gathering

Throughout your studies, you’ll have significant hands-on experience of newsgathering and reporting - developing your news values and working across a designated ‘news patch’ to source, research and produce original stories.

You’ll visit courts and public meetings, make your own contacts, cover community issues, conduct interviews and produce fair, balanced and accurate reports.

We also encourage all students to take part in international study, either through the Erasmus Scheme which allows you to spend time at a university almost anywhere in Europe, or through our American exchange programme, in which students spend a full semester studying at a US university.

Exciting work experience opportunities

As part of your course, you’ll gain practical work experience with a media organisation, in the UK or overseas. All our students are expected to have completed at least 15 days of work placement by the time they graduate.

Drawing on our strong partnerships with local and national media, you can choose a range of work-based modules to expand your professional know-how and boost your CV. We also encourage you to work with charities and arts organisations to gain an insight into why media matters so much. In addition, you can work for various print, radio and online news outlets at the University, which is itself a rich source of news, debate and topical comment.

Outstanding facilities

You'll be based at the main campus at Kedleston Road and at our Markeaton Street site where you'll study in our excellent facilities including three radio studios, a fully equipped television studio, video editing suites, Mac suites and a newsroom featuring the latest software.

We're an Apple accredited centre and you’ll work with the industry standard recording and editing software that is used worldwide. It means you’ll be both confident and competent with up-to-the-minute technology - giving you a real advantage when you're looking for a job.

Variety and versatility

Our emphasis is on developing creative, versatile journalists with expertise in a variety of production techniques. You'll also have the chance to concentrate on a journalistic genre that particularly interests you.

Alongside your traditional reporting skills, we want you to develop a passion for ideas and creative communication, to seek out people and find the human stories behind the headlines. You'll also focus on intellectual and critical development, study research techniques and gain an understanding of audience theory.

Study in America

You can choose to study part of your degree at one of our partner universities in America:

• Eastern Michigan University
• Keene State College in New Hampshire
• Longwood University in Virginia
• Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis.

You can also study Journalism through the Joint Honours scheme where you can combine it with another subject.

Teaching and learning

We believe that you learn best by doing, so as often as possible you will be creating content for print, online, audio and video platforms. You’ll have opportunities to work on real-world projects and complete location stories as a matter of course. You’ll gather news, interview people and write reports and features with accuracy.

You’ll be taught by a team which has vast experience in journalism and you’ll gain fascinating insights into the profession thanks to our programme of guest lectures by journalists, broadcasters, historians and political commentators.

Practical experience

We have great contacts with local and national radio, newspapers and TV, which open the doors to a variety of work experience opportunities for you. In addition, you’ll have the chance to hone your skills by contributing to our student-run media, helping with the radio or TV stations or writing for the Phantom newspaper. We’ll also encourage you to produce content for the online news and sports websites run by the Students’ Union.

The course works closely with a number of media organisations to allow students to have their work published.  You will also go on visits to professional media companies and get the chance to hear many media professionals at guest lectures.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed in several ways, including academic essays, audio and video reporting, case studies, editing skills, examinations, extended reports, journalistic writing, presentations, process analyses, production design and content production, production skills in image manipulation, reflective diaries, report writing and self-evaluation.

Supporting you all the way

We offer a high level of support to students, including a unique personal tutor system to help steer your academic and professional development.

Who you will meet

The course is taught by highly skilled lecturers who have many years of first hand experience in staff and freelance journalism in print, stills, documentary, radio, TV and online media. Most of them also have national and international awards.

• Programme Leader Keith Perch, FHEA, is a print and online specialist who has spent 30 years in the newspaper business, more than 20 of them with Northcliffe and Associated Newspapers. He has edited three of the country's largest regional daily newspapers and run major websites for both local and national newspapers. He also serves on the board of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
• Senior Lecturer Neil Manship, FHEA, began his career in journalism as a news and sport reporter at the Derby Telegraph before becoming a district reporter for the Western Daily Press. He then moved to the BBC as a reporter, producer and presenter for Radio Devon, before becoming a television reporter and producer for the BBC in Bristol. He subsequently spent 13 years as a lead producer and manager for BBC Look North. Before joining the University of Derby in 2014, Neil also worked for BBC Online News.
• Senior Lecturer Richard Bowyer is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years experience in the media industry. He has worked on a number of newspapers including the Wolverhampton Express and Star, the biggest selling newspaper outside London. While he was Deputy Editor of the Lincolnshire Echo, the paper received the Newspaper Society Regional Daily Newspaper of the Year award and Richard won an award for his front page designs. As Deputy Editor of the Stoke Sentinel, Richard was involved in major group projects as part of the radical transformation of the industry. He became Editor-in-Chief of the Stoke Sentinel and Group Editor of West Staffordshire Newspapers, along with the publications’ associated web sites, in 2013, before joining the University of Derby in 2015.
• Associate Lecturer Martin Shakeshaft has 20 years experience as a news photojournalist and online specialist. He has produced editorial and news images for websites at Channel 4, BBC, S4C, The Economist, the Daily Mirror, the Independent and Newsweek magazine.

September 2019 typical entry requirements

Alternative entry qualifications:

• BTEC - DMM
• Access to HE Diploma 60 credits: 45 at level 3 with a minimum of Dist: 15 Merit: 24 Pass: 6

We usually consider an A-level in General Studies as a supplementary qualification. A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions.

Our entry requirements for this course should be read together with the University's general entry requirements, which details subjects we accept, alternative qualifications and what we're looking for at Derby.

2019/20 Fees

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Equipped for an exciting career

This course develops the broad range of knowledge and skills you need to become a multimedia professional, adept in the production of content for print, online and broadcast outlets. Our graduates have gone on to work for magazines and local newspapers; BBC, commercial and community radio; and BBC and commercial TV. Others have set up their own digital businesses or worked for online agencies.

You’ll be prepared not only for a career in journalism, online or broadcast media production but also for roles in PR, advertising, corporate communications, law and public administration or politics. The research and communication skills of a journalist are highly transferable to a huge variety of graduate level jobs.

Ensuring you’re ‘work-ready’

Our Careers and Employment Service will provide you with support from day one of your course to ensure you leave Derby as a ‘work-ready’ graduate - industry aware, motivated and enterprising. Throughout your studies, you’ll also benefit from our Personal Development Planning (PDP) scheme which enables you to reflect on your learning and develop your career ambitions. The support continues once you’ve completed your course too: you are entitled to further help and guidance from the Careers and Employment Service for up to three years after leaving the University.

Programme leader

Keith Perch

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

† Additional information about your studies

Download programme specification

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Additional costs and optional extras

We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, state-of-the-art facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

Included in your fees

• Access to the Equipment Centre which stocks a huge range of cameras, audio equipment, and accessories which are available for booking by students at no cost
• Various day field trips – for example, these have included Alton Towers, Shrovetide Football, the Bradford National Media Museum, and Escape rooms in the past year
• Mandatory trips to media companies or other interesting organisations. Previous trips have included visiting BBC Radio Derby, the Derby Telegraph, the Nottingham Post and BBC News and Sport at Salford

Mandatory costs not included in your fees

Some equipment including storage drives (about £10) and external storage drives (£50 - £100) for use with cameras.

Optional costs not included in your fees

• It is useful but not essential to have a smartphone (£50 - £750)                      
• Some students choose to buy accessories for the phone such as external microphones (approx. £10 - £15) and tripods (£5 - £25)  
• Some students also find it useful to purchase their own laptop for use in the field but this is not required (from £150)  
• It is also possible that you will want to travel to cover particular news stories - as this is not required by the course, the cost is not covered in your fees.

Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

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