History and Media

History and media is a combination that connects the critical study of the past with an analysis of the media systems and technologies through which the present is communicated. History gives you the tools to understand long-term processes of change, to read evidence carefully, and to construct arguments about cause and consequence that do not settle for simple explanations. Media studies asks how information is selected, packaged and distributed, how media organisations operate and who controls them, and what effects media have on public knowledge, political debate and cultural identity.

At Leeds Beckett University this part-time programme develops both strands in a way that is genuinely complementary. You will examine how media has shaped historical understanding, how historical events are represented and misrepresented through journalism, film and digital platforms, and how the media landscape has itself evolved over time. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you international perspective on both historical and media questions.

Career-facing learning is built into the programme from the first year, with employer-designed project work and work placement opportunities in the later years.

Graduates of history and media programmes move into careers in journalism, broadcasting, documentary production, archives and heritage, education, public relations, communications, publishing, digital content and public history. The ability to research, interpret and communicate historical material through contemporary media formats is valued in a growing range of professional contexts, including museums, cultural institutions, podcasting and online publishing. Postgraduate study in journalism, media, history or cultural studies is a natural further route for those seeking specialist or research-focused careers.