Journalism and Media

Journalism and media is a field that sits at the heart of how democratic societies are informed, how stories are told, and how institutions are held to account. Journalism as a practice demands rigour, accuracy, speed, and the ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences, while the study of media broadens the frame, asking how different platforms, technologies, and political economies shape what gets reported and how. Together, the two strands develop professionals who can work in contemporary media while thinking critically about the environments they inhabit.

At Birkbeck College, which has a long tradition of supporting working adults through part-time study, this programme combines academic analysis with practical teaching from experienced industry professionals. You will develop professional journalistic skills including reporting, news writing, interviewing, and verification alongside a sophisticated understanding of how journalism and media are changing in the digital age. You will examine the economic and structural pressures facing the industry, questions of media ethics and accountability, and the relationship between journalism and public life.

The part-time format allows you to study while maintaining other commitments, which is particularly valuable for those already working in or alongside the media sector.

Graduates from journalism and media programmes work across print, broadcast, digital, and social media, in roles ranging from news reporting and feature writing to editing, production, content management, and media strategy. Public relations, communications, content marketing, and policy communications are other common directions. Some graduates go on to specialist or investigative journalism, while others move into media management, documentary making, or education.

Many find the critical and analytical skills developed through the degree as valuable as the practical ones across a wide range of professional contexts.