Journalism and Politics

Journalism and politics is a combination that mirrors the reality of how democracy works. Political journalism is one of the most important and contested functions of a free press, providing the information and analysis that citizens need to hold governments to account and make informed choices. The combination of analytical political knowledge and practical journalistic skill makes for graduates who can engage with politics from both inside the tent, as practitioners in policy and government, and from outside it, as the journalists who scrutinise what those practitioners do.

At the University of Essex, this three-year full-time programme develops your understanding of global politics alongside the multimedia skills and journalistic instincts that professional journalism requires. You will engage with the theoretical and empirical content of political science, building analytical capability and knowledge of political institutions, international relations, and political economy, while also developing the practical skills of journalism including reporting, writing, broadcasting, and digital communication across platforms. The programme develops your own journalistic style alongside a solid understanding of the issues that shape the political world.

The typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the accessible character of the programme.

You will develop political analytical skills, journalistic practice, and the ability to engage a wide public audience with complex political content, a combination that is directly relevant to careers at the intersection of media and public life.

Graduates pursue careers in political journalism, broadcasting, public affairs, political communication, the civil service, and public policy, as well as in journalism more broadly. Postgraduate study in journalism, politics, or international relations is a natural continuation.