Journalism, Communications and Politics
Journalism, communications and politics are three fields that have always been bound together, and their relationship has never been more contested or more important than it is now. Journalism holds power to account and shapes public understanding. Communications theory examines how messages are constructed, transmitted and received across different media and political contexts.
Politics provides the framework for understanding how societies govern themselves, how power is organised and how democratic systems function, or fail to. Bringing all three together in a single degree gives you an unusually comprehensive understanding of the information environment in which democratic life takes place.
At Cardiff University, this three-year full-time programme explores the relationships and interplays between journalism, communication and politics in both democratic and non-democratic systems. Cardiff has one of the strongest reputations for journalism education in the UK, and the programme draws on that expertise while grounding it in rigorous social science and political analysis. You will engage with a wide range of modules, allowing you to pursue your particular interests within each of the three disciplines.
That might mean focusing on political communication and the role of media in elections, or on international journalism and press freedom, or on the theoretical traditions in communications research. You will develop research skills, critical analysis, writing ability and an understanding of how media institutions operate in practice.
Graduates from this programme go on to careers in journalism, broadcasting, public affairs, political communications, public relations, policy work and research. The analytical training is valued in government, think tanks, NGOs and international organisations as well as in the media industry. Further study in journalism, politics, international relations or communications is also an option for those who want to pursue academic or specialist professional paths.