Journalism Studies and Politics

Journalism and politics are disciplines that have always been closely connected. Journalism examines how information is gathered, verified, and communicated to the public, and how media organisations and individual journalists make the choices that shape what audiences know and believe. Politics examines the structures of power, the institutions of government, and the processes through which policies are made and contested.

Understanding both gives you an unusually complete picture of how democratic societies function, how information flows through them, and how the relationship between media and political power operates in practice.

At the University of Stirling, this four-year full-time programme combines journalism studies with politics and includes a year abroad, giving you the chance to develop your understanding of journalism and political systems from an international vantage point. In journalism, you will develop practical skills in reporting, news writing, digital media, and investigative journalism, alongside a critical understanding of media theory, regulation, and the changing economics of the news industry. In politics, you will study political theory, comparative government, international relations, and the empirical analysis of political behaviour and institutions.

The two subjects reinforce each other, with political understanding sharpening your journalism and journalistic skills making your political analysis concrete and applied.

This combination of journalism and political knowledge prepares you for a wide range of careers. Many graduates pursue roles in journalism and broadcasting, working as reporters, correspondents, and political journalists for newspapers, online media, television, and radio. Others move into public affairs, political communications, press and media management in government, think tanks, political parties, and charities.

The research and communication skills the degree develops also transfer well to roles in the civil service, policy analysis, and international organisations. Further study at postgraduate level in journalism, political science, or international relations is available for those who wish to specialise or pursue academic careers.