Journalism

Journalism is one of the oldest and most essential of the professions that sustain democratic societies, and a serious journalism degree develops both the practical skills of reporting and writing and the critical understanding of why journalism matters and what makes it worth doing well. At the University of Leeds, this three-year full-time degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, making it one of the most practically and internationally enriched journalism programmes available in the UK. The degree is built around the conviction that well-informed citizens are fundamental to a functioning democracy, and it develops the expertise to contribute to that goal in a challenging and rapidly changing media environment.

You will develop skills in news writing, feature writing, data journalism, digital and multimedia production, investigative reporting and broadcast journalism, working across the full range of formats that professional journalists use. The critical and theoretical dimensions of the degree develop your understanding of media organisations, journalism ethics, media law, the political economy of news and the transformations that digital technology has brought to the industry. The placement year gives you sustained professional experience in a journalism environment, the most valuable single asset in entering a competitive field, and the year abroad extends your perspective and professional network.

A typical entry tariff of around 152 points is expected.

Graduates work as reporters, correspondents, editors, feature writers, broadcast journalists, data journalists, digital content producers and media managers across print, broadcast, digital and specialist media organisations. Many also move into related careers in public relations, communications, content strategy and political communications. The skills of rigorous research, clear writing, ethical judgement and audience awareness that journalism training develops are valued across many professional fields, and many graduates proceed to postgraduate study in journalism or related disciplines.