Journalism BA (Hons)

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of news as you learn to practise journalism and critique the industry.

Course overview

Journalism is an exciting and vibrant subject, crucial to any understanding of modern politics and the current state of the world. The courses at Chester strive to remain at the cutting edge of journalistic practice and theory, with an emphasis on sustainability and technology. The way journalists report the news and consumers then engage with the news is evolving all the time: digital technology is having a huge impact. Consider the evolution of social media over the past decade, from its role in the events of the Arab Spring through to the election of Donald Trump, Brexit and the war in Syria. Mainstream journalism has been responding in fascinating ways and its value and importance is being re-evaluated: it may allow us to break free of the damaging echo chambers shaping our world, and the courses at Chester are designed to help you, the students, do exactly those. Academic assumptions are changing all the time – Journalism as a field has never been more relevant or important.

Assessment

Assessments include coursework, essays, individual and group projects, presentations, workshops and examinations. If you choose Journalism as your major subject, you will also have the opportunity to undertake a dissertation or major creative project.

Job prospects

Students have gone on to work for journalistic organisations including news agencies, online and print news publishers and more. Some have taken a freelance approach, forging careers in niche aspects of journalism such as gaming, lifestyle and pop culture. Others have gone into roles such as social media management, copy-writing and public relations.