Undergraduate Broadcast and Digital Journalism with Foundation Year BA (Hons)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-04-17 | - |
| 2023-09-19 | 2023-07-04 |
| 2024-01-09 | - |
Program Overview
About this course
During your Foundation Year, you will undertake modules to enable you to enhance your academic skills and equip you with the tools you’ll need to study with confidence. You’ll carry out a personal project so you can study an area of interest related to your chosen future subject specialisation.
You’ll develop an understanding of the tools used by journalists and content creators, how to spot a story and how to produce content for various media platforms. You’ll be introduced to various types of media, both in theory and practice, and will learn about the skills and concepts required by the creative industries.
Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto the first year of our Broadcast and Digital Journalism BA (Hons) degree.
Broadcast and Digital Journalism is challenging and exciting work and from day one of your course you will be expected to think and act like a journalist. You’ll gain the broadcast and digital skills needed to enter the dynamic and ever-evolving news industry.
Our award-winning journalists will teach you how to source, research and compile stories and features. You’ll film and edit both on-the-go with MOJO (mobile journalism) skills and more considered digital pieces in our dedicated newsrooms equipped with industry-standard technologies and in specialist radio, podcast and television studio spaces.
You’ll learn how to write for the broadcast media, as well as developing transferable multi-media skills relevant for broadcast journalism, content creation and other news-related communication fields.
Throughout this degree, you’ll develop your ability to investigate, record, write, edit, present and produce news and factual programming. You’ll gain an understanding of the broader news media and society, the context in which news is produced in the 21st century along with the social, ethical and political impact of journalism today.
We aim to develop you as a journalist with a strong ethical practice and sense of social justice. Ethics are embedded throughout all the practical and theoretical work you’ll do; this includes the regulatory frameworks for industry as well as broader questions around widening the range of voices in our media to reflect the society we live in and providing equality of opportunity across a diverse population.
You’ll put your journalism skills into practice by completing professional work placements during your degree. You'll also take part in in-house news days, live broadcasting locally, regionally and internationally as well as reporting for our own TV news magazine show Yorkshire Voice.
In your final year, you’ll have the opportunity to gain additional work experience working with an employer on a live project. You’ll be supported to develop a professional portfolio of work to prepare for your future career. We also offer opportunities to study, work or volunteer abroad as well as take part in international collaborations on TV and social media projects, where you can work with students across the globe.
Our course is highly valued by employers thanks to its Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) accreditation, which recognises its relevance and responsiveness to the operational demands of the broadcast industry.
Why study with us?
Study a Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC)- accredited course.
Learn from the experts. Our lecturers are award-winning journalists with extensive industry experience.
Develop your practical skills. You’ll learn in our industry-standard broadcast studios on campus with free access to media equipment and editing software you can use at home.
Create a professional portfolio. Learn how to produce attention-grabbing content for various media platforms such as websites, podcasts, radio, television, social media platforms and online.
Build your professional networks. Our excellent professional links across a wide range of newsrooms will give you the chance to make contacts and hear from experts.
Prepare for the world of work. You’ll gain practical journalism skills and experience alongside a range of personal and professional skills that will help you secure a job and start your career.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) to ensure it meets broadcast industry standards. Students who complete all requirements will graduate with a BJTC certificate.
Program Outline
Modules
You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Foundation Year
Core modules (students are required to take):
We'll help you develop core academic skills such as using electronic resources, planning and note-taking, communication skills related to essay and report writing and delivering presentations. You'll learn how to manage your time, how to
prioritise
and how to manage stress, and you’ll become more confident in engaging with collaborative learning, debates, discussions and critical reflection
.
You’ll study an area of interest related to your chosen degree. You’ll work individually on your project, whether that's a written report, a presentation and oral examination, a film or a series of blog posts. You’ll undertake problem-solving learning, and formative feedback and support will be provided throughout, helping develop your self-confidence.
You will develop an understanding of tools used by journalists and content creators, learning how to spot interesting stories and gather information. You'll also learn the basics of producing attention-grabbing content for various media platforms such as websites, radio, television and radio.
This module will introduce you to various types of media, both in theory and practice. You will explore the role of 'story' in film and television, radio and the web that engages with audiences. You
will develop an understanding of narrative structure, character development and idea generation, as well as understanding the skills and concepts required by the creative industries through lectures, workshops and practical exercises.
Year 1
Core modules (students are required to take):
Year 2
Core modules (students are required to take):
Students are required to choose one option module from:
Year 3
Core modules (students are required to take):
Students are required to choose one option module from:
Professional work placements
Experience matters. That's why we include professional work placements with every undergraduate degree.
How does it work?
Careers and Placements will work with you to find your perfect placement or help you arrange your own, whether that's in Leeds, another part of the UK or even abroad. You will be able to take part in a series of workshops, events and live ‘employer challenges’ to boost your confidence and prepare you for your placement.
During your placement, you will have an opportunity to gain degree-relevant work experience, build your knowledge of career sectors and secure valuable employer references and industry contacts. This experience will help you to shape your career decisions and find the right path for you.
Students have completed their professional work placements in local radio stations, including the BBC and commercial radio, regional and local television and production companies.
Recent placements, work experience and trips include Premier League Productions, News UK, Bradford City FC, Channel 4, BCB radio, Daisybeck Productions, True North Productions, C5 News, BBC Radio Leeds and Steph’s Packed Lunch.
To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:
Professional Work Placements
