MA Journalism: Digital, Broadcast, News, Features & Magazines
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Why study MA Journalism: Digital, Broadcast, News, Features & Magazines at Goldsmiths
This MA gives you a blend of the essential practical, knowledge and theoretical skills to work as a journalist for multiple audiences across myriad platforms: online, in print and in broadcast.
Working in specialisms that reflect the major strands of journalism practised around the world, you will have options that extend your knowledge and abilities and in your final project you will showcase your professional level work.
You will choose one of these specialist strands:
- Features and magazines journalism – writing short and long features for print and online and working in groups to create a magazine brand
- Digital Journalism– cutting edge digital tools, data and AI investigations, coding and web development, interactive storytelling
- Broadcast Journalism – audio and visual broadcast techniques for storytelling across multiple platforms
Your studies will combine foundational and fact-based journalistic skills with contemporary multimedia approaches to enable students to enter the workplace with the right abilities and the confidence to succeed in the professional environment. These are transferable skills across a wide range of journalistic and media roles.
You will be taught the latest creative and technical expertise to produce and present compelling multimedia journalistic content in an online environment, whether it is digital or broadcast magazines or using data and AI to verify and tell stories. You will have the opportunity to take options in media law and politics, data and forensic journalism and how to create news and short features on video and make innovative and information podcasts.
You will discover how different mediums dictate how you create a story and how to adapt your style of reporting to reflect the nature of the platform. You will learn how to interview and ask the right questions of anyone, anywhere and in any context, including those in power.
You will gain hands-on experience by working in a reporting and editing team for EastlondonLines, the live online news site run from the School, covering a large and diverse area of East and South London, creating a portfolio of work for your CV.
This programme is for globally minded, politically engaged students who are interested in critical and decolonial approaches to journalistic practice. You will be taught by expert academics in the world-leading School of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies which has been ranked second in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 16th in the world (third in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings.
You will be introduced to wider journalistic networks. We have high-profile guest speakers and industry experts contributing to many aspects of the programme. We also have close connections with the Centre for Investigative Journalism, Airwars and Forensic Architecture, all based at Goldsmiths.
You will receive expert guidance on your future career and our journalism alumni are working across the national and international media, for organisations around the world. They are the best evidence of the success of our programmes. This is your opportunity to join them. Find out more about our alumni.
Contact
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Terry Kirby , Miranda McLachlan or Dr Marcela Pizarro Coloma .
Length
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard and have evidence of some journalism (or equivalent) experience.
Fees
Home - full-time: £14300
International - full-time: £27500
School
Our ethos
In these globally challenging times, journalism is about engaging with the world around us, and telling stories that matter, often about people whose voices are seldom heard.
Journalism is about providing a mirror to society and holding those in power to account. It’s about finding and investigating stories, being on top of deadlines and across the demands of a multi-platform, multimedia world.
This programme is firmly grounded in the ethos of the School of Media Communications and Cultural Studies, which combines strong research into the global media landscape with the practical learning and skills needed for award winning success.
Our approach is contemporary, reflecting journalism in the modern day.
Your learning will consider key topics such as how the new digital world has transformed the way we go about journalism, adding new platforms and technical skills.
Depending on the pathway you specialise in, you will also have the opportunity to learn valuable future-thinking skills, such as mobile and podcasting, data, AI and forensic journalism.
What you'll study
Compulsory modules
- Journalism in Context (30 credits) – the contextual and critical background to how journalism functions around the globe and in the UK.
- Multimedia News Reporting (30 credits) – the essential skills for researching and writing news content for all platforms and put into practice on our live news website, EastlondonLines.
- Final Project (60 credits) – A major showcase for your journalism which will reflect the specialism and options you have taken: this might be an online or print magazine, a longform investigation in any medium, an interactive storytelling project using data or a portfolio of broadcast work.
Specialisms
Your studies will will follow one of three specialisms of your choice:
- Features and magazines – Learn to investigate and write compelling news, features and magazine content, both in short and long form, in a variety of different styles and you will conceive, design and create a group magazine project to industry standards.
- Broadcast Journalism – Learn how to pitch, produce, film, script and edit for TV, online and social media platforms, while building a foundation in radio/audio production and developing longer-form audio and video storytelling skills across different journalistic beats.
- Digital Journalism – Digital Journalism equips you with a unique blend of hands-on storytelling, coding, data analysis, AI literacy, visual, audio, and investigative techniques so you graduate ready to define the future of journalism.
Guest speakers and networking opportunities
A wide range of journalists and those associated with the media are invited to speak to and network with students through various strands of our guest speaker programme.
We have other speakers and film screenings as part of our regular evening run by the school for all students, where recent sessions have included the importance of local journalism, news start-ups, reporting in war zones, tabloid journalism, open justice and the media and race.
Facilities
You will have access to a fully equipped television studio with production gallery, a radio/audio newsroom and recording/broadcast studio, audio and video editing suites and our journalism labs, with professional editing and online publishing software.
Learn industry-standard digital skills
We are an Adobe Creative Campus. During your studies, you will be able to use Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator and more for free on your own devices.
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard and have evidence of some journalism (or equivalent) experience.
See 'How to apply' for details of what you will need to include in your application.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme.
If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
EastLondonLines
EastLondonLines is an independent news website run by the journalism team in the School of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies. The site runs throughout most of the year and students on journalism programmes spend time working on the site, gaining valuable experience and building up their CVs. Students work in a variety of editing, production and reporting roles under the supervision of academic and technical staff.
It began in November 2009 as a means of giving students an opportunity to work as professional journalists in a real life environment where stories of national and international importance are regularly breaking. The area covered by the site is a large, diverse, multi-cultural and vibrant part of east and south London, with a population of more than one million people and ranges from inner city Hackney to Croydon on the southern borders of London and provides exciting and varied journalistic challenges.
Student reporters cover all types of stories – from local politics and courts, to community events, cultural and arts stories as well as breaking news such as crimes and demonstrations.
Careers & Skills
Our alumni
Our journalism alumni are working across the national and international media, for organisations such as:
- The Guardian
- Reuters
- The Times
- Al Jazeera
- The Telegraph
- The BBC
- Forbes
- The New Statesman
- Elle
- Sky Sports,
- The Financial Times
- The Independent
- The iPaper
Students have also gone on to work at local independent media outlets such as:
- The Bristol Cable
- The Ferret in Scotland
- Roman Road in London
Work experience while you study
This programme is practice-led, giving you hands-on journalistic experience and teaching you essential skills to thrive in the media industry.
You will contribute to EastLondonLines, gaining first-hand reporting experience, and as a student, you will be expected to seek work experience placements. You will be given assistance and guidance by staff, who have access to a wide network of media organisations.
Throughout your studies you will engage with experts from the wider journalism landscape, including guest speakers and networking opportunities.
The Careers Service
Meanwhile, our Careers Service can also offer advice and guidance on finding work during and after your studies.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2026/2027 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £14300
- International - full-time: £27500
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
Scott Trust Foundation Bursary
UK applicants for this programme are eligible to apply for the Scott Trust Foundation Bursary, which consists of:
- a bursary covering full tuition fees
- £5,000 subsistence allowance
Aziz Foundation Scholarship
Up to nine full fee waiver scholarships are available. The scholarship is open to British Muslims who are Masters offer holders with specific career aspirations, including a career in media or journalism.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Paying your fees
Find out about paying your tuition fees.
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.
How to apply
Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your academic qualifications
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
- Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
There is no deadline for applications, however applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid disappointment.
Interviews
Applicants who are considered suitable for the programme based on their application will be shortlisted to attend an interview, usually online.
Applicants who wish to visit campus and meet staff and students can visit during Open Days or make individual arrangements with the programme convenor, Terry Kirby, t.kirby(@gold.ac.uk).
Applicants who are selected for interview will be asked to complete some journalism exercises in advance.
Portfolios
We will usually ask to see a portfolio of your work, which should include evidence of published journalistic work, either in undergraduate student journalism or in the professional arena. You can also include evidence of journalistic or media work experience that has not resulted in published work.
Applicants without a portfolio can be considered for interview if they meet other selection criteria, including supplying an engaging personal statement. We may also ask some applicants without any journalism experience to undertake work experience in order to further understand how journalism operates in the workplace and to prepare themselves for the programme.
Personal statement
In your personal statement, we will be looking for evidence that you understand the programme and what studying at Goldsmiths is all about. We would also like you to demonstrate that you have an understanding and passion for journalism and what being a journalist involves.
You should cite your journalistic influences and media sources, as well as any relevant work experience in the field. You should also outline what you hope to achieve from the programme.
Find out more about applying.
