Journalism Courses

What is Journalism?

Journalism is the research, gathering, and reporting of events, news, and information that impacts society and appeals to assorted audiences.

A journalist is an individual trained to collect, gather and assess information in the form of text, audio, or pictures and then processes them to a news-worthy form and distributes it to the public. Journalists report information in the form of investigative reports, news, features, columns, and reviews.

Journalism is an open medium, meaning the intended audience includes the entire community or the public. Once the journalist reports the information, that information is available to anyone wishing to receive it.

What 3rd level courses are available?

Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering Journalism courses in the following subject areas:

• MA in Journalism – The study of the practical, theoretical, technical, and analytical elements of the media environment and journalism.
• Higher National Diploma in Journalism – A practical journalism course that prepares you to work across all platforms: print, broadcast journalism, online journalism, mobile journalism, and social media.
• Writing Skills for Journalism – The study of writing skills and understanding how the reading public is offered information.
• Print Journalism – The study of writing skills, editing and sub-editing, journalism, research skills, and political and social affairs.
• Get Into Journalism – Gain an overview of a journalist’s life; the perfect introduction for moving to journalism training.
• Diploma in Journalism & Content Creation – Gain the knowledge and skills to work in new media, content creation, or broadcast journalism.
• Getting Started in Journalism & Understanding Mainstream Media – The study of writing articles, interviewing techniques, media analysis, and basic media law.
• Journalism for New Media, TV, and Radio – Gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to start a career in the exciting world of journalism for online, video, podcasting, TV, radio, and print.
• MA / Postgraduate Diploma in TV and Radio Journalism – Gain an understanding of the media industries as well as journalism-specific production skills.
• MA in Journalism and Public Relations – The study of journalism and public relations from the perspective of a PR content creator and strategic planner.

Studying Journalism in college

Many Journalism courses take place over 1 year to 4 years depending on the course and modules selected. There are also part-time courses and night courses available so you can be sure to fit in your studies no matter what your schedule is like.

Courses will cover theory work through lectures, assignments, tutorials, and taught modules. Assessments will take place continuously with written examinations and practical assignments combined to achieve a qualification. You could also consider work experience or volunteering to help with a student newspaper, magazine, or radio station will be helpful. You could also start your blog to develop your writing style and interview techniques.

You must build up a portfolio of work and gain as much relevant experience as possible. Working

Work Experience will not only allow you to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the industry, but it will also give you a chance to do some essential networking with other industry professionals and gain valuable contacts for the future.

Career options

After completing a course in Journalism you will be able to get started in a career that uses specific knowledge of writing and journalism.

The field of Journalism is open to graduates of any discipline but an undergraduate degree in journalism, English, or writing may improve your chances. However, some editors may be more interested in graduates with a specialist degree subject, such as economics or science.

Working hours will depend on where you work and the type of journalism you do. The hours are frequently long and unsocial. You should expect to work some evenings and weekend or shift work is very common in the industry. You will need to be flexible to accommodate breaking news and deadlines.

Office spaces are usually open plan and may be noisy. Although you will spend much of your time working on a computer and the phone, the work will also involve some traveling to meet people or to cover events, often at short notice. Journalists often travel within a working day and there may be opportunities to work abroad.

Related jobs include:

• Broadcast journalist
• Magazine journalist
• Newspaper journalist
• Editorial assistant
• Magazine features editor
• Political risk analyst
• Press sub-editor
• Publishing copy-editor
• Web content manager
• Writer
• Advertising copywriter
• Digital copywriter
• Market researcher
• Multimedia specialist
• Public relations officer
• Science writer
• Translator

Further study

After completing a course in Journalism you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field to increase your knowledge base and skillset. Postgraduate study can also be used as a means to change career focus or to gain professional qualifications required to practice in certain career areas such as marketing or public relations.

FAQ

Which subject is best for journalism?

Subjects such as Modern Language, Creative Writing, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology are all excellent starting points for a journalism foundation.

Are there different types of journalism?

Here are some types of journalism that you might experience every day:

· Investigative journalism

· Watchdog journalism

· Online journalism

· Broadcast journalism

· Opinion journalism

· Sports journalism

· Trade journalism

· Entertainment journalism

· Political journalism

What is good journalism?

Journalism is guided by the following values:

· Honesty: journalists must be truthful

· Diligence: a journalist should gather and present pertinent facts to provide a good understanding of the subject reported

· Accountability: a journalist must be accountable for their work, prepared to accept criticism and consequences.

Where can I study Journalism?

Explore your options here

Did You Know?

· Research shows 41% of people like getting their local news on television, and 37% prefer getting it online—a roughly even split. Only 13% say they prefer a printed newspaper, and a mere 8% choose radio.

· Wiener Zeitung, the Austrian government’s official gazette was first published in 1703 and is considered to be the oldest surviving daily newspaper in the world.

· In 2019, 49 journalists were killed worldwide; the year before, the death toll was 80. The most dangerous countries in 2019 were Syria and Mexico, where 10 journalists were killed in each. In Mexico in particular, journalists are often put under surveillance or threatened for exposing public corruption.

· The first 24-hour television news network was Cable News Network, aka CNN, which debuted in 1980 and challenged the dominance of CBS, ABC, and NBC, which each aired 30-minute nightly newscasts. Mocked at first as the Chicken Noodle Network, CNN hit its stride with its live coverage of the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986, the three-day-long rescue of toddler Jessica McClure from a well in Midland, Texas in 1987, and live reports from the Persian Gulf War in 1991.