Visual Journalism
The course aims to produce agile and effective communicators who are skilled in visual journalism and multimedia storytelling. USW recognises that content is king when it comes to communications and this MA offers a practical and theoretical approach to understanding the way information is created and consumed.
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Key Course Details
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Start Date
September
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Location
Cardiff
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Campus Code
B
Fees
Home students
£10,800*
International students
£16,900*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
You will explore a range of new and dynamic approaches to content creation for a variety of sectors and platforms, while honing the key principles of journalistic storytelling and accurate and responsible communications. Information exchanges have the power to influence widely, be consumed globally and set brands and individuals in a viral context.
DESIGNED FOR
People who want to make a significant impact on and contribution to the media and creative industries. Those keen to be a part of the ever evolving, fast paced world of media and communications and develop the skills to stand out and thrive in a field which requires creatives to be current and future thinking, agile and aware.
Career Paths
- Visual Journalist
- Content creator
- Media manager
- Researcher
- Social Media manager
Skills taught
- Journalism
- Storytelling
- Social media
- Audio/visual production
- Research
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Module Overview
This is a full-time, one year course which will challenge, develop and equip you for the next chapter in your career as a confident and effective communicator. There is a strong emphasis on visual content creation and telling stories in a way which underpins effective journalism and acknowledges the changes in consumers’ attention spans, and the need for organisations and individuals to get their message across in a clear and engaging way.
Creative Visual Storytelling
This 40-credit module offers an introductory insight into the key principles of the current practices of visual journalism and media communications, as well as the importance of ethics and codes of conduct. The emphasis is on facilitating the exploration of possibilities and developing interests in a range of industry-related areas.
There is a focus on client-led and live briefs, including multiplatform storytelling, data visualisation, short form video, mobile generated content, augmented realities, 360 video and interactive media, exploring new ways to create content for a variety of online and social platforms and media and communications outlets.
Persuasive Writing
Using the fundamentals of journalism practice as a starting point, this module explores writing and storytelling for a range of platforms and outlets, from social media to commercial copywriting to news stories. It will require the development of unique styles while appreciating the requirements of the professional communicator to convey the specifics of the message with accuracy, an appropriate tone, and the ability to follow an agreed brief that feeds into the written narrative.
Communications: From concepts to practices
An introductory critique of key concepts and tools of modern journalism and communications practice. It examines the theoretical underpinnings of the subject by exploring how they are utilised to ameliorate or influence issues within society, industry and the environment. Understanding how traditional means of communications are evolving and how the industry is impacted, is central to being able to build effective strategies that work in this fast-paced environment.
The Media Workplace
Introduces and helps facilitate the work-based experience and the practical application of producing industry-based content. This is achieved through placement or workplace simulation and through identifying the expectations and practices of working to industry requirements and developing professional competences.
Media Research Toolkit
Examines the approaches required for researching within media organisations, to inform critical analysis of the media and in particular, media audiences, while developing the ability to identify sources appropriate to specific research tasks and communicate these to a range of different audiences.
It seeks to develop professional competence in identifying and realising opportunities for digital story-telling across a range of platforms by originating ideas, gathering component materials and producing appropriate multi-media artifacts.
Media Power and Justice
A sound understanding of the law and the ethical issues facing journalists and communicators is vital to enable them to operate effectively and professionally. The aim of this module is to provide knowledge of media-related law, regulation and ethics as applied specifically to multiplatform storytelling in journalism and the wider communications industry. It builds confidence to operate safely by discussing, critiquing and working through the emerging challenges in this area, from who owns the copyright of an image to whether a social media post could result in a court appearance.
Real World Practice
The 40-credit final major project is the culmination of a year’s learning and offers a chance to develop expertise and interests. Students are supported to identify, design and produce a significant body of work that exhibits their level of technical, aesthetic and intellectual abilities in relation to their chosen specialism or interest.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Typical qualification requirements:
A minimum 2:2 Honours degree in a relevant discipline or appropriate professional qualification, or an HND/HNC and relevant experience; or equivalent international qualifications.
Those without such qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, where prior experience will be taken into account.
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 7.5 with a minimum of 7.5 in each component/TOEFL 102 overall and a minimum of 27 in reading, 27 in listening, 24 in speaking and 29 in writing or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our country.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your English Language pages is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
£10,800
per year*£16,900
per year*Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
USW has computers available on campus and laptops for loan. However, it is highly recommended that you have your own laptop, capable of running Microsoft Office 365. Students can download a free copy of Adobe software relevant to the course.
Cost: Up to £500
Students may be required to travel to work experience opportunities and/or need suitable workplace attire.
Cost: Variable
Media Loans
You can hire a range of equipment, for your assignments and practical work, for free from our Media Loans facility.
Media LoansUniversity Quality Assurance
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Course Highlights
How you’ll learn
MA Visual Journalism is taught in a creative and professional environment by staff who are passionate about their subject specialisms and keen to support the next generation of post-graduates to find their niche, while developing a broad and relevant range of skills.
Lectures, seminars and workshops are the main methods of delivery, alongside individual and group tutorials and studio and practical sessions. This is a full-time course which requires a significant amount of time spent on individual research, planning and creative production.
Students are assessed through the practical work they produce, from portfolios to presentations and via the theoretical and critical written work they develop alongside it. Written and verbal feedback is provided in a number of ways by academic, technical and support staff and students are encouraged to actively examine their own work against industry expectations.
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Teaching staff
Course leader Julie Kissick has extensive experience in broadcasting and journalism, as well as management and strategic operations. Many of the teaching staff have worked as practitioners in the media and communications industry and as a result have significant experience and network contacts, locally, nationally and internationally. Staff are industry or academically trained and active in research, development and/or consultancy, with a passion for developing the next generation of professionals to thrive in the highly charged and ever-evolving area of journalism and communications.
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Placements
Work experience, both in terms of participating in the delivery of client-led briefs and individual and collective placements, are an important component of the course. They facilitate students to develop an insight into their preferred area of employment and experience the requirements of their chosen field while building an awareness of professional practices to help broaden and hone their skill-base. They also bolster confidence and offer insights into pathways to career options.
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Facilities
Our Cardiff campus is located in the heart of the media and communications industry and students benefit from being in the centre of a booming creative hub, with everything from television production to independent arts venues, national broadcasters and internationally renowned communications companies, all operating in and around the city.
Our well-equipped studios include state-of-the-art broadcasting and media facilities with industry-standard software packages. There is an on-site cinema, television and radio studios, theatre and conference spaces which can be utilised for masterclasses and guest lectures as well as students having access to facilities on other campuses, including the Hydra Simulation Centre and the Sport Park.
Equipment
At our Cardiff Campus we have a vast range of equipment that you will be trained to use as part of your course. To help support your studies we have a Media Loans facility that allows you to hire the equipment, at no cost, for you to then use for your assignments and practical work. We have both basic and high-end film and photography cameras, portable lighting and sound equipment as well as a range of professional studio recording microphones, instruments and associated equipment to use in our music studios or on location. The team of technical officers and instructors are also available to help you with any queries and technical issues.
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Life at USW
Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.
Studying at USW
Our courses are designed with industry leaders and provide the practical skills and experiences industry demands. Our flexible courses reflect the need for life-long learning. If you value education in practice, not just in theory, then USW is for you.
How to apply
There is an online application process for this course. Please choose the application form for your preferred start date and mode of study (i.e. full-time or part-time).
International admissions
Please see our international admissions advice for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.