MA International Journalisms (2019 entry)

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Students must take 180 credits comprised of 120 taught credits (including core and option modules) and a 60 credit dissertation
Select the equivalent of FIVE Modules comprising full (30) and half (15) Modules including the dissertation

Understanding journalism is crucial in today’s mediated world. The spread of the Internet, social media and the advent of comparatively cheap communications technology holds out the promise of enabling a more diverse range of actors to shape journalism. The forms and practices involved in such journalism could also enable greater inclusivity, supporting a range of progressive aims such as advocacy, peace, development and greater intercultural understanding. At the same time, widespread cost-cutting in mainstream journalism and the speeded-up journalistic practices used to service multiple delivery platforms threaten to further entrench the norms and definitional advantages of the wealthy and powerful because of their greater ability to subsidise journalism through public relations material.

This course draws upon the unique positioning of SOAS in higher education in order to examine how such tensions affect contemporary journalistic representations of the Global South and how they relate to different cultural, political, technological and historical contexts. Therefore this course springs from a pluralistic critical perspective: seeking to analyse how others represent Southern countries and events and how Southern actors seek to represent themselves. This contrasts strongly with other Journalism MAs taught in the UK, which are usually constrained by the norms and priorities of British professional accreditation bodies.

To compliment the theoretical focus of the degree and to weave in the practitioner view alongside the media industry’s, this degree will have the expertise of Mahfuz Sadique who has had a career of over a decade in the BBC. (hyper link) Sadique, a Research Fellow at the Centre, will hold classes that focus on journalistic agency and newsroom practises in our present political economy. Mr Sadique will also act as mentor to students and provide guidance and insights for a career in the media.

THE ON-LINE MODULE SIGN-UP SYSTEM GUIDES STUDENTS THROUGH THE AVAILABLE MODULES.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL OPTIONAL MODULES ARE AVAILABLE EVERY YEAR.

Dissertation

Taught Component

Core Modules

All students will take the following core module:

Compulsory Module

All students will take the following Compulsory Module:

Guided Options

All students will take modules to the value of 30 credits from list A: Media Studies modules (below)

AND

Open Options

All students will take modules to the value of 45 credits from List B: Recommended Options below or from the open options list if approved by programme convenor.

List of Modules (subject to availability)

List A: Media Studies Modules

List B: Recommended Options

This is the structure for applicants

Programme Specification

• MA International Journalisms Programme Specification 2018/19 (pdf; 227kb)

Important notice

Tuition Fees

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page.

This is a Band 1 tuition fee.

Fees for 2019/20 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

• How to Apply
• Online Application
• Request a prospectus
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• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts