Course overview
Are you excited by the world of radio, TV, social media and digital news and keen to be part of this constantly evolving industry?
Do you want to study in the region that’s home to Channel 4, ITN Productions and BBC Yorkshire?
This Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC)-accredited Broadcast and Digital Journalism degree combines advanced vocational training with academic study to prepare you for your career in journalism. It is designed to develop your practical broadcast and digital skills and show you the reality of delivering news to a range of audiences using online and traditional broadcast formats.
Our journalism graduates have secured jobs at the BBC, ITV, a range of newspapers and online sites as well as finding work in related areas such as public relations and digital marketing.
About this course
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
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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.
The Guardian University Guide 2024
Journalism Undergraduate Open Days
Journalism course trips to Manchester and London
Journalism Students produce an international show!
Course 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.
Year 1
During your first year, you will study two core modules.
Essential Journalism 1 (Core)
Drawing together the essential skills you need to be a journalist, you'll do a combination of practical and theoretical work.
Practical journalism
You'll cover news and factual content writing, online presentation, SEO, social media, visual communication, TV, radio, photography, interviewing, news sourcing and story development. If you're a Sports Journalism student you'll make sports-related content.
There will be no more than 15 students in each broadcast workshop and 30 in other classes.
Media law and regulation
You'll get an introduction to media law and industry regulation (IPSO and Ofcom). You'll also get voice training if you're a Broadcast Journalist student.
Theoretical journalism
You'll learn academic skills such as literature searching, citation and referencing, and academic writing. We'll also introduce you to theoretical concepts and the role of journalism in society.
Professional development
You'll get an introduction to the industry and the standards required in the workplace.
Essential Journalism 2 (Core)
We'll increasingly focus on multimedia production as we draw together the essential skills journalists need through practical and theoretical learning.
Practical journalism
You'll cover news and factual content writing, online presentation, SEO, social media, visual communication, radio, television, mobile journalism, photography, interviewing, news sourcing, story development and audience analytics.
You'll also be working in live newsroom production.
If you're studying Sports Journalism, you'll make sports-related content.
There will be no more than 15 students in each broadcast workshop and 30 in other classes.
Theoretical journalism
You'll learn academic skills such as literature searching, citation and referencing, and academic writing.
You'll explore theoretical concepts and the role of journalism and see how these perspectives align with practical work, media practice and being a journalist.
Professional development
You'll prepare to work in professional environments.
You'll also do a work placement or professional challenge project.
Year 2
During your second year, you will study three core modules and will be required to choose one option module.
Radio and Online Newsdays (Core)
Taking part in at least 15 newsdays, you'll produce content for radio news bulletins and podcasts in semester one, and content for online and social media platforms in semester two.
You'll develop your interviewing, writing and editing skills.
You'll explore video storytelling conventions, learn how to shoot on a mobile device and edit and publish video online.
You'll produce online stories and learn the importance of SEO and analytics.
You'll also complete a 15-day industry placement.
Public Affairs (Core)
You'll get vital insight, knowledge and an awareness of professional roles, public affairs and the regulatory responsibilities of journalists.
We'll give you a critical understanding of the political and commercial structures within which the media operate.
These include parliament, NHS, treasury, welfare, the EU, councils, education, elections and the constitution.
Journalism in Context (Core)
You'll be encouraged to use academic thinking around journalism to frame your understanding of power and influence connected to global coverage of current affairs and your future journalistic practice.
Critical analysis is an important part of the module, developing your academic skills.
Documentary: Concept to Practice (Option)
Develop your production and story-telling skills, working as a team to produce a seven-minute short film.
You'll learn the process of development, research, production, post-production, and the crucial role of narrative structure.
We'll explore the ethics behind the creative treatment of actuality, and provide a theoretical understanding of the role of non-fiction media products and their historical development.
Features and Magazines (Option)
You'll create a varied portfolio of magazine and feature writing through practical exercises.
These will involve using authoritative sources, research and interview skills, writing styles and the role of the internet for research and publication.
We'll explore the magazine market and develop your craft production skills, allowing you to create your own magazine.
Pitchside (Option)
As a sports journalist, you will cover a West Yorkshire team or sport as a patch reporter for ten weeks.
You'll go to press conferences, games and events and file content to an outward-facing sports news online platform.
Year 3
During your third year, you will study three core modules and will be required to choose one option module.
Professional Learning Through Work (Core)
You'll have the opportunity to undertake a practical work-based project, intervention or professional development project in a workplace setting. You'll be expected to negotiate a project with your work partner or prior placement provider that meets the needs of yourself and Leeds Trinity University.
This will enable you to develop and negotiate learning outcomes and assessment modes that provide you with the flexibility to apply both theoretical understanding and practical work-based development to a chosen context.
Media Law and Regulation (Core)
Focussing on court reporting, regulatory codes and media law, you'll study topics including defamation, contempt of court, reporting restrictions, copyright and privacy.
You'll go to court to write a story for your portfolio. There's also an internal exam.
You'll get a sound knowledge and understanding of law and regulation (IPSO, Ofcom and IMPRESS) with a focus on industry disciplines and best practice whilst working as a Journalist.
TV and Social Media Newsdays (Core)
You'll take part in at least 15 television and social media newsdays.
You will learn practical skills used to capture and edit television and social media content, including TV production and presentation.
PR and Promotions (Option)
Working on real-life case studies, you'll examine the context of public relations and promotions in the media and explore the methods used by industry professionals.
Techniques include news releases, media relations, events, social media and digital promotions.
You'll produce a portfolio and presentation as part of a team.
You'll get to work on real-life case studies and attend talks by business partners and guest speakers from the industry.
Shorthand (Option)
Enhance your employability by achieving shorthand note-taking at speeds of 60 to 100 words per minute.
The module aims to help you attain the NCTJ shorthand diploma module demanded by news employers.
If you opt to take the optional NCTJ Court Reporting exam you must also choose this Shorthand module as your option for study at Level 6. This is a condition of PSRB accreditation.
Advanced Audio Production (Option)
During the module, you'll contribute to a live radio show broadcast on BCB Radio and produce a three-minute radio news package.
You'll edit audio using Adobe Audition's multi-track editor, and learn about radio programme production and advanced storytelling using audio.
You'll get a deeper understanding of radio and podcast production.
Final Project (Option)
Consolidate your skills from your degree course by producing a dissertation, a work-based learning project with a portfolio, or an artefact (which could be a portfolio).
All routes involve detailed research, working with university supervision and relevant sources, experts, industry professionals and work partners.
Professional work placements
Experience matters. That's why we embed professional work placements within our standard undergraduate degrees.
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:
Learning and Teaching
At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.
Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:
- high quality teaching
- an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
- a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.
We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.
We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:
- Student Involvement and Engagement
- Inclusion
- Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
- Digital Literacy and Skills
- Employability and Enterprise
To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.
We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:
- Personalised support
- Expert lecturers
- Strong connections with employers
- An international outlook
- Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development
Programme delivery
Your time on campus, learning through in-person teaching, is at the heart of your academic experience and the way we deliver our programmes. This is supported and further enhanced by additional engagement activities and opportunities provided online and through digital teaching materials. This blended approach seeks to ensure a positive learning and teaching student experience.
Your programme of study has been carefully designed around a three-phase model of delivery:
- Preparation: You will be given clear tasks to support you in preparing for live teaching. This could include watching a short-pre-recorded lecture, reading a paper or text chapter or preparing other material for use in class.
- Live: All your live teaching will be designed around active learning, providing you with valuable opportunities to build on preparation tasks, interact with staff and peers, and surface any misunderstandings.
- Post: Follow-up activities will include opportunities for you to check understanding, for staff to receive feedback from you and your peers to inform subsequent sessions, and for you to apply learning to new situations or context.
Preparation, Live and Post teaching and learning and the digital materials used will vary by course, but will be designed to help you structure your learning, take a full and active part in your course, and apply and test your developing knowledge and skills.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.
For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Entry Requirements
Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.
Information about the large range of qualifications we accept, including A-Levels, BTECs and T Levels, can be found on our entry requirements page. If you need additional advice or are taking qualifications that are not covered in the information supplied, please contact our Admissions Office.
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| UCAS tariff | 112-144 |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE English Language or English Literature at grade C/4 or higher is required |
Interview Information
Applicants who meet the entry criteria will be invited to interview. You will need to attend an interview before we can offer you a place on this course.
Fees and finance
Funding
UK Home Students:
Tuition fees cost £9,250 a year for this course in 2024/2025.
Part-time tuition fees will be prorated accordingly to the number of credits you're studying.
Depending on government policy, tuition fees may change in future years.
Tuition fees for 2025/26 entry will be set in summer 2024.
Living costs, e.g. accommodation, travel, food, will also need to be taken into consideration.
Leeds Trinity offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to help support students while you study.
International Students, including EU Students:
Visit our webpage for international students.
Part-time study is not available for international students on a Student Route Visa.
Additional costs
We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees:
- Recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
- On some courses there may be additional costs, such as field trips, equipment, accreditations, that may be part-funded by the University. More details will be provided at the start of the course.
- You'll need to include placement/s travel and associated costs too, however the University will contribute a standard amount towards your total expenditure.
- The University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online.
How to apply
For full-time undergraduate courses, you apply through UCAS. That's the University and Colleges Admissions Service.
On your application form, you'll need to know our institution code - it's L24 - and the course code. If you click through to the UCAS website using the button below, it'll take you to the right place with all the information you need.
You'll need to write a personal statement - we've prepared a guide to help you.
Although the equal consideration deadline has passed for 2024 entry there are still ways to apply now.
If you included five choices on your application, have received decisions from all five, and weren’t accepted, or if you declined the offers you received, you will be able to use Extra which opens on 28 February. If you use Extra to add another choice you cannot reverse this to go back to your original five choices.
If you did not use all your choices in your initial application, you don't need to use Extra, you can just sign in to your application and add another choice, as long as it’s before 30 June, and you’ve not accepted or declined any offers.
If you don’t hold any offers after 5 July, you will be able to add an additional choice using Clearing.
If you require a Student Route Visa in order to study in the UK, then you must meet all the conditions of your offer and present all supporting documentation required for the visa application no later than Friday 26 July 2024.
Applications are not yet open for courses starting in September 2025. You can register and start your application for 2025 from 14 May 2024, although you cannot submit it until later in the year. The UCAS application deadline for courses starting in September 2025 is 29 January 2025.
There's lots more information about the application process on the UCAS website, or you can get in touch with our admissions team who will be happy to help:
- call 0113 283 7123 (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm)
- email admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Graduate opportunities
Providing you with the opportunity to develop the professional skills and experience you need to launch your career is at the heart of everything we do at Leeds Trinity University.
Our journalism graduates have gone on to work in local BBC Radio, BBC World Sports Service, local and regional television, and as multimedia journalists for regional newspapers.
The course prepares you for various roles, which may include: Journalist, Researcher, PR, Vlogger, Reporter, Podcaster, Marketing Manager, Social Media Manager, Producer, Broadcast Assistant, and Project Manager.
After you graduate, Careers and Placements will help you as you pursue your chosen career through our mentoring scheme, support with CV and interview preparation and access to graduate employability events.
To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:
Our People
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