BA (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism

Accredited by: BJTC NCTJ

Our programme has been designed for individuals with a passion for journalism and current affairs and covers print, radio, television and the web. It is the only undergraduate programme in Scotland accredited by both the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), the two most respected industry benchmarks.

You'll gain the practical skill's key to success in this competitive industry such as shorthand, news reporting, and page layout, use sophisticated video, audio recording and editing equipment and write for online and social media. You will also study media law, government, ethics, and the media industries.

Our academic staff is all experienced journalists with excellent industry contacts. Guests from the BBC, STV, Newsquest and The Scotsman Publications frequently deliver guest lectures, mentor students and facilitate a wide range of placements and extracurricular opportunities to boost your CV and career prospects.

This programme offers Erasmus+ funded exchange and non-European exchange opportunities.

Professional Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC).

Industry-Standard Facilities

You will have access to modern, industry-standard facilities including our purpose-built multimedia newsroom to produce television and radio news packages, HD TV studio, and two digital radio presentation studios.

Technical facilities for Practical Journalism:

Dedicated Newsroom

22 Dell PCs with: Adobe In Design CS6 & In Copy page production & copy editing software, MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, MS Internet Explorer, Dreamweaver web creation software, Wordpress blog/WCMS, Photoshop Elements, Burli radio news network editing system, PA newswire feed, Newslink feed, Sky News radio feed, ENPS broadcast news production system; DVD, 2 Avid HD networked digital video edit suites, Digital TV and radio monitors with playout link from adjacent TV and radio studios, player, freeview box, phone books, reference directories, daily newspapers and weekly magazines; 4 phones; 10 iPhone-based mobile journalism kits including mic and multiple apps.

Radio Presentation & Production Suites

2 x Clyde Broadcast Synergy Bronze digital radio studios with hard-disk playout system, Burli radio news network editing system monitor/access, in audio soundproof studios (each accommodating 4), plus separate control booths & Audition v2 control/edit system. 20 x Adobe Audition digital audio edit suites (M318/M321A). 23 Tascam DR-40 Linear digital audio recorders.

TV Production Studio

2 x Clyde Broadcast Synergy Bronze digital radio studio & hard-disk playout system, in 2 audio soundproof studios (accommodates 4), plus control booth & Audition v2 control/edit system. 50 x Adobe Audition digital audio edit suites (20 in the newsroom), 8 x Marantz PMD661 memory card reporter-recorders. 23 x Tascam audio recorder kits. 10 x iPhone recorder kits.

Extra Editorial / Radio Production Suites

2 x additional computer/production labs – 1 room x 10 PCs, plus 1 room x 20 PCs – all 30 machines with: Adobe In Design CS6 & In Copy page production & copy editing software, MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, MS Internet Explorer, Dreamweaver web creation software, Wordpress blog/WCMS, Photoshop Elements, Burli radio news network editing system, ENPS broadcast news production system.

Language Option

A language option at an appropriate level assuming some prior study can be taken in 2nd or 4th year.GCU offers French, Spanish and German and Italian from beginners to professional level.

Study Exchange

In the third year, you have the opportunity to study abroad through our successful international exchange programmes. University journalism courses taught in English are currently available with partners institutions in Barcelona, Melbourne, New York, Ottawa, and Tennessee.

Assessment Methods

You will be taught print and broadcast skills to the standards of our accrediting bodies the NCTJ and BJTC, using the same criteria and marking schemes. Guest tutors from industry are frequently involved in teaching and contribute to your assessment. All practical journalism assessments are submitted and assessed electronically online or produced and marked live if broadcast productions. In the final year, you will complete a double-module professional project or portfolio of your best journalism, which counts the same as your Dissertation towards your Honours marks.

Our students consistently win more nominations and awards in the Scottish Student Journalism Awards than other courses at Scottish universities.

Teaching Methods

You will be writing and submitting electronically practical journalism items not less than fortnightly, and weekly in some subjects. You will normally get detailed online feedback on your stories within three weeks. Blogs and wikis are also used, which allow you to build your knowledge and understanding step-by-step, as well as pooling ideas with classmates and learning collaboratively.

In the third year, you produce live 'Newsday' weekly. Working in teams, you'll originate, produce and present radio and TV news bulletins, newspapers and online news pages.

Your practical workshops take place in industry-standard equipped radio & TV studios, newsrooms, and edit suites, with full time and guest industry tutors overseeing your work.

International exchanges are currently available for the study of journalism in English for half of the third year at universities in Canada, the USA, Spain or Australia.

What you will study

Year 1

News writing and Journalism, Shorthand Theory, Broadcast and Online Production1, Media Industries 1, Introduction to Media Analysis, The Business of Social Science, Introduction to Public Relations

Year 2

Reporting and Newspaper Journalism, Feature Writing and Magazine Journalism, Shorthand Speed Development (additional credit), Media Industries 2: Enterprise and Employability, Multi-level Governance, Broadcast & Online Production 2, option module

Year 3

Newsday, Specialist Reporting, Communications Law and Regulation, Research Methods: Theory and Practice, Media Analysis 2: Discourse, Ideology and the Media, The Enterprise Value Challenge

Year 4

Honours Dissertation, Media Project, Media Ethics, option module

Your career

Graduates have embarked on careers with national and local organizations including the BBC, STV, The Herald, Daily Record, The Drum, news agency Deadline and local newspapers.