Course information

Length

1 year full-time

Scholarship information

Funding available

Course overview

Please note that this programme has been suspended for 2024-25 entry. You can explore other programmes by visiting our course finder.

This is a highly practical, intensive programme covering everything you need to know to get started in television journalism.

This course is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council

  • Whether your sights are set on being behind the camera as a producer, appearing on screen as a foreign correspondent, or heading off to far-flung parts of the world to make investigative documentaries - it’s vital you get a solid understanding of the basics, from the ground up. 
  • That’s exactly what this programme will teach you: newsgathering, production, reporting skills, writing for broadcast, filming and self-shooting, video editing, presenting, online longer-form current affairs, using social media, mobile journalism, researching stories and verification. We provide a broad curriculum to the highest professional standards, so you’re prepared to work in today’s ultra-competitive, ever-changing media environment.
  • The programme is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), which represents broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV News, Sky, Reuters, Channel 4, and AP. The BJTC also provides valuable input from key figures within television to make sure we teach the skills the industry demands and supports the provision of work placements.

What will you learn as an MA Television Journalism student

  • Employers tell us that when they’re recruiting the journalists of tomorrow, they’re looking for all-round skills, innovative ideas and a can-do attitude. You’ll also get a thorough grounding in media law and ethics, media theory and journalistic research skills and tools.
  • You’ll learn your craft from dedicated, hugely experienced media practitioners with careers in broadcasting and extensive teaching experience. Our teaching staff get to know all of our students personally, helping them to achieve their full potential by providing continual feedback and support.
  • Visiting speakers share their knowledge of current industry practice: names such as Sarah Sands (BBC Today programme editor), Paul Mason (ex Newsnight and Channel 4), Owen Jones (Guardian columnist), Emily Buchanan and David Loyn (BBC international TV correspondents), Matt Cooke (Google News Lab), Jimmy Wales (co-founder of Wikipedia), Rich Parry (award-winning TV cameraman and director), and Stuart Earl (BBC TV, news director).
  • Every week during the first half of the MA students produce a TV Newsday, replicating industry practice and under supervision by experienced journalists and production tutors.  Students are also encouraged to contribute news packages and social media videos to the department’s media platforms Twitter and Facebook.

Why Goldsmiths? 

  • The Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies has been ranked 2nd in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 12th in the world (2nd in the UK) in the 2022 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies.

Award winners

  • Our students go on to work for all the major UK broadcasters, including BBC, ITV News, Sky, Channel 4 news as well as international organisations such as AP, AFP, CNN, ABC and Reuters. Employers value their all-round skills and they regularly win awards for their work.
  • In 2021 one of our students won Best TV Documentary in the annual BJTC awards. In 2017 our students won more BJTC awards than any other university, scooping prizes for Best Newsday, Best TV Documentary and the Steve Harris Award for Best Original Story, which also featured in the Guardian. They were also shortlisted for Best TV News Item. Other wins have included Best News Feature at the Royal Television Society and runner-up Documentary Feature in the Amnesty International student awards.
  • This degree is part of our School of Journalism. Find out more about what we do and other degrees we teach.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Linda Lewis.

What you'll study

Overview

The programme is a practical introduction to TV news journalism. Modules are practical and skills-based but are taught within a theoretical framework which is only possible in an institution renowned for its research work.

You'll cover:

  • television journalism practice, split into three distinct areas of News, Long form and Professional Practice
  • practice theory
  • research methodologies
  • key media law and ethical issues in relation to UK and US media law

In the first term, you are taught in lectures, small group seminars and practical workshops for a period of approximately 12-15 hours. During the rest of the week, you are expected to work on individual and joint projects without supervision.

In the second term, teaching time of 8-10 hours is usually concentrated on two or three days per week to allow more time for production.

In the third term, you are expected to work, with support, on your production for assessment.

Compulsory modules

Module title Credits
Media, Law and Ethics 30 credits
Asking the Right Questions: Research and Practice 15 credits
Journalism in Context 15 credits
Television Journalism Practice: News 30 credits
Television Journalism Practice: Long form 75 credits
Television Journalism Professional Practice 15 credits

Assessment

Essay; unseen examination; production portfolio comprising the research, planning, shooting and editing of original current affairs reports; coursework assessment.

Download the programme specification.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject. You also need a level of practical experience, and a strong interest in television production and journalism.

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

International students holding offers conditional upon fulfilling IELTS requirements should ensure they arrange IELTS tests in good time so that they are able supply certificates no later than June 30. This will allow proper time for consideration and the visa application process.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees, funding & scholarships

To find out more about your fees, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

Scholarships

Find out more about funding opportunities on our departmental funding page.

BAFTA scholarship
UK students offered a place on this MA are eligible to apply for the BAFTA Scholarship Programme. Find out more on our departmental funding page.

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

  • Details of your academic qualifications
  • The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
  • Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
  • personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
  • A CV
  • A portfolio of video or journalistic work (see details below)

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Exercise

You will also be asked to complete a short pre-interview exercise.

You should choose a current news story which interests you then:

  1. Write a short summary of the story in no more than 150 words
  2. Record a short video 'piece to camera' of yourself on your phone or computer – as if you were a TV correspondent, talking about why you believe the story is new, significant, and interesting. Please make your video about one and a half minutes long.
  3. Upload to the Admissions portal where you have uploaded the other documents or send put it online and send us the link.

Portfolio

You’ll need to submit a portfolio containing links to 3 pieces of work, demonstrating your ability to succeed in this highly practical programme. Examples of your work can include:

  • Video/Documentary
  • Blogs
  • An example of work you have produced for TV/Radio
  • Online articles with supporting visuals

If your work is not in English subtitles must be provided.

When submitting your application, please also submit (upload under 'additional') an example of your recent work in a related field, or include links to a page hosting that work. You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password. If you experience any issues with the upload process you can instead email your portfolio to admissions(@)gold.ac.uk quoting your reference number. Find out more about providing work.

Deadline for applications

There is no deadline for applications, however, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

When to apply

Applications are open from October and are considered on a rolling basis.

Find out more about applying.

Facilities

As an MA Television Journalism student, you will use our state of the art 'virtual studio' to produce our weekly TV news show, taking turns to run the gallery under the supervision of a BBC News director. You will edit, present, report, and produce an 'as live' programme which will be available for the public to watch online.

We have three large, networked newsrooms equipped with Macs and Adobe Creative Suite for you to use when editing. You will also have a number of portable TV camera kits assigned for your exclusive use, via a booking system. Experienced technical tutors are on hand to help with editing and filming as well as supporting WordPress use on our news platforms. 

You will benefit from access to optional sessions in radio, along with workshops in breaking news, mobile journalism, freedom of information (FOI) requests and international reporting.

Careers

Skills

You'll develop:

  • A critical understanding of television journalistic practice
  • an awareness of the techniques appropriate to television journalism
  • project management skills
  • multimedia journalism skills

Careers

We pride ourselves on producing ‘thinking journalists’ and that’s what gives our alumni the edge, making them so sought after by editors and programme makers.  

In the last three years alone our MA Television Journalism graduates have secured places on highly competitive trainee programmes such as BBC News, ITV News Regional Reporter and AP Global News training schemes.

Others have gone on to work for ABC New York, BBC Arabic, Sky News, Economist Films, Polish TV (London correspondent), Al Jazeera, AP newsdesk London, BBC Newsnight, Hardcash Productions/ITV Exposure, Vice France, Manchester City FC video production unit and Wimbledon Tennis championships reporting for Chinese TV. They have also won generous grants from One World Media to make documentaries in the developing world.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths

Student work

Church and State, by Katriona Thompson, Vicky Double and Vicky Tseng, won Best TV News Documentary in the 2017 Broadcast Journalism Training Council awards

Similar programmes

MA/MSc Digital Journalism

With an industry-informed curriculum, this future-focused MA combines computing and media and communications to reflect digital journalism at its most current.

MA Audio, Radio and Podcasting

Sound is the most dynamic part of the media industry right now and this long-standing MA in Audio, Radio and Podcasting will give you the theoretical knowledge and practical experience to navigate it and excel in it. We value what you have already achieved. Creativity in the audio medium is a uniquely personal experience and your existing knowledge and skills mean you'll be able to add diversity to the area of the industry you intend to join.

MA Journalism

Accredited with distinction by the Professional Publishers Association, this practical MA gives you the essential skills to work as a journalist for multiple audiences across myriad platforms.

MA Script Writing

The skills of storytelling are timeless. Tackle the creative, analytical and professional sides of script writing for film, television and radio on this industry-accredited MA.

Related content links