MSc Journalism and Communication

University of Stirling

Accuracy, impartiality, truth. The values of journalism really matter in today’s world of misinformation. Despite its core values, contemporary journalism is constantly changing. It offers new career opportunities funded by new revenue and news gathering models (source: Journalism 2024). Our MSc International Journalism will make sure you have the practical skills to stay relevant. We focus on investigative journalism and how it’s applied across various cultural, political and regulatory environments. You’ll learn how to navigate the practical challenges of reporting in an international context. You’ll learn about: basic news gathering newswriting podcasting photography videography data analysis interview techniques documentaries Hands-on teaching from experienced experts You’ll receive hands-on teaching from experienced journalists and top academic researchers. Recent speakers and contributors to the course have included: Pulitzer Prize-nominated New York Times journalist Azadeh Moaveni; BBC Verify social media investigations correspondent Marianna Spring; former BBC Washington correspondent and Radio 4 Today programme presenter James Naughtie; award-winning Channel 4 News investigative journalist Jamal Osman; a former editor-in-chief of The Scotsman, now one of the paper’s leading columnists; an ex-specialist correspondent for the Press Association and Independent on Sunday; a serving BBC Scotland reporter; Billy Briggs and Karin Goodwin, co-editors of award-winning investigative website The Ferret; campaigning environmental investigative journalist Jan Goodey. Emphasis on investigative research and reporting Our course kicks off with a look at how to conduct open-source investigations. This is delivered by internationally renowned investigative journalism collective, Bellingcat. You'll learn how to conduct in-depth interviews and produce long-form investigative journalism features. Course flexibility for your career goals Tailor your studies by choosing a more practice or theory-led route depending on your career ambitions. Check the course details for more information. Comprehensive employability and skills programme Our employability and skills programme to helps you to develop the attributes that employers look for. The University of Stirling’s Careers Service works in partnership with academic staff to ensure you are ready for the employment market. Meet our students; Choose from the course modules to follow a more practice or theory-led route depending on your career ambitions. The practical modules take a multimedia approach to journalism. Students can benefit from co-supervision of their final practical projects by an investigative journalist from award-winning website The Ferret. More theoretical modules explore key issues in international journalism such as: media pluralism and the public sphere; media systems, press freedom, regulation and censorship; discourse, framing and representation; misinformation, disinformation and ‘fake news’; political economy of the news media. You’ll also learn about the wider socioeconomic, political and cultural significance of journalism and its relationship to democracy.