MA Multimedia Journalism

I am from Beirut. Before I joined MAMMJ, I was a journalist, working for TV and radio. I joined this course because I wanted to hone my journalism skills.

My favourite bit on MAMMJ was the Newsdays. These are long days where we replicate an actual newsroom. We go out and report, come back to the newsroom, and we produce and broadcast our stories. I have worked as a journalist before, but this was a still a learning experience for me.

As much as I love being a reporter, I pushed myself outside my comfort zone and took on an editor’s role on a Newsday. This was a first for me. And as overwhelming as it was, being editor, that day, is now one of my favourite memories of the course! I loved the prep, the planning and coordination and making sure there were enough stories in the pipeline.

Another favourite memory is the Breaker Pledge. It means a lot to me even now. It is a journalism oath that all MAMMJ students now take. It is special to me because I was part of the first cohort that launched it. It reminds us of our responsibilities, our accountability to the world and the ethical standards that all journalists should uphold.

I literally had tears in my eyes and goosebumps when I recited the pledge. When you come on MAMMJ, I urge you to take it with all seriousness.

I was saving my best experience for the last: my final project. I got to come back to my city for it and do a documentary. I was able to get funding from the Turing scheme via the university. And I got to tell a story that's really close to my heart.
 
My documentary was about the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020. What happened to my city and how the people pulled through it, I got the opportunity to tell that story through my lens.

I recently graduated from MA Multimedia Journalism. I now work at Sky, as a production operations assistant.

The reason I chose MAMMJ was because of the contact time with lecturers, who were also practising journalists and experts in their fields. The course was structured around producing and publishing journalism.
 
Though I knew about the content of the course, the intensity and the passion the lecturers had for producing content and getting it out there, on deadline, still surprised me. My bachelor’s degree is in politics and international relations, so this was a step-up. It was a great experience. And I was supported in so many ways to go out and pursue stories that I was really passionate about.

MAMMJ has made me a much more confident person. It's really taught me the skills of how to go out and interview, how to network, how to meet people, how to find an interesting way of looking at things — and how to present that clearly and concisely over different mediums.

That's something that you don't learn from just sitting in the classroom. You learn that by being in the environment. You learn that by going out and actually doing it.

I am a poet and a writer, a published author of a poetry book. I did my bachelor's in English Literature from India.

My bachelor's was all about writing, writing, writing. The reason I chose to do MAMMJ was because I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and develop my speaking abilities and storytelling techniques.

When I came here, I was worried. I wear a hijab and I wasn’t sure how I would be treated. I wanted people to identify me with my hijab. But I never felt like an outsider. In fact, on the course, I was encouraged to do stories about such issues.

My friend Simran and I went on to do a photo essay about hijab itself — how it was a statement of empowerment for many Muslim women. It was called My. Choice, and it was the runner-up for a BJTC national award.

The other aspect I really loved was the Newsdays. Especially the TV Newsday, where I presented news bulletins. It was a great experience. It made me feel that I could do broadcast journalism too, if I wanted to.

The confidence that MAMMJ has given me is huge. I feel I can do anything I am assigned to now. I can interview anyone, write, produce documentaries—I really loved the documentary module, and am so proud of my final project, which is on a social issue close to my heart—or be on radio.

I can't wait to graduate because I want to go out into the real world and do journalism.

I joined MA Multimedia Journalism at the most difficult point in my life. I worked for the BBC Media Action in Nigeria and I was doing pretty well. Then I lost my husband. My world basically closed on me. I felt I needed a fresh start.

When I first arrived in the UK with my two young children, it wasn’t easy. There were times I thought, I can’t do this. But the support I received was incredible. I remember one of my lecturers citing Hogwarts and telling me, "Help will always be given on MAMMJ to those who ask for it."

And it is true. I had arrived after the course started, and I remember lecturers setting up meetings to catch me up on what I had missed.

The sense I got from them all was that this was not a pass-fail course. There was no room for failure on the course the way everyone supported me. And it was not just about passing, either. It was about going beyond what you thought you could do.

The lecturers took me out of my comfort zone, and one of the projects that I worked with them outside the classroom, won the Community Radio national award for News, Journalism and Factual Storytelling. That was mind-blowing.

My experience has always been as a radio journalist. But the course gave me multimedia and storytelling skills that went beyond radio or audio. I have learnt to write articles, present and report better for TV, and make documentaries. But most importantly, the course has given me the confidence that the work I do, is good enough for an international audience. It has set me up beyond the borders of my own country.

MAMMJ has been my anchor during the darkest chapter in my life and it's been a rewarding experience. And to those coming after me, I have this to say: remember, you are here to grow and achieve things you never thought possible. Be open to go beyond your expectations and capabilities. Be ready to learn and unlearn. If I did it, you can do it too!

I come from Hanoi in Vietnam. I was working there as a TV and radio presenter for a youth program. But I wanted to do more than just presenting. I wanted to go out and report and tell the story of other people. This is why I joined MAMMJ.

I still remember my first week. It was the boot camp. We had one week, one week of very intense training. We learnt the basics very quickly — how to report, how to write, how not to write, what to write about, how to record audio and video, how to respect your sources and your teammates.

So, a lot of things in one week. But it set me up for the course. And I'm proud to say that within a few weeks, we were reporting on some really important events. We covered one of the first political debates for the UK general election. We wrote about the protests on Gaza for one of our assignments. As a big editorial team, we interviewed people in Israel and Ukraine and published their stories.

I am still studying, but I am proud to be a journalist. I feel pride. MAMMJ has given me that. It also made me brave. The course has given us the confidence to go into zones where people normally will not go into. I am now preparing to cover the anti-immigration protests this weekend for the Breaker. If I had not been a student on this course, I would have thought for myself, okay, I'll stay home. But now I want to go into the zone. I feel it is my duty to bring it out to the people.

• Digital Journalism: Insights and practices of multi-media journalism, using a mix of text, radio and TV. You'll become familiar with multiplatform publishing, collaborating in multimedia teams, and develop competence in producing and analysing evolving styles of journalism in many digital forms, including the use of Generative AI in text and visual formats.

• Journalism in Global Contexts: This unit explores journalism in global contexts, offering insights into the issues relating to gathering and distributing news in - and for - varied news cultures. You'll be challenged to debate the ethical, political, social and cultural dimensions involved in journalism products for national and transnational audiences, which will prepare you to assess journalism in today’s predominantly digital media environment.

• Legal & Ethical Context: Gain an understanding of media regulation, issues with press and broadcasting freedoms and approaches to the role of journalism and journalists, along with their ethical dilemmas and professional codes of conduct. You'll learn what you're legally allowed to report in the UK in situations including court proceedings and council meetings and how to avoid being sued, and consider what might be justified for publication in the public interest. This unit continues in Semester 2.

• Multimedia Reporting Skills: Develop your skills in researching and reporting news and current affairs in radio, TV and online formats. The unit will nurture your ability to write fluently, concisely and coherently to deadline, develop contacts and sources using traditional and emerging social media techniques, consider intellectual, ethical and professional issues associated with news reporting and execute depth of research and imaginative presentation. Tasks include researching, interviewing and editing, in professional standard newsrooms and studios.
• Journalism Project: You'll complete a self-conceived piece of independent research and produce an extended journalistic production under the guidance of a nominated supervisor. You’ll critically explore key issues and debates in journalism studies and develop a more specialised understanding in an area of your choice. There will be an opportunity to consider the relationship between journalistic practice and digital technologies. You’ll produce a reflective submission linked to your practical project. You’ll also be integrating, synthesising and extending the skills and knowledge you’ve gained so far and be able to prove you've met the intellectual, technical and personal skills demanded of a Master’s graduate.

Choose two of the following option units:

• Documentary Journalism: Examine documentary forms and practices in radio and television. Technical workshops in recording and production techniques are also included, and you'll produce an audio or video documentary.
• Media & Global Challenges: This unit explores the function and role of the media in the context of shared global challenges, and specifically those defined by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda. It will also examine the role of media and journalism to empower communities to respond to and reduce the risks posed by the challenges defined in the SDGs.
• Immersive & Interactive Storytelling: The unit aims to explore existing and emerging digital technologies which put the audience experience of a story at the heart of storytelling.
• Investigative Journalism: The history and practice of investigative journalism, and how it's applied to traditional and online media. You'll gain skills for reporting this way, be exposed to a variety of writings and approaches to the genre and gain insights into the key issues and debates around such journalism.
• New Media Innovation: You'll engage with key issues and debates facing a networked media landscape, where audiences as passive consumers make way for collaborative reporting and crowdsourcing. Ways new media can complement and improve existing journalistic processes will be at the forefront, including data journalism, increased transparency and accountability, mobile news applications and augmented reality, and the use of GenAI in media production. You'll gain an understanding of how to undertake developing online civic media projects for journalistic purposes.

*Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

You are required to undertake a minimum three-week placement during the course (usually during the Easter break), providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your own placement; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty placements office are on hand to support you.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university’s taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Our academic lead, Dr Gloria Khamkar, will support you to find a placement tailored to your career goals. You will also have access to our dedicated placement team, who will work to ensure you gain the practical skills you need to succeed. 

The Faculty of Media & Communication has a range of established, high-profile contacts which offer excellent placement opportunities. Organisations our students have previously worked with on placements include

• The BBC
• The Press Association
• Sky News
• Associated Press
• The Independent

We're looking for evidence of your ability to adapt to challenging situations, work under pressure, and think creatively. If you have relevant experience in journalism or related fields, or special interests that drive your desire to undertake MA Multimedia Journalism, we'd love to hear more.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods and therefore it may take us a little longer to process incoming applications. For courses with a January start date, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

This course has compulsory elements involving practical production activities. When required, students must complete a health and safety risk assessment to take part in these activities, for their safety and that of others. As part of that assessment students provide information about any conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability to undertake these activities fully or safely. 

If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact our Additional Learning Support (ALS) service about this before or after making an application. We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need. Our ALS team works with the Faculty to seek to put in place reasonable adjustments and health and safety plans.

Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety. If that is the case we will help you explore alternative course choices.

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject

• Applicants encouraged to provide details of relevant work experience

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry team for more information.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (four years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55%  
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:4  
• China: Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above  
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0  
• Ghana: Bachelor's degrees from University of Ghana or Legon with a grade of 2.00 or above, or from Cape Coast with a grade 2.5 or above  
• USA: US Bachelor’s degree (four years), with a 2.5 GPA or above  

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

• For January 2025 entry: IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 5.5 in all other components, or equivalent.
• For September 2025 entry: IELTS (Academic) 7.5 with a minimum of 7.5 in writing, speaking, listening and reading, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level. 

Roles our Multimedia Journalism graduates have taken on include:

• TV Reporter
• Radio Producer
• Online Content Editor
• Social Media Consultant
• Multimedia Journalist

Among the companies that our graduates have worked for are:

• BBC
• Sky
• Press Association
• ITV
• ILR
• Al Jazeera
• CNN
• Associated Press
• Reuters
• Bloomberg

• Media
• Journalism
• PR
• Digital
• Management

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Our fees commitment means your tuition fees are fixed at the price quoted.
• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity.
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study.
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces.
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow.
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions.
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances.
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills.
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• ​Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies. 
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• ​Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• ​Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Placement year funding information can be found on our website.
• You will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office or Digital ID verification charges.
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study. 
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during the course of your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full time fee.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. For September 2024 and January 2025 entry, a £5,000 deposit is required. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

We offer a range of scholarships to eligible students who are beginning their studies at BU. Please visit our funding pages for details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

Chindu Sreedharan is the Programme Leader of MA Multimedia Journalism. He is committed to fostering a global community of journalists who believe in telling stories that matter, with integrity and creativity. 
 
With a career spanning three decades, Chindu has worked as a reporter, editor and educator.  He began at The Sunday Observer in New Delhi, before joining India's original news portal, Rediff.com, in 1996. At Rediff, he worked as a roving editor, focusing on conflict and terrorism reportage. Chindu oversaw Rediff's Jammu & Kashmir coverage till 2003 as Associate Editor, reporting on the India-Pakistan war from Kargil (1999), the Orissa cyclone (1999), Maoist insurgency in central India, and religious extremism in north India, among others. His reportage from this time includes multi-chapter digital productions such as Blood in the Snow, and Karl and the Kalashnikov, and a range of in-depth Q&As with political personalities and insurgent leaders. 

Chindu holds a doctorate in journalism, for an investigation into the news coverage of the Kashmir conflict. His academic research focuses on ‘abnormal journalisms’—reportage that extends the boundaries of conventional newswork, from crisis and post-disaster situations, news on social media, as well as new forms of nonfictional narratives. 
 
As BU’s Professor of Journalism and Innovation, Chindu explores how new advancements, such as Generative AI, can ethically enhance 'news work', storytelling, and journalism education. 

As Programme Leader, Chindu is committed to helping journalists from diverse nations develop the abilities they need to succeed in a rapidly changing industry. He works to cultivate a stimulating learning environment that encourages students to achieve more than they thought they could. If you are passionate about 'good' journalism and storytelling, Chindu would love to hear from you. 

Connect with Chindu: 

Email: [email protected] | X: @Chindu | LinkedIn: Chindu Sreedharan | Blog: Indian in England

Dr Gloria Khamkar is a Principal Academic in Journalism at Bournemouth University. She began her career with All India Radio (Pune) and Zee News (Mumbai), and hosts the popular radio show Suhaana Safar on Southampton Unity 101.1 FM. 

Gloria holds a PhD and two master's degrees, including one in Radio Production and Management. She earned her doctorate exploring the significance of radio for immigrant communities, for a thesis titled The Evolution of British Asian Radio in England: 1960-2004. Her research interests include media and migrants, community media, and citizen journalism. She was an elected Council Board Member at the Community Media Association, UK, and has served as the Associate Editor for the Journal of Radio & Audio Media. For more information, see Gloria's academic profile. 

Gloria is passionate about promoting equity and diversity in the media industry, and strives to bring these values into her teaching practice. She is committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that empowers students to become thoughtful media practitioners. As an academic-practitioner, Gloria continues to be involved with radio programmes, contributing to international outlets such as Free Speech Radio News, Sound Medicine, Prime Time Post Script, and KCRW's Unfictional. 

Connect with Gloria: 

Email: [email protected] | X: @aglorious

Dr Michael (Mike) Sunderland is a Senior Lecturer in Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University. 

Following the completion of an MA in International Journalism in 2007, he began his career at Sky News as a foreign news producer. Later, he relocated to Kenya to work as a freelance video, radio and online journalist covering East and Central Africa.  

Mike specialises in humanitarian crises, both as a journalist and during two stints managing media relations for Save the Children. He has worked as a freelance humanitarian journalist, filmmaker and strategy consultant for a range of international organisations and news outlets.  

Upon entering academia, he began to transfer his breadth of knowledge into a body of published work, earning his PhD which explored the political and financial factors influencing how humanitarian aid agencies communicate about crises in the media. Mike is passionate about harnessing the power of the media as a catalyst for social change. He co-founded an international network on disability advocacy and sits on the boards of two campaigning organisations: Avaaz UK and Love the Oceans.  
 
A passionate internationalist, Mike also oversees global engagement in BU's Faculty of Media and Communications, providing leadership in areas such as international student mobility, international partnerships, international student recruitment, and international business development. He was the Programme Leader of MA Multimedia Journalism's between 2019 and 2023. 

Connect with Mike: 

Email: [email protected] | X: @Mike Sunderland | LinkedIn: Mike Sunderland

Dr An Nguyen is Professor of Journalism and Public Communication at Bournemouth University. A former award-winning Vietnamese science journalist and Australian-educated scholar, he is known internationally for his diverse expertise in several fast-evolving areas of journalism: digital journalism, citizen journalism, news consumption and citizenship, science and health journalism, data journalism, constructive journalism, and global media for development.  

Within MAMMJ, An leads Journalism on global journalism and supervises relevant multimedia journalism projects. In addition to his rich research profile, he brings to the teaching his intensive and extensive experience as a journalist, an examiner of news output, a reviewer of draft media policy, a judge for prestigious journalism awards, as well as a training and research consultant for media and policymaking organisations in North America, the UK and Southeast Asia. 

Connect with An: 

Email: [email protected] | X: @anducnguyen | LinkedIn: An Nguyen

David has around 30 years’ experience in journalism, training and development, and PR writing. During his career he has been a journalist working in staff or freelance roles for print and online consumer and business titles. He spent four years as editorial training manager at major web and magazine and web publisher Reed Business Information. He has also been a director of two limited companies: Journalism Training Centre, which won a National Training Award in 1994; and PMA Training. In addition, David spent time as consultant to specialist PR agency Simons Communications, working on press release writing and staff development. He is an examiner in Court Reporting and Essential Media Law & Regulation for the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

Stephen Titherington is the Podcast Editor at The Times, and a Visiting Fellow at Bournemouth University.  

Stephen worked for more than thirty years at the BBC, mostly at the BBC World Service, where he served as Editor: BBC World Service Newsroom, and Executive Editor, Global News.

For the last decade, he was Senior Commissioning Editor at BBC World, looking after different areas, including documentaries and podcasts. As a senior leader at BBC and an international journalist, he has helped shape the outputs of the BBC World Service to engage a global audience of nearly 100m.

Stephen teaches Documentary Journalism on MA Multimedia Journalism.