Journalism

Key details

Start date(s): September 2025
Study Mode: Full-time (1 year)
Location: Main Campus (Horsforth)
School: Digital and Screen Media

Our MA Journalism is an exciting programme that prepares graduates for the dynamic and competitive world of journalism and communications.

It has the rare advantage of dual accreditation by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC). This highly regarded combination, along with our impressive work placement and industry mentoring programmes, opens the doors to organisations including the BBC, ITV, and a whole network of local, regional and national newspapers and radio stations.

The Student Contract

About this course

Our MA Journalism programme provides you with all the skills you will need to work across different platforms – online, TV and radio. You will learn how to find and write news stories, interview and establish contacts. Hands-on camera, studio, editing and mobile journalism skills are taught so that our trainees are confident and competent on their industry work placements.

We also cover the increasingly important areas of social media skills, verification techniques, data journalism and analytics. Shorthand is embedded in the course and you will sit your NCTJ diploma alongside your Masters.

Awareness of professional roles, law, public affairs and the regulatory responsibilities of journalists is taught, along with a critical understanding of the political and commercial structures within which the media operate. All the skills you learn come together for your Journalism Project when you can do more in-depth research on a topic of your choice to produce a multi-media project, a short video documentary or a podcast.

Our annual Journalism and Media Week runs every November consistently attracting big names from the industry. You will report the events live across multimedia platforms, interview guests and develop longer features. Above all else, it’s a great chance to make key contacts. To view some of our MA student reports throughout Journalism and Media Week, visit Journalism and Media Week - Yorkshire Voice

Specialist Facilities

You’ll have access to industry-leading spaces and equipment including production rooms, Mac and PC editing suites, and TV, radio and photography studios. These specialist facilities are designed to help you produce high-quality professional work across platforms including web, newspapers, magazines, television and radio.

View our facilities

Scott Trust Bursary

Join Us By Applying For The Scott Trust Bursary

The Guardian Foundation’s bursary scheme for a place on Leeds Trinity University’s MA Journalism programme is now closed and will open again in early 2025.

The primary aim of the bursary award is to assist students who face financial difficulty in attaining the qualifications needed to pursue a career in journalism, and who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the media. In particular those from a lower socio-economic background; Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds; LGBTQ+ and people with a disability.

Those who are awarded a bursary get tuition fees; living expenses; mentoring and paid work placements at the Guardian and the opportunity for a fixed-term contract at the Guardian starting after graduation.

Check out the Guardian Foundation’s website for more information.

Accreditation

Our MA has rare dual accreditation by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC).

These are the accreditations that editors look for because they mean that the trainee has successfully completed a course that meets the 'gold standard' of journalism training. The accreditation recognises the quality of the course in developing journalists for the demands of a fast-changing multimedia industry. Students sit the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism alongside their MA at no additional cost for their first attempts.

Why study with us

Meet the ‘gold standard’ of journalism training on our MA Journalism programme. The rare dual accreditation by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) are the accreditations which recognise the quality of the course and are what editors look for when recruiting trainee journalists.
Receive financial support through a PG loan or bursary. Postgraduate degrees are an investment. For eligibility criteria and for more information, visit our Student finance pages.
Learn from experienced journalists with an in-depth knowledge of the industry, coming from a variety of backgrounds, including TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and digital media.
Make valuable industry connections from:
- Your lecturers, many of whom still work as journalists and who have worked for national broadcasters such as BBC Radio 1 and 4, ITV, Channel 5 and Sky News, as well as international publications like Seventeen magazine in New York.
- Industry placements which form part of your degree
- Journalism and Media Week – our annual week of talks, gives you the opportunity to hear from industry experts representing the UK’s leading broadcasters, newspapers, magazines and digital media outlets. Past guests have included Sky Sports’ Jeff Stelling, Channel 4’s Jon Snow and ITV’s lead news anchor, Nina Hossain.
- Alumni mentoring programme - connects every trainee with a successful industry mentor. Mentors have included alumni and business partners who have worked for ITV, The Mail on Sunday, Global Radio (including Heart, Capital, BC radio stations), the BBC and the Yorkshire Evening Post to name a few. The mentors develop a personal relationship with their mentees and provide bespoke careers advice, support and some can even support work placements for their Leeds Trinity journalism trainees.

Two media students working with a camera.

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

These are the core modules you'll study on this degree.

News Skills - Core

The module covers the core skills needed to be a successful and effective journalist in the digital age. You will learn how to source, verify and write content and learn the most effective ways to tell those stories making best use of online platforms. We also cover interviewing; video; photography; smartphone journalism; using data; understanding analytics and social media skills. This module also includes shorthand.

Many employers in the journalism industry insist on shorthand qualifications and all employers consider it a valuable skill. The ability to write accurate notes when interviewing or covering meetings and court cases is vital – both ethically and legally.

Shorthand - Core

Law, Ethics and Regulation - Core

This module gives you the knowledge required to operate as legally safe journalists and be confident in what you can and cannot report. It will cover relevant law including defamation; contempt of court; reporting restrictions; defences; copyright; juvenile crime; sex offences; hate crime; trolling and privacy. It also includes media ethics, Ofcom and the Editors’ Code of Practice. You will also attend court hearings. An innovative and exhilarating module.

Live Production - Core

In this module you’ll be learning all the skills needed to broadcast in radio, TV, online and on social media including voice training. You’ll learn how to film, edit, record audio, make podcasts and present live news programmes.

Public Affairs - Core

You’ll develop your knowledge and understanding of how government works at a national and local level, how they are linked, where news stories come from and how to develop them. You’ll learn how to hold public bodies to account by using freedom of information requests.

Professional Placement - Core

There’s no better way to learn than to spend time in a professional working environment and you’ll fulfil a minimum of three weeks on a journalism-related placement. It’s a chance to get a sense of real-world roles and responsibilities while those offering the placements get the opportunity to identify potential talent. You will also learn how to use the latest digital tools to create your own professional network and develop skills to prepare you for a career in the media industry.

Journalism Project - Core

You will showcase all the skills developed over the year with us to create your own journalism related ‘showstopper’. It could be a tv or radio documentary or a multimedia portfolio. This tests your ability to research and create the content of your choice with a compelling story at its heart.

Course structures

September - Full-time

Year	Term	Module	Credits	Contact hours
1	1	Public Affairs	15	2 hours per week for 12 weeks
	1 and 2	News Skills	30	14 hours per week for eight weeks and 60 hours newsdays across two weeks
	1 and 2	Law, Ethics and Regulation	30	2 hours per week for 10 weeks
	1, 2 and Summer	Professional Placement	15	Total of 3 hours
	2	Live Production	30	TBC
	2 and Summer	Journalism Project	60	Total of 12 hours

Learning and teaching

Assessments mainly consist of coursework portfolios where you will be producing journalism of your own for different platforms including online, TV and radio studio output. Some modules are assessed through exams – for example, Law, Ethics and Regulation, Public Affairs and News Skills.

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

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.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

A good honours degree in a relevant subject (usually 2:2 or above) or relevant industry experience.

Applicants will be invited to attend an interview where we want to find out more about your interest in our course and journalism in general.

For more information on meeting English language requirements and academic requirements by country, visit our International Applicants page.

Please contact us for personalised advice on 0113 283 7123 or at admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Fees and finance

Funding

UK Home Students:

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your tuition fees.

International Students, including EU Students:

Visit our web page for international students.

Journalism Bursaries

The Journalism Diversity Fund Bursary

This bursary is available to UK students from a socially or ethnically diverse background who are planning on studying for an MA Journalism degree. For eligibility criteria and further information, visit the Journalism Diversity Fund website

Scott Trust Bursary

The Guardian Foundation’s bursary scheme for a place on Leeds Trinity University’s MA Journalism programme has now closed for the next intake in September 2024.

Check out the Guardian Foundation’s website for more information.

Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount

Some Leeds Trinity graduates are eligible for a tuition fee discount on postgraduate courses of up to 50%, excluding PGCE Delivery Partner Model and Lead Partner Model, and Masters by Research courses. You will need to achieve a 2:2 or above in a Leeds Trinity undergraduate course to qualify.

Postgraduate course	Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount
MA programmes	50% for Leeds Trinity graduates with a 1st class honours degree
MA programmes	35% for Leeds Trinity graduates with a 2:1 honours degree
MA programmes	20% for Leeds Trinity graduates with a 2:2 honours degree

Our People

Journalism Andrew Glover

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Andrew has been in journalism for over 40 years and can remember a simpler professional life before social media and smartphones when all that mattered was a packed contact book, a portable typewriter and a curious nature. Digital technology and connectivity may have transformed the industry but a compelling story remains fundamental to any content whatever the platform. The Scot has worked with Sky News, BBC, ITV, commercial radio and the UK’s leading regional publishers. His Higher Education interests include gamification in learning and an ongoing fascination with transnational education and all the possibilities it brings.

Speciality Areas	Essential Journalism Placements & Employability Broadcast skills Digital journalism Transnational Education
Email:	a.glover@leedstrinity.ac.uk
What’s the most interesting broadcast you’ve worked on?	I was in Berlin reporting for Sky News in November 1989 when the wall came down. That was quite something. I still have a piece of the wall somewhere, hacked off using cutlery ‘borrowed’ from the British Airways flight. I was live on air through the night for a Scottish radio station in 1988 when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie. A quite dreadful event. Ten years later I returned to speak to the key figures as they looked back on events of that night. Some of the best radio I’ve ever done. No-frills first-person testimony. Hard to top.
Within your field, who do you most admire and why?	From a journalistic perspective I have a lot of time for those who are impartial, explain the facts and let readers, viewers, listeners and users decide. Journalists who listen, ask the right questions and use that content in a compelling way always works for me. In an age where everyone seemingly has an opinion about everything, not having one can be particularly refreshing. From a broadcasting perspective I admire two in particular. Terry Wogan and Chris Moyles did the same job on different stations at the same time– presenting the breakfast show on Radio 2 and Radio 1. Both were aiming for different audiences and their personal style was very different. But what connected them was a peerless mastery of the art of radio: the seriously under-rated use of silences, being captain of the ship in a zoo format, engaging natural communicators and being technically able. Both were a joy to listen to. Often less is more and they always delivered on that.
Can you give an example of a career highlight that informs your teaching?	Curiosity and confidence can be a formidable partnership and within days of getting my first job as a ‘cub’ reporter I knew journalism was for me. Being paid to cover everything from intriguing court cases and writing a music column to shivering in rugby club stands reporting on local teams seemed the perfect job. Over time I switched from print to broadcasting and a career highlight must be joining Border Television in Carlisle. Every night I presented the evening news programme to a transmission area which included the Borders where I was brought up. Everyone watched! Family, friends…. it was a very proud moment. Throughout my career, I always recognised that everyone needed to train. I was frequently given the new starters to develop. I really enjoyed that responsibility so when given the opportunity to do it full-time in an HE environment I said yes.

Journalism Darren Harper

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Darren got the bug for radio after starting his career as a production manager for a local radio station in Perth, Australia. After spending five years down under producing and presenting on a wealth of commercial radio stations - including providing commentary on A-League Football and Netball - Darren moved back to the UK in 2006 to become Head of Sport at KCFM in Hull.

Darren has also presented for Yorkshire Radio in Leeds and hosted the sports breakfast show on Yorkshire Radio (then Radio Yorkshire) for 10 years, covering all regional sports teams. During this time, he was awarded the IRN Award for Best Sports Content for his coverage of the Tour De Yorkshire in 2017.

In addition to Darren's radio background, he also has a wealth of experience in podcasts, with his first podcast, LS11, nominated for the Best Sports Podcast at the 2018 British Podcast Awards. In addition to LS11, Darren has produced several podcasts for his production company, Proper Sport & LS11 Media, including Talking Shutt, The Full 80 Minutes, Up The Rovers Podcast and many more.

Speciality Areas	Radio Podcasts Sports Journalism
Podcast Credits	LS11 Talking Shutt The Full 80 Up The Rovers
Email:	D.Harper@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Telephone:	+44 (0) 113 283 7100
Who are some of the best people you’ve interviewed during your career?	I’ve interviewed some pretty cool people during my time as a journalist. Buzz Aldrin was an interesting one, but I’d have to say interviewing the Gallagher brothers is at the top of the list – Noel was probably my favourite of the two though.
What’s your favourite thing about working in journalism?	Working in journalism never feels like a job. There’s never a feeling of clocking in and clocking out - it's always a pleasure to go to work and do something I really enjoy.
What’s the craziest story or piece of news you’ve worked on?	There was one week where Leeds United almost imploded that was a fun one. Every day there was a new story coming out of Elland Road, each weirder than the last - a sacked manager, a tax on pies, Sky banned from the ground - you couldn’t write a crazier story!

Journalism Katherine Blair

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Katherine Blair is an Associate Professor (Professional Practice) with extensive experience in both academia and the news industry. Before teaching, she spent 20 years as a TV and radio news reporter, presenter and features and documentary producer/director in the UK and Canada, reporting from diverse locations such as the Hudson Bay coast, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yorkshire, and Bosnia. She has served as a national judge for the Royal Television Society (RTS) for many years, and served on the RTS committee, as well as the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

In academia, Katherine has spent 19 years shaping the future of journalism education. At Leeds Trinity University, where the journalism department was ranked number 1 for Journalism in the UK in the 2025 Guardian University League tables, she pioneered the integration of mobile journalism (MOJO) into the curriculum for undergraduate and MA students. Katherine is also the departmental lead for Study Abroad, supporting both students wanting to study internationally and those coming to Leeds Trinity to study journalism.

Katherine is the co-chair of the International Strand of Leeds Trinity’s Curriculum for Social Justice and a mentor for fellowship applicants to the Higher Education Academy, where she reviews applications. She is internationally recognised for her global journalism collaborations, having spoken at numerous education and journalism conferences around the world. She founded the Globalizer app, which fosters international academic partnerships, and MojoHacks, a social media platform offering educational tips for mobile journalism film production across YouTube, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. She is a DigiLearn champion and Wakelet ambassador.

Qualification	MA – International Studies MA – Creative Writing BJ – Broadcast Journalism
Speciality Areas	TV and Social Media journalism.
Current Research	Heutagogical approaches to Journalism Education Social Media Journalism Global Journalism Collaborations Solutions Journalism MOJO – Mobile Journalism
Publications	Globalizer: tinder for educators Blair, K. & Shabut, A., Nov 2023, ICERI2023 Proceedings: 16th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation. IATED, p. 2774-2782 9 p. Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review Going global: virtual collaborations within journalism education Blair, K., Jackson-Brown, C. & Purves, L., 14 Sept 2023, (Unpublished). Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review 2022 Learning and Teaching Conference 2022: ‘Collaboration and Innovation’ 2020 Using single-platform social media newsdays in television journalism education: a heutogogical approach Blair, K., Jul 2020, In: Journal of the Association for Journalism Education . Issue 8.2, Christmas 2019, p. 96-102 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review Books Global journalism collaborations: worldwide storytelling projects in higher education Blair, K., Sidlow, F. & Coomey, M., 23 Feb 2024, London: Routledge. 144 p. Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review Broadcast journalism insights: MOJO revolution explored Blair, K., Jun 2024, (In preparation) Routledge. Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review The Routledge companion to journalism education: strategies for developing heutagogic approaches within journalism education Other How the Globalizer App developed at Leeds Trinity University is a way for all higher education institutions to implement Globalization 4.0 Blair, K. & Shabut, A., Feb 2024, HETL Frontiers, 2, 1, p. 10-12 2 p. Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article Blair, K., Jun 2024, (Submitted) Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
Email:	k.blair@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Telephone:	+44 (0)113 283 7100 (ext 561)

Journalism Leigh Purves

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Journalist and broadcaster, Leigh Purves, has more than 24 years’ experience, spanning across the media industry with a solid career in radio and television, presenting across mainstream commercial airwaves as well as the BBC. In addition to her broadcast career, Leigh has also worked extensively in the print and digital world as both a high-profile columnist and news editor.

Kick-starting her career as News Broadcaster at Metro Radio in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Leigh then progressed to hosting her own radio show before moving to Global Radio. During her time at Global Radio, she presented various national and regional radio shows alongside being the ‘voice’ of the station.

Leigh’s professional career then moved to London where she worked for several radio stations, hosting programmes and news bulletins for TalkSport, LBC, BBC London, Aire FM and The Hits. In addition, Leigh has contributed to and consulted for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra.

Leigh has also worked for Sky TV, Good Morning Britain, BBC news and a variety of Channel 5 TV programmes including fronting the BBC TV programme, 60 Second News. Leigh enjoyed additional voiceover and acting campaigns.

Alongside a full suite of broadcast experience, Leigh has led teams across national newsrooms, reported on high-profile court cases and worked on voiceover and acting campaigns.

Leigh was also an award-winner during her time editing leading national women’s consumer magazines including assistant editing Stylist, Elle Magazine and a portfolio of Bauer titles such as Heat and Grazia.

Speciality Areas	Media Law Radio News Storytelling Magazine Print Journalism (Digital) Public Relations
Current Research	Women in News News Styles across The Atlantic V the UK PGCHE completed with FHEA
Email:	l.purves@leedstrinity.ac.uk

How to apply

Get in touch

There is no official closing date for applications, but the course will be closed when it is full. We therefore encourage you to make your application as early as possible.

Please ensure you complete the application form in full and supply all the required supporting documentation when you make your initial application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.

If you need advice on your application, please contact our admissions team on 0113 283 7123 (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm) or admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Home applicants - How to apply

Applicants who require a Student Route Visa

If you require a Student Route Visa in order to study in the UK, then you must apply to us by Friday 18 July 2025.

Part-time study is not available for international students on a Student Route Visa.

For additional information, including academic requirements by country, visit our country and region page.

International applicants - How to apply

What happens next?

Our admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application by email.

Where applications are submitted but references are still in progress, admissions will wait for the reference(s) to be received and then will process it, and forward it to the relevant Programme Leader within five days of receipt of the reference(s).

The Programme Leader will make a decision based on your application. You may be asked to provide a reference to demonstrate your academic and non-academic experiences, or you may be invited to attend an interview. If you are successful and are made an offer, the conditions will be outlined in your offer letter.

Applications will be acknowledged within five working days. Applicants will be contacted within 15 working days with a request for additional information, invite to an informal interview or an application decision.

Made an offer?

You should accept or decline your offer by emailing admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.

You may be asked to present the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student information point on campus, if originals are not needed you’ll be contacted and given details of how to provide the supporting documentation.

I loved every aspect of the course, but the news days were the best part for me – especially the TV news days because my goal was to work in TV journalism. Now that I work for ITV, I realise even more how helpful those news days were. The facilities, equipment and training we received on TV news days were of the same standard as what I now use every day at ITV.

Charley Bergman
Production Journalist, ITV Calendar and Student of the Year, NCTJ Awards for Excellence 2022 MA Journalism graduate

The Yorkshire Evening Post says...

"The many MA graduates from Leeds Trinity who join us as trainees are ready to hit the ground running as they are NCTJ trained and have all the skills we are looking for. They have progressed into senior roles after such a strong foundation - and we value working with tutors to help the journalists of the future to flourish."

Laura Collins, Editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post

Find your course

Journalism

Key details

About this course

Specialist Facilities

Scott Trust Bursary

Accreditation

Why study with us

Course modules

Year 1

Course structures

Learning and teaching

Learning and teaching

Entry requirements

Fees and finance

Funding

UK Home Students:

International Students, including EU Students:

Journalism Bursaries

The Journalism Diversity Fund Bursary

Scott Trust Bursary

Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount

Our People

How to apply

Applicants who require a Student Route Visa

What happens next?

Made an offer?

The Yorkshire Evening Post says...

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