How is BA Media and Society different from a journalism degree?

A journalism degree (such as BA Journalism) trains reporters — craft, deadline writing, newsroom practice. BA Media and Society trains analysts, researchers and strategists — people who study and shape the media rather than (primarily) report for it. Some students take elective journalism modules; some don't.

Does BA Media and Society include hands-on production?

Yes, at a foundational level. Print, audio, video and digital publishing basics are covered in year one, with optional electives in years two and three for students wanting more production depth. BA Media and Society's primary focus is analytical.

Can BA Media and Society be studied online?

Yes. The online route mirrors the seminar-led on-campus degree with live tutorials, recorded lectures and asynchronous discussion forums. Online and distance students complete research and audience-study fieldwork in their own location with tutor supervision.

Is BA Media and Society useful for a PR or communications career?

Yes. The combination of media theory, audience research and regulatory literacy maps directly to senior-track PR and communications roles. The Advanced Diploma in Strategic Communication and CIPR or PRCA professional credentials complement BA Media and Society well.

What dissertation topics work well for BA Media and Society?

Past examples include a content analysis of UK newspaper coverage of a particular policy debate, an audience study of a specific platform community and a critical reading of an algorithmic moderation case. BA Media and Society rewards a tightly scoped, empirically grounded question.

BA Media and Society in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA Media and Society at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree for students who want to understand how media works as an industry, a political force and a daily experience — and to bring that understanding to bear in editorial, communications, policy or research careers. You will study media history and theory, run applied audience research, analyse platform politics, and finish with a dissertation grounded in original empirical work.

The BA Media and Society is structured around the assumption that media is consequential — for politics, for civic life, for personal experience — and that taking it seriously requires both theoretical grounding and applied research literacy. Reading lists are demanding; seminar discussion is central.

Key Features

UK honours degree aligned with CIPR, PRCA and Media Society frameworks for media and communications scholarship.
Core media theory grounding — political economy, framing, agenda-setting, platform power, current critical scholarship.
Applied research methods — content analysis, audience research, ethnographic observation, mixed methods.
Platform politics module covering algorithmic distribution, content moderation, advertising markets and current regulatory debates.
Industry-led guest lectures from working journalists, communications directors, platform staff and regulators.
Final 10,000-word dissertation grounded in original empirical research.

What You Will Learn

The BA Media and Society is structured around the working competencies of an applied media researcher — theoretical literacy, methods training, regulatory knowledge and clear public-facing writing. You leave able to analyse a media event with current scholarly frameworks, design and run a small audience study, and write up findings for both academic and practitioner audiences.

Media history — from print and broadcast through to platform-era distribution.
Media theory — political economy, framing, agenda-setting, current critical and decolonial scholarship.
Audience research — surveys, focus groups, digital analytics, mixed methods.
Platform politics — algorithmic distribution, content moderation, advertising markets, current regulatory debates.
Communications and PR — strategic communications, public affairs, crisis comms.
UK media regulation — Ofcom, IPSO, the BBC Charter, the Online Safety Act, devolved frameworks.
Media production basics — print, audio, video, digital publishing.
Research methods and ethics — designing, running and writing up empirical studies.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers interested in media, communications and the politics of platforms.
International students seeking a UK media degree taught in central London.
Career-changers from teaching, marketing, NGO work or campaigning into editorial or communications careers.
Mature applicants from creative or media-adjacent industries formalising experience into a UK undergraduate qualification.

Career Pathways

BA Media and Society graduates move into editorial, communications, research and policy-adjacent roles across UK media and beyond. Typical roles include:

Communications Manager (NHS trust, central or local government, regulator)
Strategic Communications Adviser (consultancy, in-house)
Public Affairs Manager (regulated industry, charity)
Press & Comms Officer (corporate, public body)
Media Analyst (consultancy, broadcaster, regulator)
Audience Researcher (broadcaster, publisher, platform)

Graduates progress to MA Media and Society, MA Strategic Communication or postgraduate work in media policy or audience research.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification).
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement; some courses request a portfolio or interview.
Mature applicants (21+) without standard qualifications may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.