Is the Certificate in Media Communication a journalism course?

No — it teaches you to work with journalists, not to be one. The course is built for press officers and in-house communicators. If you want to become a reporter, look at the Certificate in Journalism Practice or Certificate in News Reporting.

Will I do recorded interview practice on the Certificate in Media Communication?

Yes. Several sessions involve simulated broadcast interviews with structured feedback. Online and distance students complete these as recorded exercises reviewed by tutors.

How is the Certificate in Media Communication different from a CIPR award?

CIPR awards are professional-body credentials with their own assessment formats. The Certificate in Media Communication is a UK higher-education credit-bearing qualification with a direct progression route into LSJHML's communications Diplomas and Higher Diplomas. Many practitioners take both.

Does the Certificate in Media Communication cover crisis communications?

At foundation level — holding lines, escalation thresholds, when to say no. For deeper crisis work, see the Higher Diploma in Strategic Communication which includes a 72-hour live crisis exercise.

Can I take the Certificate in Media Communication fully online?

Yes. The online route includes live seminars, recorded foundational lectures, simulated interview exercises and structured tutor feedback on written work.

Certificate in Media Communication in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Certificate in Media Communication at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-to-six-month UK qualification for people whose work involves communicating through or with media — press officers, in-house communications staff, NGO programme leads, civil servants and small-business owners. The course covers what journalists actually want, how to write a release a newsroom will use, and how to be a credible spokesperson under both friendly and hostile conditions.

This Certificate is for people on the other side of the journalist's notebook. By the end you can pitch a story, write a release that gets picked up, brief a chief executive for a broadcast appearance, and respond when a difficult enquiry lands at 4pm on a Friday.

Key Features

Journalists' workflow module — what UK reporters actually do day-to-day and what they need from sources.
Press release workshop — top-line discipline, quote selection, what makes a release usable.
Pitch craft — finding the right reporter, the right desk, the right time.
Spokesperson training — recorded interview practice with structured feedback.
Crisis basics — holding lines, escalation thresholds, when to say no.
Three study modes — on-campus, fully online, or distance learning.

What You Will Learn

The Certificate in Media Communication is structured around the working practice of a press officer or in-house communicator interacting with the press.

UK media landscape — who covers what, deadlines, formats.
Press release writing — top line, attribution, quote selection, length discipline.
Pitch craft — story angle, target reporter, timing.
Spokesperson basics — message discipline, bridging, the dangers of "no comment".
Broadcast interview technique — radio, TV, podcast.
Crisis communications foundations — holding lines, escalation, recovery.
Working with photographers and broadcast crews.
Media monitoring and measurement basics.

Who This Course Is For

Junior press officers and communications staff in NGOs, charities and public bodies.
In-house corporate communications team members handling media enquiries.
Small business owners and consultants who handle their own press.
Civil servants and policy professionals who are occasional spokespersons.
Career-changers moving into media communications work.

Career Pathways

The Certificate in Media Communication strengthens applications for press and communications roles and gives existing communicators a recognised credential. Typical applications include:

Press Officer (charity, public sector, regulator)
Communications Assistant (corporate, third sector)
Public Affairs Assistant (parliamentary office, lobby firm)
In-house Spokesperson Training Coordinator
Account Executive (PR consultancy)
Continued Study (Diploma in Communications, Higher Diploma in Strategic Communication)

The Certificate articulates into the Higher Diploma in Strategic Communication for students continuing.

Entry Requirements

Minimum age 16.
Secondary school qualification (GCSE/O-Level or international equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) for non-native English speakers.
No prior communications experience required.

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.