What kit do I need for the online Certificate in Radio Journalism?

A USB microphone (a basic Samson Q2U or Blue Yeti is enough), a laptop with editing software (we supply licences) and a stable internet connection. The joining pack covers kit recommendations.

How is the Certificate in Radio Journalism different from the Certificate in Television Journalism?

Radio is audio-only and focuses on voice, sound and audio editing. Television adds picture composition, on-camera presence and visual editing. Many students take both or progress to the Certificate in Broadcast Journalism which covers both.

Will the Certificate in Radio Journalism help with podcasting?

Yes — directly. The voice training, interview craft and audio production modules transfer fully to podcast work. Many course graduates apply the skills equally in radio and podcast contexts.

Does the Certificate in Radio Journalism cover Ofcom rules?

Yes — the foundations. You will leave understanding accuracy, impartiality and election-period requirements at a working radio level. The Diploma covers the same ground in more depth.

Can I complete the Certificate in Radio Journalism fully online?

Yes. The online route runs live tutored sessions, package production exercises submitted digitally and structured tutor feedback on every piece.

Certificate in Radio Journalism in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Certificate in Radio Journalism at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-to-six-month UK qualification focused on radio news craft. You will write news scripts for the ear, voice them under tutor direction, build short radio packages, and develop the studio confidence a radio newsroom expects from day one.

Radio remains one of the most accessible entry points into broadcast journalism. This Certificate gives new reporters a credible starting credential and a small audio portfolio they can use to apply for entry-level radio work.

Key Features

Radio news script writing — sentence length, vocabulary, attribution for spoken delivery.
Voice training — clarity, pace, breath, microphone discipline.
Studio operation — audio desk, software-based recording, basic two-way live operation.
Short package production — three radio packages by course end with structured tutor feedback.
Live interview craft — short-form bulletin interviews and longer-form features.
Three study modes — on-campus, fully online with remote studio exercises, or distance learning.

What You Will Learn

The Certificate in Radio Journalism is built around the daily skills a radio newsroom assistant or junior reporter is expected to demonstrate from week one.

News writing for spoken delivery — print prose vs broadcast prose.
Voice for radio — articulation, pace, breath, microphone use.
Studio operation — audio desk, recording software, audio editing basics.
Field reporting basics — location sound, vox-pops, ambient recording.
Package construction — script, voiceover, audio clips, music-bed ethics.
Interviewing for radio — short-form for bulletins, longer-form for features.
Radio broadcast standards — Ofcom Code essentials.
Showreel preparation — what to put on tape for a radio newsroom application.

Who This Course Is For

New reporters specifically targeting radio.
Print and digital journalists adding radio craft to their portfolio.
Podcasters wanting industry-standard radio training.
Press officers handling radio interviews on behalf of organisations.

Career Pathways

UK radio hires consistently for entry-level reporter and broadcast assistant roles, particularly at BBC Local Radio, commercial newsrooms and community broadcasters. Typical applications include:

Radio Broadcast Assistant (BBC Local Radio, commercial radio)
Junior Radio Reporter (community radio, commercial newsroom)
Radio News Producer Assistant
Podcast Producer (independent network)
Voiceover Artist (alongside other journalism work)
Continued Study (Diploma in Radio Journalism, Diploma in Broadcast Journalism)

The Certificate articulates into the Diploma in Radio Journalism at LSJHML 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 radio 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.