Do I need broadcast experience for the Diploma in Radio Journalism?

No. The Diploma in Radio Journalism teaches voice work and studio operation from first principles. What you do need is a willingness to be recorded, to receive direct feedback on your voice, and to do it again.

What kit do I need for online and distance Diploma in Radio Journalism study?

A laptop, a basic USB microphone, headphones and a stable internet connection. We supply software access for editing and remote studio practice. The Diploma in Radio Journalism includes a recommended kit upgrade in the joining pack but it is not required.

Does the Diploma in Radio Journalism cover podcasts?

Yes. Podcast craft sits alongside radio — long-form structure, contributor recording, scoring and the platform-distribution side of podcasting. Many Diploma in Radio Journalism graduates work across both radio newsroom and podcast network roles.

Is the Diploma in Radio Journalism Ofcom-aligned?

The broadcast law and editorial standards modules are structured around the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and BBC Editorial Guidelines. You graduate the Diploma in Radio Journalism understanding the framework UK radio operates within.

What fees and instalment options are available?

Fees vary by mode and intake. LSJHML offers an instalment plan across the academic year and a small early-application discount. Contact admissions for the current schedule.

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

Course Overview

The Diploma in Radio Journalism at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a nine-to-twelve-month UK qualification for journalists training for radio newsrooms, podcast networks and audio-first publishers. The course is built in dialogue with the BBC Academy, the Royal Television Society and the Radio Academy, and is taught around weekly news bulletins and structured studio work.

You will write for the ear from week one, voice your own copy, produce news packages and short features, run a desk in our studio set-up, and build a working portfolio of radio bulletins and packages ready to show editors.

Key Features

UK Diploma at Level 4/5 — recognised by employers and a credit-transfer pathway into the Advanced Diploma and BA in Broadcast Journalism.
Weekly bulletin module — write, voice, edit and present a working radio bulletin to fixed deadline.
Voice training covering clarity, pace, breath control and microphone discipline.
Package production module — vox pops, two-ways, location recording, music-bed ethics.
Studio operation — desk, mixer, talkback, autocue at a working level.
Industry-led masterclasses from working BBC Local, commercial radio and podcast journalists.

What You Will Learn

The Diploma in Radio Journalism is structured around the daily reality of a radio newsroom — write for the ear, voice to deadline, produce a clean package, run a desk under live conditions. You finish able to walk into a regional radio newsroom, file to a bulletin deadline, produce a feature package and stand by your editorial judgement.

Writing for the ear — vocabulary, sentence length, the difference between print and broadcast prose.
Voice work — clarity, pace, breath control, microphone discipline.
Package construction — scripting, cutting, voice-over, music-bed ethics.
Interviewing — short-form for bulletins, long-form for features and podcasts.
Studio operation — desk, mixer, talkback, autocue.
Broadcast law — Ofcom Code, contempt, court reporting on air, election impartiality.
Newsroom workflow — running order, lead-story choice, breaking-news protocols.
Podcast craft — long-form structure, scoring, contributor recording.

Who This Diploma Is For

Junior journalists wanting to specialise in radio and audio journalism.
Working print or online reporters making a transition into broadcast.
Podcasters and audio enthusiasts ready to formalise their craft to industry-recognisable standard.
Career-changers from teaching, civil service or NGO work moving into audio storytelling.

Career Pathways

The Diploma in Radio Journalism is the recognised UK route into entry-level radio reporter roles and is a credible feeder for podcast production. Typical first roles include:

Broadcast Journalist (BBC Local Radio, regional commercial radio)
Radio Reporter (commercial newsroom, public-service radio)
TV News Producer (entry role, with TV-specific training on top)
Bulletin Editor (junior or assistant role)
Field Correspondent (specialist beat radio role)
Podcast Producer (entry-level, longform current affairs network)

Graduates progress to the Advanced Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, the BA in Broadcast Journalism, or specialist Master's in Documentary or International Journalism.

Entry Requirements

Completion of secondary school (A-Levels, BTEC, or international equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement.
Mature applicants (21+) may apply with two years of relevant work experience.

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.