Can I specialise in podcast on the MA Broadcast Journalism?

Yes. Podcast is a full specialist track alongside TV and radio. The longform podcast market in the UK is significant and growing, and the course's podcast track produces a longform episode or short series as the final portfolio output.

Do I need broadcast experience to enrol in the MA Broadcast Journalism?

No. We expect a relevant undergraduate degree or significant journalism experience; on-air training begins from week one. Bachelor's-level journalism is the most common starting point; mature applicants with newsroom experience from other media routes are very welcome.

Can I take the MA Broadcast Journalism part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are available. The weekly newsdays remain the spine of the course; part-time students attend on a defined evening or weekend rhythm.

Is the MA Broadcast Journalism recognised by the BBC and ITN?

The MA is a recognised UK master's degree taught in central London with active masterclass relationships across UK broadcasters. Trainee scheme entry remains competitive and merit-based; the MA provides credible portfolio, training and references but does not guarantee a route.

What dissertation topics can I do on the MA Broadcast Journalism?

Past topics have included audience trust in regional TV news, the editorial economics of podcast longform, the impact of platform distribution on bulletin formats, and the safety frameworks freelance broadcast journalists work under. Subject is your choice, agreed with your supervisor.

MA Broadcast Journalism in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Broadcast Journalism at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for graduates and working journalists ready to specialise in television, radio or podcast news at master's level. You will write, voice, present and edit working bulletins from week one, build a substantial multi-platform showreel under industry-grade conditions, and complete a 12,000–15,000 word dissertation on a broadcast journalism question of your choice.

The MA Broadcast Journalism assumes you can already report a story and write clean copy. It exists to take you from competent journalist to credible broadcast specialist — fast enough to launch a career in twelve months, deep enough to defend the work in front of a commissioning editor.

Key Features

Weekly broadcast newsdays at master's intensity — write, voice, present and edit working bulletins to a fixed slot.
Specialist track in TV, radio or podcast news with a sustained portfolio project.
Industry-grade studio and gallery access for in-vision and audio work.
Broadcast law and ethics at postgraduate depth — Ofcom Code, BBC Editorial Guidelines, election impartiality, contempt.
Industry-led masterclasses from senior broadcast journalists, commissioning editors and bureau chiefs at the BBC, ITN, Sky News and major podcast networks.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation on a broadcast journalism question, supervised across the year.

What You Will Learn

The MA Broadcast Journalism is structured around the working life of a junior-to-mid broadcast journalist — daily filing, sustained projects, specialist development, and the analytical work that distinguishes a master's-level practitioner. You graduate able to walk into a broadcast newsroom, file at master's-level standard, and contribute to editorial debate informed by genuine research.

News script writing for the ear at postgraduate intensity.
Voice — clarity, pace, breath control, microphone discipline.
Studio operation — desk, gallery, vision mixing, autocue at industry-grade fluency.
Field reporting — on-camera presence, live two-ways, location production.
Package construction — scripting, cutting, voiceover, archive discipline.
Broadcast interviewing — short-form for bulletins, long-form for features and podcasts.
Broadcast law and ethics at postgraduate depth.
Specialist track work — TV, radio or podcast portfolio project.
Research methods — qualitative and quantitative for journalism research.
Dissertation — sustained academic-style research on a broadcast journalism question.

Who This MA Is For

Bachelor's graduates in journalism or related subjects moving into broadcast specialism.
Working print, online or radio reporters with newsroom experience pivoting into broadcast.
International journalists with strong existing credentials needing a UK master's to enter the local broadcast market.
Career-changers from teaching, performance, in-house communications or community broadcast with significant relevant experience.

Career Pathways

Broadcast journalism is competitive at master's-level entry, but MA Broadcast Journalism graduates compete strongly for trainee and entry-grade roles at UK broadcasters and podcast networks. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Broadcast Journalist (BBC trainee scheme, regional ITV, commercial radio)
Radio Reporter (BBC Local Radio, commercial newsroom, public-service radio)
TV News Producer (national news, current affairs, breakfast news)
Bulletin Editor (regional television, online video news)
Field Correspondent (regional or specialist patch)
Podcast Producer (BBC Sounds, longform current-affairs podcast, independent network)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for senior specialist roles, doctoral research in journalism studies, or a move into broadcast editorial leadership.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

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.