Is the MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law a law degree?

No. The MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law is a specialist postgraduate journalism degree with substantial media-law depth, not a qualifying law degree. Practitioners wanting qualification as solicitors should follow the LLB or PGDL route; this MA is for senior editorial-standards and in-house media-law specialists.

Do I need newsroom experience to enrol in the MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law?

Strongly recommended. The MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law is built for working journalists, editorial-standards staff, regulator caseworkers and media lawyers. Applicants without newsroom experience can discuss alternative routes with admissions at the application stage.

Can I take the MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are designed for working students with evening seminars and a dissertation timeline that fits around editorial-standards or regulator work.

Who teaches the law modules on the MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law?

A combination of academic media law specialists and practising media lawyers, with case-by-case ethics teaching from senior editorial-standards practitioners. Live IPSO and Ofcom decisions are read alongside the underlying case law.

Is the MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law recognised by UK newsrooms and regulators?

Yes. The MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law is a UK master's degree aligned to IPSO frameworks, Editors' Code committee standards, BBC Editorial Guidelines and Reuters Institute research practice. UK newsrooms, regulators and editorial-standards desks recognise the credential.

MA Journalism Ethics & Media Law in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working journalists, editors, compliance practitioners and regulator staff who want senior-level training in editorial standards, UK media law and regulatory practice. You will work at advanced level with current IPSO, Ofcom, BBC and Editors' Code precedent, develop a research-grade understanding of the legal landscape UK newsrooms operate inside, and produce a 12,000-to-15,000-word dissertation on an ethics or media law question.

This MA is the credential for the standards editor, the compliance adviser, the in-house media lawyer and the regulator caseworker. The MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law treats this work as a serious specialist field, taught alongside practising media lawyers and senior editorial-standards practitioners.

Key Features

UK postgraduate degree with research-grade depth in journalism ethics and media law.
Advanced defamation and contempt module taught alongside a practising media lawyer.
Regulation and standards strand — IPSO, Ofcom, Editors' Code, BBC Editorial Guidelines in working practice.
Comparative media law module — UK, EU, Council of Europe and selected international frameworks.
Industry-led masterclasses from standards editors, compliance leads and Reuters Institute scholars.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation on an ethics or media law question supervised by an academic and a senior practitioner.

What You Will Learn

The MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law is structured around the working practice of senior editorial-standards and media law specialists. You graduate able to read defamation and contempt precedent fluently, navigate IPSO and Ofcom complaint procedures from both sides, design and run research on editorial standards questions, and contribute to senior decision-making in UK newsrooms and regulators.

Advanced defamation — defences, pre-publication risk, the 2013 Act in practice.
Contempt of court — active proceedings, the 1981 Act, postponements, jigsaw identification.
Privacy and data protection — Article 8, the Data Protection Act, GDPR in journalism.
Regulation and standards — IPSO, Ofcom, Editors' Code, BBC Editorial Guidelines, complaints handling.
Comparative media law — UK, EU, Council of Europe, selected international frameworks.
Editorial ethics — case-by-case analysis using current rulings.
Research methods — qualitative and quantitative, primary sources, case-law analysis.
Dissertation craft — proposal, fieldwork, write-up, viva preparation.

Who This MA Is For

Working journalists moving into standards-editor or compliance-adviser tracks.
Editorial-standards staff and complaints handlers at IPSO, Ofcom or in-house at UK newsrooms.
In-house media lawyers and external lawyers specialising in media law.
International journalists and editors seeking a UK postgraduate credential in journalism law and ethics.

Career Pathways

The MA Journalism Ethics and Media Law positions graduates for senior editorial-standards, compliance and regulator roles. Typical destinations include:

Editorial Standards Editor (national title, broadcaster)
Compliance Adviser (broadcaster, online publisher, regulated industry)
Media Lawyer, in-house (national title, broadcaster, publisher)
Press Regulator Caseworker (IPSO, Ofcom)
Journalism Researcher (Reuters Institute, academic research project)
Senior Standards Lead (broadcaster, online publisher)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for doctoral research in journalism ethics, media law or related fields.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in journalism, law, humanities or a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant editorial, legal or regulator 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.