International Journalism MA

This module provides a theoretical foundation for the study of international journalism. You will critically examine the question, 'What do we mean by international journalism?', by engaging with key theories, concepts and debates. You will explore a range of perspectives that help define international journalism as a multifaceted and multi-layered phenomenon operating within, across and around different media systems, political contexts and global networks. 

The module also provides opportunities to discuss major events in contemporary international relations and their relationship to journalism. Through reading, analysis and informed discussion, you will develop an understanding of the role of international journalism from both contemporary and historical perspectives.

 By completing the module, you will be able to critically assess different perspectives on international journalism and communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. You will also be able to summarise foundational theories and systems, and connect them to current developments and events in global journalism. These skills are valuable for careers in journalism, media, policy and research, where the ability to explain, evidence and justify well-informed views is essential.

This module introduces you to the foundations of contemporary journalism in an international context. You will explore the complexities of reporting across borders, cultures and digital platforms, with a focus on accuracy, impartiality, ethics, trust and transparency. 

You will gain insight into the infrastructure of international newsgathering, moving beyond what a story is about to examine how it is reported, including the logistical and ethical challenges of sourcing, verifying and interrogating information. You will learn how to identify and vet sources, work with international networks of journalists such as stringers and fixers, and understand how news values shape coverage for diverse audiences alongside commercial expectations. 

You will also develop practical skills in producing content across written, audio, visual and social media formats, and in critically assessing how different platforms shape the reporting of international news. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to operate as a multiplatform journalist in an international news environment.

This module introduces you to the practices of digital investigation in contemporary international journalism, where evidence, verification and data play an increasingly central role. You will learn how to collect, analyse and verify digital information, including conducting open-source investigations (OSINT) using tools such as reverse image searches, geolocation and metadata analysis. 

You will develop skills in fact-checking, working with datasets, and producing clear explainers for complex stories, alongside using digital tools to visualise and communicate findings. You will also engage with the ethical and legal considerations of investigative work in digital environments. Working collaboratively, you will apply these techniques to produce evidence-based investigations. 

By the end of the module, you will be equipped with the practical and analytical skills needed to conduct rigorous digital investigations in a professional journalism context.

International journalism operates within complex legal, ethical and political environments where journalists must make difficult decisions under pressure. In this module, you will explore how media law, professional ethics and regulatory frameworks shape journalism across different national contexts.

You will examine key issues such as freedom of expression, privacy, public interest, accountability, representation, harm and media regulation, considering how these principles are interpreted differently across countries and media systems. Using case studies of major international news events, you will analyse how journalists navigate tensions between legal obligations, ethical responsibilities and public expectations.

The module encourages you to apply ethical reasoning to real journalistic practice, critically evaluate reporting decisions and communicate your analysis clearly to wider audiences. These skills are valuable for careers in journalism, media, policy, and communication, where responsible decision-making and public accountability are essential.

Data increasingly shapes how news organisations decide what to publish, where to invest resources, and how to reach audiences. This module introduces you to the practical use of news and social media analytics as a tool for evidence-based decision-making in journalism, including editorial and audience-focused roles such as audience editors.

You will learn how to work with real-world data drawn from newsrooms and digital platforms, such as news content,  engagement metrics, audience behaviour data, and social media interactions, focusing on how data can be acquired, prepared, analysed, and visualised using a range of  accessible tools. The emphasis is on interpretation and judgement: understanding what data can and cannot tell you, recognising bias and uncertainty, and turning analysis into meaningful insights. The module also reflects the growing use of AI-assisted analytics in contemporary newsrooms, encouraging students to engage critically with automated and AI-supported tools.

By the end of the module, you will be able to use data confidently to support editorial and strategic decisions, communicate findings clearly to stakeholders, and make defensible recommendations grounded in evidence. These skills are increasingly valuable across journalism, audience development, media strategy, and research roles.

This module develops your ability to operate as a journalist in an international newsroom environment, building on your prior experience with multiplatform reporting. You will work within a live student-run newsroom setting to produce and publish international news content under real-world conditions, including time pressure, limited resources and evolving stories. 

You will deepen your skills in desk-based reporting, including sourcing, verification and editorial decision-making, working with wire copy, multimedia material and user-generated content. You will learn how to shape stories for different audiences and platforms, and how to manage ethical and professional challenges in practice. 

By the end of the module, you will be equipped to take on editorial responsibility and produce accurate, timely and engaging journalism for international and domestic audiences.

Gaining a deep understanding of journalism and audience engagement requires structured, evidence-based investigation. This module introduces you to applied research methods for studying international journalism and its audiences in real-world contexts.

You will explore how journalists, researchers and media organisations use evidence to understand news production, audience behaviour and engagement. Through the analysis of published studies, you will learn how research is designed, how data is collected and analysed, and how methodological choices shape findings. You will then apply these approaches in practice to design and carry out your own research project. 

The emphasis in this module is on developing research as a professional skill: asking meaningful questions, selecting appropriate methods and producing credible, evidence-based insights. By the end of the module, you will be able to design and conduct research independently, interpret findings critically and communicate them effectively for both academic and professional contexts.

You will design, plan and execute a substantial piece of independent work, which will lead to a dissertation that analyses an issue in journalism. You will also write a reflection on the skills you gained during the process of writing your dissertation. You will learn and apply knowledge regarding appropriate research methods for your study; ethical issues in research practice; reflection on the research's potential impact and dissemination, as well as the challenges faced by researchers. You will be able to make an informed choice about the nature of your research project in relation to your own strengths, areas for development and ambitions.

You will design, research and produce a substantial piece of international journalism, focusing on a global issue, region or transnational story of your choice. You will develop your project for a clearly defined audience and platform, drawing on appropriate reporting, production and editorial practices. Alongside your project, you will critically reflect on your decisions, including sourcing, ethics, representation and storytelling approaches in an international context. This module gives you the opportunity to consolidate your skills as a journalist, develop an original body of work, demonstrate your ability to produce rigorous, engaging and globally aware reporting and further develop your work portfolio.

Global journalism is shaped by rapid political, technological, and social change. This module invites you to engage with contemporary debates about what journalism is, what it does, and why it matters, particularly when it operates across borders and cultures. You will explore how journalists respond to contested issues such as power, authority, visibility, and responsibility in different global contexts. 

You will examine a series of current issues in global journalism through guided discussion, critical reading, and applied analysis. The module encourages you to compare perspectives, evaluate competing claims, and consider how journalistic choices are shaped by different political, cultural, and media environments around the world. Throughout, you will be supported to develop and articulate your own informed position on complex and often controversial questions. 

By the end of the module, you will have strengthened your ability to analyse contemporary journalism critically and to communicate complex ideas clearly to wider audiences. These skills are valuable for careers in journalism, media, policy, and research, where explaining and justifying decisions across different contexts is as important as producing content.

In this module, you will explore how news organisations around the world respond to pressures brought about by technological, economic and social change. You will examine how journalism evolves through innovation in areas such as digital formats, audience engagement, newsroom workflows and organisational sustainability.

Using a case study approach, you will learn from news organisations that are experimenting with new ways of producing and delivering journalism, adapting their practices, structures, and relationships with audiences. You will critically consider how innovation is influenced by questions of power, equality, diversity, inclusion, and decolonial practice, and how change is managed in complex professional environments.

Through analysis, discussion and collaborative problem-solving, you will develop the ability to evaluate change strategically and propose informed responses to real challenges facing international journalism today. These skills are valuable for careers in journalism, media management and communication, where understanding how to lead and respond to change is essential.

This module introduces you to the challenges of reporting news across borders, cultures and unfamiliar environments, with a focus on ethical practice. You will examine how journalists plan and carry out fieldwork overseas, including how they work with local journalists and fixers, assess and manage risks, and navigate local laws, norms and expectations. You will consider how issues such as language, translation and access shape the stories you can tell, and how to avoid reproducing stereotypes or causing harm. 

Through workshops, practical exercises and a reporting trip in a foreign country, you will learn how to research and plan a story in a new context, conduct interviews, and write and produce material for different multimedia formats. You will also reflect critically on your own positionality and responsibilities as an outsider, and develop strategies for practising ethical, accountable reporting when working across borders.

By the end of the module, you will be equipped with the skills and awareness needed to report responsibly in diverse international settings.