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Programme specification
Title of the award: MA International Journalism for Media Professionals (FT/PT) Course Code: 54736MM (FT) / 54737 (PT)

Admission requirements The normal requirement for admission on this MA programme is an Honours degree. Students without the entrance requirement but who have relevant experience may be considered with non-standard qualifications, subject to an accreditation of experiential learning. This programme specifically targets media professionals, and you will need to provide evidence that you have engaged in at least one year of professional practice. This can be as a journalist, a producer, a creative director, an information officer, a communications expert or a comparable role in the media and creative industries. You will benefit more from this degree if you are currently professionally active in the media. However this is not a pre-requisite; we welcome practitioners planning to return to the industry after a break. Students on this course need to provide evidence that their English is equivalent to an IELTS 7.0 standard in all tested areas. A strong grasp of the English language is important to all internationally active journalists and media practitioners. All applicants to this degree will be interviewed for suitability. The interview will assess academic merit as well as professional experience and the ability to complete studies in the English language. Reasons to study this programme: This programme is for you if you are a media professional - a journalist, producer, creative director, information officer or active in another role in the media or creative industries and if you are aiming to move up the career ladder or into new sectors of the industry, to expand your skill-set in the current converging professional environment, and/or to enhance your global mobility and knowledge of professional practice in other cultures. As a part time or fulltime student, you will join a community of media professionals around the globe in reflecting on your current professional practice, and together you will explore innovative forms of media practice in a rapidly evolving global industry. Tutors and mentors from the industry will support you in developing leadership attributes as well as advanced professional skills. Project work will promote your mobility across geographical and cultural boundaries as well as help you progress into new industry sectors and new areas of professional expertise.

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PM4 A blend of distance learning, activities in our global virtual news room and an intensive oncampus residential will enable you to continue to work as you study. Assignments can be tailored to meet your individual learning objectives, take account of your current professional expertise and help you reflect on and progress towards your career goals. This programme was developed in consultation with industry representatives, is taught by experienced industry professionals and is seeking accreditation by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

Programme aims: The prime aims of this programme are to: enhance your global mobility and strengthen your cross-cultural skills deepen your understanding of the convergent global media industry introduce you to new skills and unfamiliar areas of professional practice help you excel in your role and hone your existing professional skills support you as you expand the scope of your further career prospects further develop your leadership attributes and entrepreneurial qualities encourage you to originate and explore innovative content and practice inform your professional practice through critical academic analysis tailor your learning experience to meet your personal development objectives design your learning to build on as well as inform your professional practice enable you to learn from and with a global community of professionals

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PM4 Programme intended learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding On completion of this programme of study you will have the ability to: A1 critically appraise your professional practice in the context of a convergent media industry, emerging technological opportunities and evolving commercial imperatives. critically engage with cross-cultural theories and debate the impact of cultural diversity on professional practice in a global media industry. critically analyse different methods of reporting and representing global current affairs in the global news media and wider creative industries. critically evaluate the impact of different regulatory, legal, ethical, political and economic frameworks on a globally diverse media landscape. generate, and critically evaluate, a personal professional development strategy to strengthen your global mobility and expand the scope of your professional practice. critically reflect on principles of entrepreneurship and leadership as well as on strategies to innovate practice, enhance creativity and shape the industry. demonstrate rigour and originality of thought as you engage with scholarly debate and conduct academic research into innovative methods of professional practice.

A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7

Skills and other attributes On completion of this programme of study you will have the ability to: B1 B2 B3 B4 generate original content suitable for multi-platform delivery and explore relevant and creative approaches to refashioning it for diverse global audiences. produce cutting edge journalism and media content suitable for a range of platforms, including print, broadcast, online, social media and 360 degree delivery. exercise appropriate judgement as you apply professional production values to your work as well as complying with legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks. manage your time and work effectively as part of a culturally diverse team as you produce content and manage competing demands to tight deadlines.

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B5 B6 B7 B8

PM4 exercise discernment as you offer constructive feedback to fellow students with diverse backgrounds and interact with peers in a cross-culturally sensitive manner. engage with unfamiliar industry sectors or levels of responsibility and enhance your current practice as well as expanding the scope of your further career. contribute creative leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation to a globally diverse and continually evolving media industry. produce a substantial and innovative media artefact to high professional standards that pushes the boundaries of your practice and is informed by academic analysis.

Programme delivery information The blended learning approach on this programme will allow you to continue to engage with your profession as you study. An intensive residential week at Edinburgh Napier University at the start of the programme will be combined with flexible learning and enable you to interact in a web-based virtual learning- and newsroom environment with a global community of tutors and peers with professional industry experience. During the on-campus residential at the beginning of trimester one, you will have access to state of the art television and radio studios as well as our converged, centrally networked cross-platform newsrooms at Merchiston campus. The campus is ideally located in the Scottish capital with the Parliament, centres of cultural activity and several other locations of interest to journalists and media practitioners. If you opt to complete the programme of studies on a fulltime basis, the normal duration of the programme is one year. You can however also opt to complete studies part time, taking up to a maximum of twelve trimesters from the date of registration on the programme to submit the production dissertation.

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PM4 Learning, teaching and assessment methods Learning and teaching methods on this degree focus strongly on your personal requirements and career goals as a media practitioner. Activities and course work will draw on your professional practice as well as feeding back into it. During an intensive residential week at Edinburgh Napier University, you will engage with tutors and programme materials, familiarise yourself with tasks and assignments and interact with your peers on this degree a community of media professionals from around the globe. You are encouraged to attend this residential as you will benefit from getting to know your peers and course tutors. All learning materials will be made available in the course virtual learning environment to enable you to engage with them at your own pace and in your own time. Online lectures, tutorials and forums will provide you with the opportunity to analyse and debate selected aspects of your professional practice with your peers across the globe. Tutors and mentors with substantial industry experience will help you to progress your career, develop new skills and leadership attributes, enhance your practice through reflective analysis and strengthen cross-cultural skills and your knowledge of global affairs. You will also engage in the production of cross-platform news and contribute content from your home location during news days produced in a virtual global newsroom with help of a mojo (mobile journalist) kit. Assignments are designed to help you refine your professional skills as well as to develop entrepreneurial and innovative attributes. You will be encouraged to tailor assignments on this course to support your individual learning objectives. A significant proportion of coursework and assignments will encourage you to produce journalistic and media artefacts to a high standard, both in collaboration with peers and individually. Assignments will also help you apply rigorous analysis to your professional practice and to embed your professional understanding in an academic context. You will be given a choice of completing either three specialist journalism modules or two specialist journalism modules plus a three week professional placement which you can tailor to support your individual learning objectives. For example, you can opt to gain professional experience overseas, to shadow someone in leadership or to work on an unfamiliar desk at your own media organisation. If you opt to complete this module, a tutor will support you with advice as you identify, organise and conduct a suitable placement.

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PM4 Student support provided A dedicated team of course tutors with substantial professional and academic expertise will help you to engage successfully with learning, course work and assignments. Technicians will be available to support you as you acquire new cross-platform journalism and media practice skills in the courses global virtual newsroom. You will be able to access e-learning materials from the library that are tailored to support your learning on this degree. The School of Arts and Creative Industries provides discipline specific academic and pastoral support for all students on its programmes. You will be given a Personal Development Tutor (PDT) who will provide a formal point of contact should you wish to discuss personal issues outside the normal tutorial or class contact periods. The relevant Programme Leader or, on occasions, the Head of School, will deal with issues that cannot be dealt with by the PDT. In addition, you may be directed to the University Student Support Services that include professional counselling, welfare advice, learning and language support as well as careers guidance. Staff within the School of Arts and Creative Industries have experience in assisting students with a wide range of disabilities (including dyslexia), and the School is committed to helping students achieve their educational potential, regardless of disability, wherever this is reasonably possible. All staff are responsible for ensuring the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act are implemented and reasonable adjustments are made to provide for students needs. Designated specialist tutors at the Universitys Adaptive Technology Centre work closely with the University Support Services and Disability Officer to provide appropriate support and guidance, if and when requested by the student. The University is committed to global citizenship and to providing a welcoming atmosphere for students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Students who require English Language support have access to specialist language tutors. Students unfamiliar with academic writing and referencing in the UK, or students returning to study after a period away, can also consult the Facultys Academic Support Advisor. A Programme Handbook as well as module descriptors and module guides will make you aware of additional student support you can access. Additional useful information This course is seeking accreditation by the BJTC (Broadcast Journalism Training Council) who represent broadcast, print and online industry employers and who were actively involved in the curriculum design. Edinburgh Napier University was one of the first HE institutions in the United Kingdom to provide journalism and media education, and our longstanding expertise fed into the design of this cutting edge new course.
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PM4 MA International Journalism for Media Professionals is part of the Skillset Screen and Academy Scotland. Further degrees in the Subject Group have successfully been awarded BJTC (Broadcast Journalism and Training Council) and PTC (Periodicals Training Council) accreditation, making the overall Subject Group an engaging and thriving wider learning environment. Each student should purchase or ensure they have access to a mojo (mobile journalist) kit, to include a laptop or netbook, a mini HD camera, a microphone and a smart phone. Advice for the purchase of ideal equipment will be provided by technicians before the start of the programme. Access to further study and employment opportunities The aim of this course is to assist you in your ambition to progress up the career ladder into a more responsible professional role, to enhance your global mobility and professional activities overseas, and/or to help you extend your activities into sectors of the industry you werent previously familiar with. Employability, including an understanding of the freelance sector, entrepreneurship, leadership attributes and global citizenship all form a core and integral part of the curriculum. Advanced career progression is an important aim of this course. Completion of this course will also provide you with the academic foundation necessary to progress to advanced studies, for example a PhD in journalism or related fields, or to undertake teaching qualifications. Credit transfer opportunities Edinburgh Napier University provides numerous credit transfer opportunities. The modular scheme operated within the University accords with the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), so that credits are transferable.

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PM4 Appendix 1 MA INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS (FT) (20 Credit Programme Structure 2011-12)

PG Cert

Tri 1

Cross-Platform Journalism and Media Practice JAC11102 (Compulsory)

Global Current Affairs across Cultures JAC11104 (Compulsory)

Leadership and Entrepreneurship in the Media JAC11107 (Compulsory)

Choose three of the following Core modules: Investigative Journalism JAC11114

PG Dip

Tri 2

Global Business and Finance Reporting JAC11115 Documentary Film Production JAC11116 Professional Media Industry Placement

JAC11117

Tri 3 (summer)

Masters

Professional Media Production Dissertation JAC11118 (Compulsory)

Upon successful completion of each module you will be awarded 20 credits, apart from the Professional Media Production Dissertation which will be awarded with 60 credits.

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PM4 MA INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS (PT) (20 Credit Indicative Part Time Programme Structure 2011-12)

Trimesters 1, 4, 7 or 10

Cross-Platform Journalism and Media Practice JAC11102 (Compulsory)

Global Current Affairs across Cultures JAC11104 (Compulsory)

Leadership and Entrepreneurship in the Media JAC11107 (Compulsory)

PG Cert / PG Dip

Choose three of the following Core modules: Investigative Journalism JAC11114

Trimesters 2, 5, 8 or 11

Global Business and Finance Reporting JAC11115 Documentary Film Production JAC11116 Professional Media Industry Placement

JAC11117

Trimesters 6, 9 or 12

Masters

Professional Media Production Dissertation JAC11118 (Compulsory)

Upon successful completion of each module you will be awarded 20 credits, apart from the Professional Media Production Dissertation, which will be awarded with 60 credits.

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Appendix 2 Contribution of Modules to Programme Learning Outcomes Level Module Number JAC11102 JAC11104 JAC11107 Level 11 JAC11117 JAC11114 JAC11115 JAC11116 JAC11118 Module A1 Cross-Platform Journalism and Media Practice Global Current Affairs across Cultures Leadership and Entrepreneurship in the Media Professional Media Industry Placement Investigative Journalism (Core) Global Business and Finance Reporting (Core) Documentary Film Production (Core) Professional Media Production Dissertation Module B1 JAC11102 JAC11104 JAC11107 Level 11 JAC11117 JAC11114 JAC11115 JAC11116 JAC11118 Cross-Platform Journalism and Media Practice Global Current Affairs across Cultures Leadership and Entrepreneurship in the Media Professional Media Industry Placement Investigative Journalism (Core) Global Business and Finance Reporting (Core) Documentary Film Production (Core) Professional Media Production Dissertation B2 Programme Learning Outcomes B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 Programme Learning Outcomes A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7

Level

Module Number

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PM4 Appendix 3 Administrative Information: a. b. c. Awarding institution: Edinburgh Napier University. Teaching institution: Edinburgh Napier University. External reference points (SCQF, relevant subject benchmark statements): In accordance with the QAA Subject Benchmarking document for Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies, the degree aims to produce graduates who have an informed, critical and creative approach to understanding Journalism and Media Studies in both contemporary society and in previous eras. The programme will enable students to meet the challenges of employment in a society in which the cultural and communications industries play an increasingly central role. The programme also takes cognisance of the fact that such employability skills require the development of students creative, intellectual, analytical and research skills. (QAA Draft for consultation July 2001: Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies p.4, 1.3). Relevant SCQF information which needs to include the SCQF level and the credit points: i) ii) iii) Post-graduate Certificate: a minimum of 60 credits at SCQF level 11. Post-graduate Diploma: a minimum of 120 credits at SCQF level 11. Masters Degree: a minimum of 180 credits at SCQF level 11 of which at least 40 credits at SCQF level 11 must be derived from a dissertation module or equivalent.

d.

e.

Exit awards available at appropriate points from the programme of study: Students can exit with a Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma or with a Masters Degree. Award titles will be PG Cert International Journalism for Media Professionals; PG Dip International Journalism for Media Professionals or MA International Journalism for Media Professionals.

f.

Student destination information: This cutting edge new course will run for the first time in 2011/12. We expect high employability levels for reasons mentioned above. Graduates on other degrees within the Subject Group have a strong proven track record of gaining successful employment upon graduating, and of progressing up the career ladder into responsible roles in relevant industry sectors. These include broadcast, print, online, and magazine journalism as well as public relations, information officer and press officer. Role titles of our alumni include presenter, reporter, producer, editor, director, freelance journalist, international

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PM4 correspondent and others. We are proud that over the years, many of our graduates have progressed into high-profile jobs. Graduate profiles and testimonials can be found at: www.edinburghnapierjournalism.com. g. Date for the programme approved or review date: School Quality Committee: 12th May 2011 Faculty Quality Committee: 25th May 2011 Joint University Approval Panel Meeting (validation): 2nd June Date the programme specification was last updated: June 08th 2011.

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