Journalism and Digital Communication - MA

During this programme, you will:  

• Get cutting-edge training in multimedia journalism, allowing you to tell stories across broadcast, print and digital platforms. 

• Understand the societal role of journalism and the broader institutional, organisational and political economic challenges facing the media. 

• Experience what it feels like working in a fast-paced digital newsroom by developing multimedia content for innovative TV, radio, social media and newspaper production projects.    
   
• Build a real-world portfolio of work and develop a network of Irish media contacts through regular workshops and talks on campus. 

Key Information: 

• Delivered on campus in our dedicated newsroom 

• Complete full-time in one year or part-time over two years 

• Graduate with a specialisation in either News or Sports 

• Modules taught during autumn and spring semesters 

• Submit a supervised dissertation in the summer semester (Year 2 for part-time students) 

• Dissertation options include academic research or a professional journalism project 

You will learn through a blend of: 

• Lectures, workshops, and experiential learning 

• Reflective practice and supervised research 

• Regular feedback from faculty and peers through group work and assessments 

Full-time: News Pathway  

This pathway will provide you with core journalism skills with an enhanced focus on multimedia journalism, as well as news reporting and production, interviewing, journalistic writing, broadcasting and the associated cultural, ethical and societal considerations.  

Autumn Semester 

• Journalistic Writing for News (JM5011) will explore key news reporting and interviewing techniques, as well as essential newsroom practices and journalistic routines.  

• Critical Issues and Ethics (JM6021) will examine ethical considerations in the journalism and media sector and emerging concerns like information disorder and artificial intelligence. 

• Introduction to Radio Journalism (JM4013) will examine historical perspectives on the radio medium and its societal impact and explore techniques for radio research, interviewing for audio, and scriptwriting for the ear. 

• Media Law (JM5021) will explore the legal frameworks that govern publishing and broadcasting enabling students to cover stories with legal considerations effectively.  

Spring Semester 

• Advanced Journalistic Writing (JM5012) will provide you with an opportunity to cover a wide range of feature stories and specialise in areas such as, music or the environment by exploring the concept of colour writing and produce a series of feature stories. 

• Media Professionalisation (JM6031) will consist of a series of workshops focused on developing core professional and transferable skills, including interviewing, political coverage, social monitoring, investigative journalism and more. 

• Researching Media (JM5072) will prepare you for researching and writing dissertations on media topics. 

• Broadcasting and Multimedia Journalism (JM5082) will help enhance your skills in researching, producing and presenting broadcast and multimedia packages and will lead to the production of extensive portfolio. 

Summer Semester 

• Supervised dissertation project (JM6000 and JM6010) 

Part-time: News Pathway 

Year 1 

Autumn Semester 

• Journalistic Writing for News (JM5011)
• Introduction to Broadcast television (JM5061)  

Spring Semester 

• Broadcasting and Multimedia Journalism (JM5082)
• Advanced Journalistic Writing (JM5012) 

Year 2 

Autumn Semester 

• Critical Issues and Ethics (JM6021) 

• Media Law (JM5021) 

Spring Semester 

• Researching Media (JM5072) 

• Media Professionalisation (JM6031) 

Summer Semester 

• Supervised dissertation project (JM6000 and JM6010) 

Full-time: Sport Pathway 

In addition to developing core journalism skills, students taking the MAJ, Sport pathway will be trained in sports communication management and will learn about the relationship between sport, the media and society. As a result, students will receive practical guidance from field experts, along with the networking and placement opportunities essential for advancing their careers.  

Autumn Semester 

• Journalistic Writing for News (Sport) (JM5011) will explore key news reporting and interviewing techniques, as well as essential newsroom practices and journalistic routines. 

• Sports communications (JM6011) will examine theoretical frameworks and the practical application of sports communications skills, including sports advertising, business, public relations, social media, crisis management, and ethics. 

• Introduction to Radio Journalism (JM4013) will examine historical perspectives on the radio medium and its societal impact and explore techniques for radio research, interviewing for audio, and scriptwriting for the ear. 

• Media Law (JM5021) will explore the legal frameworks that govern publishing and broadcasting enabling students to cover stories with legal considerations effectively. 

Spring Semester 

• Advanced Sports Writing (JM6101) will review the evolution of sports writing norms and culture and examine its current uses and limitations.  

• Media, sport and society (JM6001) will explore historical and theoretical perspectives on the role of sport in society and zoom in on the representations of sports, players and fans in the media. 

• Researching Media (JM5072) will prepare you for researching and writing dissertations on media topics. 

• Broadcasting and Multimedia Journalism (JM5082) will help enhance your skills in researching, producing and presenting broadcast and multimedia packages and will lead to the production of extensive sports portfolio. 

Summer Semester 

• Supervised dissertation project (JM6000 and JM6010) 

Part-time: Sport Pathway 

Year 1 

Autumn Semester 

• Journalistic Writing for News (JM5011) 

• Introduction to Broadcast television (JM5061) 

Spring Semester 

• Broadcasting and Multimedia Journalism (JM5082)
• Media, sport and society (JM6001) 

Year 2 

Autumn Semester 

• Sports communications (JM6011) 

• Media Law (JM5021) 

Spring Semester 

• Researching Media (JM5072)
• Advanced Sports Writing (JM6101) 

Summer Semester 

• Supervised dissertation project (JM6000 and JM6010) 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules. 

• Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree (NFQ Level 8) with at least a second-class honour, grade 2 (2:2) in any discipline. 

Other Entry Considerations: 
 
We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet the standard entry requirements, as long as you can show that you have the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for the programme. 
 
At UL, we value all kinds of learning and support different ways to qualify through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy.  
  
International students:  

• For details on country-specific qualifications visit postgraduate entry requirements for international students. 

Checklist of Documents: 

• *Academic transcripts and certificates
  • UL graduates only need to provide their student ID.
• Copy of your birth certificate or passport
• English translation of your qualifications and transcripts
• Copy of your CV
• Examples of articles published, or experience in broadcasting (optional) 

English Language: 

• English Language Competency certificate 

• For details on accepted language qualifications visit English Language Requirements 

Guidelines on Completing your Application 

• To make sure we can review your application quickly, please:
  • Upload all documents. Your application can’t be reviewed until we have all the documents on the checklist.
  • Title the documents you are uploading. For example, "Personal Statement", "Undergraduate Transcript", "Postgraduate Transcript", "English Language Certificate" etc.
• *If you are waiting to graduate, submit your application with the documents you have to date, you don’t need to have finished final exams before applying. 

EU -  Full Time: €7,900 - Part Time: €4,000 per annum *

Non EU - Full Time: €18,600 - Part Time: €10,000 per annum* 

* Year 2 fees are subject to change 

Annual fees are billed by semester. Once registered, students may be eligible to apply for a monthly payment plan.  

Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office website. All fee related queries should be directed to the Student Fees Office (Phone: +353 61 213 007 or email student.fees.office@ul.ie).  

Funding 

Find further information on funding and scholarships.

This course can lead to the following sectors and careers:  

• Journalism
• Media
• Public Relations
• Sports and feature writing 

Still Curious?  

The team regularly host and take part in webinars to support future students. If you would like to learn more or ask questions at an online information session, click below.     

Online Information Sessions 

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Sloane Perron graduated from MA Journalism 

Having previous career experience in print media and reporting, Sloane wanted to further immerse herself into the world of television, radio, social media, and online journalism. The programme uniquely balanced journalism theory and real-world projects, like creating a video documentary or reenacting a television news programme and accurately reflected the fast-paced world of journalism. Sloane loved the programme’s focus on teamwork and found learning from her peers just as rewarding as her formal studies.  

Currently, she is the Editor of Pulse Magazine in Worcester, Massachusetts, and believes that the UL’s Master’s in Journalism is what helped advance her career. “By balancing theory with real-world practice, I believe that the software and skills I learned from my programme made me much more competitive in the job market.”