About

Molly Garlick interviews the BBC’s Nick Robinson for Colne Radio, spring 2016

This is the website for and by students on the University of Essex undergraduate journalism programmes.

Most are doing a single honours BA in Multimedia Journalism, but some are doing joint honours BAs in Multimedia Journalism with another subject.

The course started in autumn 2015, and the  first batch of graduates emerged in summer 2018.

See the Students pages for brief biographies and links to their own websites and blogs.

Both single honours and joint honours programmes run for three years, with the option of a year studying abroad between year two and year three. The emphasis is highly practical, though students also take compulsory modules covering history of journalism, British and world history, contemporary issues in journalism, ethics, law, politics and research methods, with optional modules available on journalism theory, propaganda and international relations.

Alex Maxam and Lois Worrow with the Colchester Gazette supplement students produced in summer 2017

From the start the approach is genuinely multimedia. In year one, students learn the basics of reporting and produce their own websites, complete with photographs, audio and video – then go on to produce this group website and make their first radio show for Colne Radio, the local community radio station.

Year two involves training in radio and TV techniques, print production and shorthand, with a group print/online magazine production project in spring and then real-time production of radio and TV shows in summer. There is also the option of producing a supplement for the Colchester Gazette, the local daily newspaper.

Final year students take an advanced practical journalism module to hone their skills (and produce more online, print and broadcast material) and do a major individual multimedia project.

Students are expected to do work experience throughout their time at Essex. The course has arrangements for work experience with several local and regional print and online newspapers, including the East Anglian Daily Times, the Colchester Gazette and EssexLive (formerly the Essex Chronicle), with the local BBC radio stations in Suffolk and Essex, with ITV and BBC East television in Norwich and with several magazine publishing companies.

The single honours course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council. Students take NCTJ exams and produce NCTJ portfolios in addition to work they do for their degrees.

For more details, visit the Journalism pages of the University of Essex website.