Overview
Overview
The master course provides you with multimedia reporting skills, an understanding of the vital role of journalism in a democracy and valuable industry connections.
You will learn advanced research, investigative and interviewing skills, produce journalism for multimedia formats including social media, videos and podcasts, and use industry-standard facilities and equipment. You’ll also acquire valuable and transferable media literacy and communication skills.
Subjects include video news, radio news, broadcast presentation, news writing, media law and ethics, entrepreneurial journalism and long form journalism. You will also be able to choose four subjects from other areas, to suit your interests and career goals.
During your studies you will work in the Curtin student newsroom, producing journalism for the news website Western Independent to daily deadlines. You may have the opportunity to intern at a local media organisation, and in your final semester you will undertake a supervised journalism project.
The program is suitable for professionals from all disciplines considering a career change, and may be suitable for practising journalists aiming to upgrade their qualifications.
You can exit this degree early at the graduate diploma or graduate certificate level, once you have completed the required amount of units.
If you complete the master degree to a high standard, you can apply for doctoral-level studies.
Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.
How this course will make you industry ready
Curtin's partnership with Seven West Media
Curtin has signed a formal fieldwork agreement giving high-performing journalism students the opportunity to intern at Western Australia’s largest media company, Seven West Media.
Seven West Media owns Channel 7, PerthNow, Community Newspaper Group; and The West Australian, The Sunday Times and 20 WA regional newspapers.
The initiative adds to the journalism internship arrangements that Curtin has with the ABC, Channel 9, Channel 10, GWN and WAtoday.
What jobs can the Journalism course lead to?
The future of journalism
Journalism is a dynamic and fast-paced industry that has witnessed much change in recent decades. This has led to many new niche and boutique media startups, creating varied employment opportunities.
Many of Curtin’s journalism graduates find work at major media organisations. We aim to produce skilled multimedia journalists who thrive in the contemporary digital environment and can demonstrate the fundamental skills of research, interviewing, writing and broadcast presentation.
Industries
- Media
- Corporate and public sector communications
- Public relations
- Publishing
What you'll learn
- understand and apply a range of learning strategies; take responsibility for one's own learning and development; sustain intellectual curiosity and develop a commitment to professional research and publication, as well as reflective practice
- assess and evaluate information, and synthesise key facts, themes, and ideas in creating journalism
- communicate appropriately with colleagues, professional contacts and a range of audiences. Assess the application of existing and emerging technologies on journalism to create effective professional work
- understand the discipline Journalism and the role of journalists and journalism in a globalized world; understand and apply established knowledge, principles, and professional practices in Journalism
- acknowledge the interrelationship between local, national, and global perspectives and the impact of these on journalism: recognise individual human rights, and appreciate the importance of cultural diversity and the sensitivities which may be created when engaging with and representing issues pertaining to marginalised groups
- demonstrate professional behaviour and standards and work collaboratively within the legal and ethical parameters of journalism