Developed in cooperation with the Chartered Management Institute and the Society of Editors (UK), the innovative courses aim to foster confident editorial leaders who strive to enable creativity, value diversity and share responsibility within their organisations.

Innovative means our multi-national course team of leading practitioners and academics will focus on helping you and your organisation generate - and implement - the new ideas that are essential in order to compete effectively in an increasingly global and technologically-advanced environment.

Flexibility means that you set the pace. You can elect to attend a specific
residential seminar only, or earn academic credit for each module by joining in an additional series of 9 weekly online discussions and completing a set of applied projects. You can earn a module certificate or work towards one of the following university awards: postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma or Master of Arts in Journalism Leadership.

Personal and professional development means that you’ll acquire advanced knowledge and skills, and also have the chance to test your instincts, to stretch to the next level of thinking - and to move ahead with confidence.

Course content

Taking the step to join the Journalism Leaders Programme will give you the chance to choose from a range of modules aimed at helping you develop the knowledge and skills to contribute to organisational strategy, lead creative multimedia projects and teams, manage people and operations, and conduct applied research.

You will use feedback from your workplace to understand your current strengths and challenges; investigate your leadership and conflict-resolution styles and learn how to become more effective at both; learn to encourage creativity and to coach people to higher performance; build ethical decision-making and diversity into your newsroom processes; gain new perspectives on feedback, motivation, collaboration, trust-building, and healthy newsroom cultures; and help your staff do better journalism in today’s demanding multimedia environment.

You will build the competencies to support your role in the day-to-day operational activities of your organisation, including using digital news and information tools effectively; managing quality, human resources and finance; and appreciating how what you do contributes to the strategic objectives of the organisation. You will also explore the role of research in guiding decision-making as well as the function of marketing in sustaining the efforts of journalists.

You will have contact with senior journalism and management faculty, who will focus on you and your organisation’s leadership needs. Experienced journalists and other experts will serve as presenters, teachers, and coaches for participants. Throughout you’ll have the pleasure of learning with fellow senior journalists and newsroom managers from all media sectors.

During residential weeks, you’ll interact in large-scale gatherings and small-group, personalised sessions. Afterwards, you can choose to continue your exchanges online using our extensive e-learning network and to work towards an academic award, including the master’s degree which can be earned by completing a research thesis or project.

SCHEDULE

Principles of Journalism Leadership - Strategies for the Digital Age

One thing is clear: it’s not business as usual for media companies operating in a technologically-advanced context. This module will consider the challenges for organizations – and for individuals – who aim to develop innovative editorial strategies that embrace the opportunities of operating in a constantly-changing, multi-media context.

Amongst the specially-commissioned case studies for this module is Lessons from the Front: Convergence at Nordjsyke Medier. You can watch a short preview of the video case study HERE. [Note: This video requires Real Player software, which can be downloaded for free HERE.]

Research Process & Methods

From researching complex issues for stories to unravelling the complexities of research done by others for your organization, a thorough understanding of the nature of enquiry and qualitative and quantitative research processes and methodologies is essential for those leading news organisations. The first part of this module will help you get to grips with the essential elements.

Once you’ve developed a critical understanding of research processes and key journalism theories, you’ll be able to master the skills to use different research methods for use in your workplace.

This module is required for those who plan to earn a Master’s Degree.

Creating Effective Content: Engaging Users In A Multimedia Context.

Explore the potential that new technologies offer to engage with media users across multiple platforms and then consider the implications for your own editorial products and processes through team-based projects.

Principles of Journalism Leadership - Strategies for the Digital Age

One thing is clear: it’s not business as usual for media companies operating in a technologically-advanced context. This module will consider the challenges for organizations – and for individuals – who aim to develop innovative editorial strategies that embrace the opportunities of operating in a constantly-changing, multi-media context.

Amongst the specially-commissioned case studies for this module is Lessons from the Front: Convergence at Nordjsyke Medier. You can watch a short preview of the video case study HERE. [Note: This video requires Real Player software, which can be downloaded for free HERE.]

Journalism and The Market: Understanding Users, Delivering Value

Being on the Web is one thing. Being part of the Web is another. Participants will be able to apply a marketing orientation to media activities and to understand how marketing principles can be used to identify and capitalise on opportunities to engage new and existing media users. They will also understand the various ways audiences are measured online and how search engines work. Also covered is a section on how to better manage their brands in an age when users are becoming increasingly fragmented.

Other Modules

Leading Editorial Teams: What To Do, How To Do It

In an era where information is plentiful and communication technology is widely accessible, leading media organizations know their competitive edge is dependent on the extent to which they can attract, stimulate and retain the best talent. Leading high-performing editorial teams that are expected to do more with less takes knowledge and skills. This module will consider ways that you can manage conflict, increase communication, stimulate productivity and increase satisfaction for the benefit of the organization, your team – and yourself.

Managing Multimedia Projects: Harnessing the Potential of the Digital Age

Successfully managing complex multi-media projects demands of leaders the knowledge to set attainable objects and the skills to manage resources – including time, money and people - responsibly. This module is also essential is you’re going to do the applied Master’s Project, which is one option for the final requirement for the MA.

Undertaking Effective Research

Master's Dissertation Or Master's Project

Completing a master’s project or dissertation gives you the chance to explore a defined area of journalism leadership in greater depth and to demonstrate your abilities to undertake self-directed learning.

This will give you a chance to learn how research works – and put research to work to help you and your organisation gain critical insights and solve problems.

To equip you for the challenge of completing the Master’s Project or Dissertation, we have devised a pre-requisite taught module, Research Process & Methods. A key outcome of the module is a research or project proposal, which you will then be able to implement with the support of a supervisor. You and your supervisor will jointly agree on the scope and schedule for your research, which is typically completed in between three and 12 months.