Name: Journalism Innovation & Leadership, MA/PGCert
Price: £1,000 per 20 credits GBP

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Attendance

Location

Start

Duration

3 years

Start

January 2025

Delivery

Online learning

This flexible, part-time Postgraduate Certificate and MA programme is tailored to news innovators eager to lead, and leaders eager to innovate, by growing their competence, their confidence, their networks as well as their career options.

The Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme offers a flexible learning plan that will equip forward-thinking media professionals to successfully lead teams, projects and organisations in an increasingly complex and competitive media landscape.  

This programme gives you the choice to earn a Postgraduate Certificate in 30 weeks over one year or an MA in 70 weeks over two years - all while remaining in your current work role.

This course is for you if you want to: 

Challenge organisational effectiveness and create agile strategies to drive transformation and resilience  
Develop an advanced data mindset and the skills to gain insights about audiences – and to act on them to enhance performance  
Understand how to adapt newsroom workflows, organisational structures and mindsets to meet changing demands 
Develop the practical knowledge to manage innovative projects and diverse teams 
Explore innovation methods such as design thinking and co-design  
Stress test new business and revenue models for news in an increasingly complex and competitive market 
Think deeply about what the issues shaping journalism today means for us all tomorrow  
Build the personal and professional competencies to grow your team, your organisation – and your career.

Although this award is usually undertaken or completed in 1 or 2 years, you have up to 3 years to complete. This will depend on the number of modules you take each year.

Why study with us

The Guardian University Guide 2022 shows we remain amongst the best. We are ranked No 1 in the North West and No 2 in the UK for Journalism, Publishing and Public Relations.
Tap into a senior industry mentor focused on helping you achieve your potential. Whether you choose to complete the 30-week PGCert over one year or the 70-week MA over two years.
To support the next generation of diverse news leaders we offer tuition-fee scholarships funded by the Google News Initiative (GNI) and International Media Support (IMS), the Denmark-based media development agency.

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What you'll do

We use an innovative Flipped Learning Approach that combines readings and weekly online discussions with Intensive Learning Blocks (on campus or online) which are packed with industry case studies and interactive workshops.
Applied Learning Projects enable you to apply insights generated in the course directly to your own business contexts – creating tangible and real-world impact that is directly connected to your learning
You will join a diverse international cohort and be mentored by a leading industry professional draw from our links with organisations such as the UK Society of Editors, the Digital Editors Network, and the World Association News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

Programme structure

You'll be able to enrol for the postgraduate certificate after which you'll have the opportunity to take the additional modules required to earn the MA award.

In year one you'll complete two modules JN4530 and JN4531 for the Postgraduate Certificate.

Once these modules have been completed you'll have the option to continue on to a second year. In which you'll complete two more modules JN4526 and JN4527 to gain an MA.

Modules

This module will help you understand what it takes to successfully lead innovation in an organisation operating in an environment characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. First, you’ll lean back and look out to analyse the market context and to identity the key issues impacting on your organization’s success. Then, you’ll lean in and look around for evidence to help you diagnose the specific operational issues your organization’s leadership needs to address to take the business forward.

Your Applied Learning Projects will include a position paper on strategic issues facing your organization that leads to a consultancy-style report that includes evidence-based recommendations for action. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with your tutors and designated industry mentor to create a Professional Development Plan.

Module code: JN4530

This module will focus on delivery innovation initiatives. You'll have the opportunity to stress test innovation approaches and tools used to develop innovative media products and services that serve communities and sustain businesses. Your Applied Learning Project will be the space to draw on cutting-edge innovation methods to develop a rigorously-founded practical plan to deliver on a specific innovation challenge in your organisation.

Module code: JN4531

The extended applied learning project module will give you the opportunity to work with, though not necessarily in, a company on a clearly defined project addressing a real innovation issue facing the organization, or to exploit an entrepreneurial opportunity. The module’s primary objective is to provide you with a ‘real world’ experience that fosters your ability to drive innovation in the media industry. The aims are to nurture independent learning and mastery of advanced skills in research, critical thinking, communication, and project management skills by developing an original project in a professional context.

Module code: JN4526

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

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Academic expertise

Clare Cook

Senior Lecturer

Dr François Nel

Reader in Media Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Industry links

Journalism has been taught at Preston since 1962, making it the oldest such university programme in England. Our research was rated as World Leading in the last Research Excellence Framework assessment and our researchers continue to provide insights for practitioners and policy makers, as well as for students and scholars.

We are part of WAN-IFRA's Global Alliance for Media Innovation and a partner of the Google News Initiative, the Digital Editors Network and International Media Support, the Denmark-based development agency.

Our programme’s current Board of Industry Mentors and Advisors include:

Neil Benson Business consultant specialising in media and leadership. Chair of the Editors’ Code of Practice committee. Former group editorial director at Reach plc.

Paddi Clay Media trainer and consultant, based in South Africa
Matt Cooke Head of Partnerships & Training, Google News Initiative
Joanna Geary Senior Director for Curation, Twitter, NYC
Jethro Goko Publisher, Associated Newspapers, Zimbabwe
Alison Gow Editor in Chief (Digital), Reach Plc Regionals, UK and current President of the Society of Editors, UK
Alan Hunter for Head of Digital, The Times and Sunday Times, UK
Cherilyn Ireton Director, World Editors Forum, WAN-IFRA
Lyndsey Jones, Transformation consultant, strategic advisor and coach; author of forthcoming business education book Going Digital; former executive editor of the Financial Times
Ian MacGregor Editor Emeritus, The Telegraph Media Group and Chair of the Society of Editors
Lisa MacLeod Independent consultant, Vice-President of the World Association of News Publishers, former head of digital for Tiso Blackstar, and a former associate editor of the Financial Times
Steve Matthewson London Bureau Chief & Head of Financial Institutions News (Acting) at S&P Global Market Intelligence
Dietmar Schantin Founder of the Institute for Media Strategies
Dmitry Shishkin, Independent digital consultant and Leader in Residence at UCLan. He serves on the Board of the World Editors Forum of the World Association of News Publishers
Inga Thordar, Executive Editor of CNN Digital Worldwide, overseeing all international news, sport and programming teams

"It’s critical that those seeking a sustainable way forward for journalism take time out of the newsroom to think and learn from others when assessing new opportunities and ways of working. This programme ensures they have time to think critically about the implications for journalism - and the communities their newsrooms serve."
— Cherilyn Ireton - Executive Director of the World Editors Forum of WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers. Member, Board of Industry Advisors and Mentors

The programme is supported by International Media Support (IMS), an international, Denmark-based organisation that works with the media in countries affected by armed conflict, human insecurity and political transition. IMS provides two MA scholarships which support media partners to experiment and learn. Enabling them to lead the way in developing innovative strategies for resilient public interest media reaching relevant audiences who are able to share, discuss and act on trusted, ethical, inclusive content.

Future careers

The Journalism Innovation and Leadership programme aims to foster the next generation of diverse leaders and innovators our industry needs to thrive.

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This is the most intense and rewarding course I’ve ever taken. It tackles problem-solving in journalism from every angle, be it strategy, technology, revenue or newsroom leadership. I feel like it has sped up my professional growth and provided me with guidance and mentoring I would otherwise not be able to access.

Marcela Kunova

Editor, Journalism.co.uk

The programme transformed how I thought about news, audiences and leadership. The course content was exactly what I needed then (and continue to draw on now) to navigate the huge and on-going disruption of the media industry. And I met smart, amazing people who I count as great friends to this day.

Alison Gow

Audience and Content Director, Reach Plc, North West and President of the Society of Editors, UK Member and Mentor, Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme Alumnus, MA Journalism Leadership

Entry requirements

We welcome applications to this university certified course from experienced practitioners inside and alongside the media industry. Entry to the programme is normally subject to the following conditions:

Applicants should have a strong interest in the challenges facing journalism and its leaders and submit a 250-word statement that describes your daily duties, the relevance of the programme to your career, your goals for the course and how you will apply the learning in context I Degree: undergraduate degree in journalism or a related media subject at least 2:1 or evidence of professional journalism or media industry experience (normally five years) I IELTS: score of 7 or equivalent I Applicants will also be interviewed either in person or via electronic means I GCSEs: Maths and English at Grade C/4 or equivalent such as Level 2 functional skills in Maths and English

Fees and funding

2024/25

Online part-time£1,000 per 20 credits

International

Online part-time£1,000 per 20 credits

2025/26

Online part-time£1,050 per 20 credits

International

Online part-time£1,050 per 20 credits

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Journalism Innovation and Leadership PGCert Scholarship
The Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme (JILeaders) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is offering PGCert tuition-fee scholarships for news media professionals that are funded by a variety of global media innovation and support organisations.
Find out more about Journalism Innovation and Leadership PGCert Scholarship

This is a certified university course, but it’s certainly not learning as usual. Core to our innovative approach is our Flipped Learning model and Applied Learning Projects.

Flipped Learning

In the traditional teacher-centred model, the lecturer is the primary source of information. By contrast, the Flipped Learning model deliberately adopts a learner-centred approach. That means, you’ll typically prepare for each interactive session online or on campus by completing readings and exercises in advance.

That enables us to dedicate in-class time to exploring topics in greater depth, creating rich learning opportunities. As a result, you’ll actively participate in all the scheduled sessions and evaluate your learning in a manner that is personally meaningful.

Applied Learning Projects

Through Applied Learning Projects, our programme enables you to apply insights generated within the modules directly to your own business contexts.

You’ll identify and diagnose key leadership and/or innovation

challenges, informed by your studies, and generate a key

response with the support of the course team, your mentor and your network of fellow participants.

This creates tangible and real-world impact that is directly connected to your learning.

There are no traditional tests or exams.

You have the opportunity to earn a Postgraduate Certificate in one year and an MA in two years. Successful completion of your capstone Extended Applied Learning Project can also support your entry into the PhD by Portfolio programme, which can be completed under supervision in 24 to 36 months.

For more information about the doctoral programme, contact John Mills at JMills@uclan.ac.uk or Dr François Nel at FPNel@uclan.ac.uk

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This course is delivered by the School of Arts and Media

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

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Journalism Innovation & Leadership

Why study with us

What you'll do

Programme structure

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

View the course facilities

Academic expertise

Industry links

Industry Links

Future careers

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Journalism Innovation and Leadership PGCert Scholarship

Journalism Innovation & Leadership

Why study with us

What you'll do

Programme structure

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Looking to start your postgraduate journey?

View the course facilities

Academic expertise

MA/PGCert Journalism Innovation and Leadership Scholarship

Industry links

Industry Links

Google News Initiative (GNI)

International Media Support (IMS)

Future careers

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Journalism Innovation and Leadership PGCert Scholarship

Learning and assessment

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