Journalism and Public Relations at the University of Sunderland

MA Public Relations approved and ready to go!!!

Our MA in Public Relations was approved by the University yesterday and we are now welcoming applications for September.

It is a one-year course that will provide media graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to work public relations. We think it is ideal for journalists who have good writing and communications skills but who are looking for an alternative to working on a newspaper, magazine or in broadcasting.

It is easy for journalists to see PR as the polar opposite of what they do, believing that PR’s job is either to churn out puffery to promote dubious products or to stop intrepid reporters from digging out the truth. Ok, there may be some justification for both accusations, but it is far from the whole story. Firstly, there is a lot more to PR than media relations and putting out press releases. Secondly, PR practitioners work for a whole range of organisations, from record companies to environmental groups, from football clubs to charities.

Yes, PR is about reputation and reputation management but it is also about building relationships, based on creating dialogue and understanding. For example, it can often be about explaining difficult concepts in simple language and presenting them in a way that is interesting and relevant to a range of audiences – skills that journalism students have spent three years developing.

How do you persuade young people to eat healthily, or encourage donors to support a charity dealing with drug addiction or homelessness? How do you make people aware of climate change in a practical way, how do you influence political debate when the news is dominated by snouts-in-the-trough expenses scandals?

Well, you could start by using a range of PR skills that will be covered by the Sunderland MA.

Not surprisingly, our programme will focus strongly on the use social media in PR and we think this practical understanding will be a real advantage when our graduates go out looking for jobs. Social networks including blogs, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are making huge changes to the way people communicate and the MA will give a firm grounding in both the practical and theoretical implications of the online revolution.

Here’s what we will do:

Stage 1 – Postgraduate Certificate
MACM27 Public Relations: Theory & Practice 1 (30 credits)
MACM28 Media Research (15)    
MACM29 PR & Marketing Communications (15) 
    
Stage 2 – Postgraduate Diploma
MACM49 Public Relations: Theory & Practice 2 (30)  
MACM69 Social Media & PR (15)    
MACM70 PR and Society: Ethics and Critical Contexts (15)    

Stage 3 – Masters
MACM88 Dissertation (60)     
    OR             
MACM89 Practical Project (60)   

If you want to know more about MA Public Relations please contact Programme Leader Philip Young (philip.young@sunderland.ac.uk).

Have you got a foreign news story in you?

On behalf of the Tom Walker Trust, The Sunday Times is inviting proposals from journalism students suggesting a foreign news story. The closing date is July 1st, 2009.

The Tom Walker Trust was started a couple of years ago in honour of the former Times journalist. This special award offers a great opportunity to a student wishing to tackle foreign affairs and to develop his or her own idea for a report in the field. The winner will receive £1,000, four weeks experience with the foreign desk of The Sunday Times and the chance to work with a senior correspondent as well as doing his/her own assignment.

The trustees of the Tom Walker Trust will announce the shortlist of names in July and the winner will be chosen and announced shortly afterwards.

Enter by emailing Val Harper val.harper@sunday-times.co.uk. You also need to attach your CV with their entry.

What’s wrong with WebCT? Help us change it

We are in the process of reporting to our Faculty’s Student Experience Committee about WebCT. What’s good about it (and there are some good things – you know, at least, where module guides are for you module)… and what’s frustrating about it? COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE ! More »

European Young Journalist of the Year Award

Don’t forget to apply to the 2009 European Young Journalist Award…only two weeks to go. The prize is the title of ‘2009 European Young Journalist’ in the UK, followed up by a cultural trip with all expenses paid to Berlin in August/September 2009. Deadline is 31 May.

You need to be between 17 and 35, and a citizen or resident of the 27 Member States of the EU or the 8 Candidate Countries and Potential Candidates of the EU. (so most of you qualify – blimey, up to 35, even I qualify…). How to get involved? Read on… More »

Mixmag looking for nightlife writers

Mixmag, the “world’s biggest selling dance music magazine” is looking for journalism students from across the UK to write about the nightlife of the city you study ‘ live in (for all your Newcastle-based interlopers). In their words,  “this is a great opportunity for young journos in the making to get their writing in print and published for an international magazine.”

We’d agree. If you know your city’s nightlife inside out, if you live to go clubbing (when not studying of course) and would like to write for Mixmag, contact Nick Stevenson, at nick@mixmag.net with a short summary of why you should be their local correspondent for your town.

Module Fair this Thursday: L1 and L2 students

The Module Choice fair for current Level 1 and 2 students will take place this Thursday 14th May 2009. Current level 1 students need to attend at 10.00am and current level 2 students at 11.15am in the Cinema.

We understand that this may cause some disruption to classes but we have tried to minimise this as much as possible. Hopefully you have already seen your programme leader or personal tutor for information and counselling. If not, please see them as soon as possible _before_ the module fair.

And of course check out the different module descriptions on the catalogue.

What skills do journalism students need?

Let us know what you think. Journalism student Josh Halliday and lecturer Julie Bradford are carrying out a survey into what students think is important  and what they’d like to see more (and less) of on their journalism degrees.

The survey results will be presented at The Future of Journalism Education conference in London on June 18-19. It’s being held by the Association for Journalism Education to debate how best to equip students for a job market that is changing all the time.

So this is a chance to have your say, whether you’re just starting out on your journalism degree or are about to graduate. Click Here to take our short survey – and thanks very much.

Want to be the new DN editor?

If you’ve not seen the ad yet, get over to InJournalism for all you need to know about applying for the job of Editor for Degrees North.

Guardian journalism competition

Write a story for The Guardian and you could win a trip to Africa.
Students are being asked to submit a 650-1000 word story about an aspect of global poverty. The deadline is June 22.
The best stories will be published online and 16 finalists will be flown to Africa or Asia to research stories to be published in a Guardian special supplement.
Get the details from The Guardian.

Win a Flip camcorder: Sunderland survey

Welcome back, and welcome to the 2nd most important survey of the year. The University and the Students’ Union want your opinions about your experience here at University. The information will help students like you get the most out of your time here by identifying ways in which the student experience can be improved.

Results of this research will be provided to all parts of the University so it can decide what changes are needed. In their words: “Your views are important to us, so please complete this questionnaire which should take about 15 minutes. As a thank you for your time you can enter our prize draw to win one of these great prizes:

2 prizes of a Flip Video Camcorder
4 prizes of £25 in High Street Vouchers

Your individual responses will remain anonymous and all information will be treated in the strictest confidence and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.”

Head to the survey now and win something.