• Class code: P3103
• Level: 1
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: lectures, seminars, tutorials

Class descriptor

This module will provide a broad overview of the field of journalism, media and communications, which will include historical background, contemporary issues and discussions of the future. The module will introduce students to the rich legacy of JMC research and to dynamics of the media industry, contemporary journalism and communication.

Any student entering any of these industries will need to be aware of the issues we will cover as part of their professional belonging and identity. Principal topics to be covered will include:

• a history of journalism, media and communications
• current issues of debate in the UK and internationally
• topics relevant to each staff member's area of research: political communication, gender and the media, health communication, social media, journalism ethics

Students will receive a broad overview of the subject plus an introduction to all staff members in the course and their specialisms, which will allow them to start building relationships with them early on and will demonstrate the research expertise (variety and depth) in the course.

• Class code: P3210
• Level: 2
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Seminars/Tutorials

Class descriptor

How we gather news, how we write news and how we consume news is changing. The aim of this Module is to introduce you to classic and modern newsgathering methods, which means you will be combining the best of the old with the most relevant and effective of the new. The foundation stone of journalism is news. That is what drives newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and online content. So, first of all we’ll be looking at what news is, where it comes from and how we go about gathering it ourselves. The next step is to write news. We’ll spend our time examining how best to write and edit news for print and online platforms. You are expected to have read the assigned readings before coming to Module. Crucially, because this is a journalism Module, all students are expected to keep up to date with newspapers, TV news and online news sites. The news changes hourly, so we expect all of you to start consuming news regularly since you are required to participate in Module discussions about local, national and international issues, and be familiar with how they were reported.

• Class code: P3317
• Level: 3
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials

Class descriptor

Journalism is changing rapidly and digital journalism is at the forefront of that change. 

From mobile journalism, to Substack, to liveblogging and podcasting, reaching an audience requires utilizing more skills than ever before. 

The purpose of this class is to build on some of the digital skills you've learned so far, as well as introducing new elements that'll help you keep pace with the current digital media landscape.

• Class code: P3213
• Level: 2
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January - May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials

Class descriptor

The best journalism engages with its audience as well as informing them. Well-told stories can have a profound effect on people and journalists can very often achieve this by writing features rather than news. This class will teach you how to write compelling features built on facts that are interwoven with observations, anecdotes and descriptions of scenes, locations and feelings. We will study the work of feature writers who are recognized as the stars of their profession in order to understand how they produce quality content. You will put into practice the lessons learned from this analysis and from the classes to produce a range of features of your own which aim to show rather than tell the information you are conveying in your pieces.

By the end of the class you should understand how features differ from news, be able to tell a gripping story through a feature article, be able to gather detailed research with an eye to characterization and narrative, know how to structure articles and be aware of how to use creative writing techniques without losing sight of strict journalism practice.

Feature writing is changing in the digital age but there is still a place for long-form journalism in the online world. Concepts such as digital storytelling, slow journalism, solutions journalism, podcasts and e-books are breathing new life into traditional formats. Publishing has never been easier and markets for good reads are popping up every day. Learning how to tap into these markets with your own quality products is a key skill of 21st century journalism and this class will introduce you to it.

Of course, one of the best ways to learn about feature writing is to read a wide range of features. Read as many and as many different types as you can, whether it’s the latest gossip in Hello or a serious analysis in the Economist. Remember this is a journalism class. ALL students are expected to keep up to date with the news, as it can generate fresh feature ideas.

Not every feature has a link to news but many do. Many have a ‘’hook’’, which means they have a connection or a link to a current news story.

• Class code: P3311
• Level: 3
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Private Study

Class descriptor

This Module provides students with a legal framework that informs their journalism practice. Whilst the Module emphasis is on understandings of Scots law, its principles and practices are also interpreted within a digital context. The main subject areas covered by the module are The Legal System, Journalists, and the Law. This involves: Classification of law civil/criminal, Legal Institutions, Sources of Law, The Scottish Legal System and what distinguishes it from others, Structure, procedure and personnel of Scottish legal system, European Convention on Human Rights, Human Rights Act. Also, Court Reporting, Contempt of Court, Restrictions on Reporting, Defamation and Defences, Journalism as a Human Right, Protection of Confidential Sources, Copyright Law - what is it and what does it protect, The law of Confidence and Confidential information, Freedom of Information and Media Regulation post Leveson.

• Class code: P3316
• Level: 3
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January - May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials

Class descriptor

This class is designed to introduce you to sports media. It is intended to provide you with an understanding of the societal and media developments that shape sports journalism, as well as providing you with practical opportunities to develop the skills that are crucial to sports journalists.

• Class code: P3471
• Level: 4
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study, Practical

Class descriptor

This is a practice-based optional module focused on data-driven journalism, an increasingly popular sub-field within the field of journalism. Data journalism embraces broader developments, such as the emergence of open data intiatives and technological advancements that enable new forms of data collection and processing. Data journalism demands a unique set of skills that enable the conversion of complex data into journalistic content accessible to broader audiences. The class will provide hands-on experience, covering a range of fundamental skills necessary for students to develop data-driven output that can support the development of journalistic content. This includes data acquisition and management and designing a wide variety of visualisations that provide a basis for creating data-driven narratives. The class emphasises professional practice, requiring students to explore current practices within the field and demonstrate ability to produce high quality data driven content. 

• Class code: P3472
• Level: 4
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study

Class descriptor

The relationship between media and politics is a central element of contemporary political spheres around the world, with constant and rapid changes that impact society in many ways. This class will provide a deep understanding of some of the main aspects of such relationship, drawing upon the latest empirical evidence and theoretical discussions surrounding news consumption, trust in news, and misinformation in democratic societies. The necessity for 
offering this class arises from the escalating array of media consumption options available to audiences, increasingly intertwined with entertainment and reliant on digital platforms (Newman et al., 2023). While this dynamic presents opportunities for media professionals, recent studies indicate that news constitutes only a small fraction of online content accessed by individuals (Kalogeropoulos et al., 2019; Mont’Alverne et al., 2023; Wojcieszak et al., 2023).  

This reality poses challenges in building and maintaining relationships with audiences and combating misinformation. The class will integrate practical components, including audience data analysis, with theoretical debates grounded in empirical evidence. It will explore how individuals' media consumption habits and levels of trust in news correlate with their susceptibility to misinformation and the resulting impacts on democratic societies.  The specialized literature suggests that reliance on traditional news sources is associated with reduced belief in misinformation and increased political knowledge, a relationship that tends to strengthen with higher levels of media trust (Altay et al., 2023; Guess et al., 2021; Mont’Alverne et al., 2023; Rossini et al., 2023). Furthermore, the course aspires to adopt an international and comparative perspective, transcending Western-centric viewpoints. Upon completion, students will possess an overview of the key knowledge generated in this field, allowing them to construct well-informed arguments about the political implications of media. The class aims to foster critical thinking regarding how media can play both positive and disruptive roles in democratic life. More broadly, it seeks to equip students with the conceptual framework, theories, and empirical evidence necessary to assess the impact of media on society. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyse and interpret data about media audiences, acquiring transferable skills for their future careers. 

• Class code: P3470
• Level: 4
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study

Class descriptor

What role do celebrities and fans have on the way we think about social identities? Drawing on recent research in feminist media and celebrity studies, the class charts the history and development of celebrity and fandom via literature, film, the printing press and social and broadcast media, providing a context for the exploration of theories of performance, celebrity, audiences and fandoms and spectatorship. Some key questions that will be asked include: Do celebrity and fan cultures have a damaging or a positive social impact on our identity formations? What does it mean to see celebrities as role models? How do we negotiate our own identity in relation to celebrity and fan cultures? 

• Class code: P3968
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in Media and Cultural Studies, English Studies, or a related discipline. Entry may be possible with other qualifications and/or work experience: i.e. applicants who haven’t met the degree requirement but obtained substantial professional experience in relevant areas (public/private/third sector organisations/community development, etc.) will be considered.
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study

Class descriptor

You'll study the dominant media and communication theories, and their application across a number of international contexts and media platforms. You'll examine the trends and texts over a number of media contexts and genres, including popular cultural platforms and the coverage of politics, as well as dealing with the implications of international media on the mediation and public understanding of conflict and terrorism. 

An undergraduate degree in media or communications is not a prerequisite for this programme and we would be delighted to welcome applications from a variety of backgrounds.

• Class code: P3474
• Level: 4
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None 
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study, Practical

Class descriptor

The media has become an integral component of public discussions around science, the environment, and health by providing a wide range of information about these topics and often shaping the public agenda and policy responses. A media-oriented view suggests that the public understanding of key debates, including climate change, vaccine hesitancy, and cosmological perspectives, is constructed through acts of mediation, driving public reactions to and engagement with such topics. Therefore, media is crucial in understanding how scientific consensus permeates and is debated within the public sphere, especially on digital platforms.

This module will provide a comprehensive overview of three distinct, yet interconnected aspects, from the perspective of media and communication: 1) media activity surrounding science, 2) health communication, and 3) environmental communication.

• Class code: P3975
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study

Class descriptor

Issues of gender, diversity and intersectionality are frequently raised in the media and are important in every workplace. This core class for the new MSc gives students the theoretical and methodological tools to understand and discuss these issues and enables them to situate themselves as Masters students within the broader field of 'gender studies'.

• Class code: P3973
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September to December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study, Fieldwork

Class descriptor

This class focuses on enabling students to interrogate how feminist knowledge is produced in and outside the academy, and understand the practices and principles of feminist research. The module will include a half-day field trip to Glasgow Women’s Library where students will have the opportunity to engage with a range of colleagues working on different aspects of knowledge preservation, cataloguing and creation at GWL.

• Class code: P3985
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials

Class descriptor

The work we do together on this course will help us achieve the following learning outcomes: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of feminist frameworks for understanding gender violence and the way it intersects with other structural inequalities; Demonstrate an ability to understand and critically evaluate empirical research with and/or for victim/survivors of gendered violence; Demonstrate an ability to understand and critically evaluate the ways in which gendered violence is defined, measured and quantified in different inter/national contexts; Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate initiatives for tackling gendered violence in a range of local, national and transnational contexts.

• Class code: P3104
• Level: 1
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials

Class descriptor

The Module offers a practical introduction to journalism writing. By the end of the semester, students learn how to write effective news and features, they understand better the production of journalism as a form of storytelling and are aware of key issues in the practice of journalism today. The Module is taught in a 2-hr tutorial format with predominantly practical exercises and Module discussions.

• Class code: P3209
• Level: 2
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study

Class descriptor

This Module aims to introduce you to the most important theoretical and methodological traditions in journalism, media and communication, and to give you the opportunity to discuss and engage critically with a variety of perspective on researching, writing and thinking on media. Over the course of the semester, we hope to familiarise you with the social and technological factors that dominate in the practice and study of journalism, media and communication, and to inform our thoughts on the likely future directions of media technology, practice, consumption and scholarship.

• Class code: P3313
• Level: 3
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September - December)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials

Class descriptor

This module teaches a critical understanding of select issues in feminist media studies and provides students with an intersectional understanding of gender issues in the media. These issues include, but are not limited to: gender-based violence; the disproportionate representation of women in sports and politics; media beauty standards; (online) misogyny; feminist media, and representations of race and social class. The module encourages students to consider how gender inflects and informs employment, representation, distribution and audience engagement in the media industries with a particular (though by no means exclusive) emphasis on Scotland. It considers how gender intersects with other protected characteristics (e.g., race, class, age, dis/ability, sexuality), and investigates both mainstream and alternative media spaces and practices.

• Class code: P3309
• Level: 3
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Fieldwork, Private Study

Class descriptor

This Module aims to enable students to understand and critically reflect upon the media and communications sectors, with a particular focus on how these industries are structured and organised in Scotland. The Module offers students both the opportunity to reflect on and develop their own skills for the job market, and to engage intellectually with key questions posed in media and communication studies around relevant themes which may include: creative and cultural labour; digital working; festivals; audience development; media ownership; public funding and national media.

• Class code: P3965
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in Media and Cultural Studies, English Studies, or a related discipline. Entry may be possible with other qualifications and/or work experience: i.e. applicants who haven’t met the degree requirement but obtained substantial professional experience in relevant areas (public/private/third sector organisations/community development, etc.) will be considered.
• Teaching methods: Project Supervision.

Class descriptor

Student-lead project with a client.

Should be added to the workloads if students take this option.

• Class code: P3984
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in Media and Cultural Studies, English Studies, or a related discipline. Entry may be possible with other qualifications and/or work experience: i.e. applicants who haven’t met the degree requirement but obtained substantial professional experience in relevant areas (public/private/third sector organisations/community development, etc.) will be considered.
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Practical, Private Study

Class descriptor

You'll gain an understanding of the principles of research and academic writing based around major concepts in communications, literature and place, laying the foundations for the development of academic and professional research skills in communications and the humanities in preparation for your dissertation.

• Class code: P3974
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study, Fieldwork

Class descriptor

This class seeks to understand contemporary feminist thinking in relation to debates, campaigns, writings and actions from previous generations of feminists. It assists students on the MSc to historicise their understanding of feminism and appreciate how feminist thought and theories have changed over time. It draws on strengths from across the School and HaSS whilst also capitalising on the proximity of Strathclyde to Glasgow Women’s Library to encourage students to use archival sources in their research and learning.

• Class code: P3972
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January to May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: Placement, Private Study, Project Supervision

Class descriptor

The placement option provides students with the opportunity to put their gender studies learning and postgraduate research training into practice in a real-world environment, conducting a piece of research according to a brief provided by the placement organization.

The course team have established links with potential placement providers - in Glasgow and beyond - from the feminist third sector and a range of organisations committed to gender equality in arts, culture and sport. Examples of organisations we have links with include Women in Journalism, Engender, Glasgow Women’s Library, Zero Tolerance, Rape Crisis Scotland, Women’s Support Project, Scottish Football Association, The Parliament Project and the National Union of Journalists.

• Class code: P3971
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 1 (September-December) & 2 (January-May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: Private Study, Project Supervision

Class descriptor

This class enables students to work with a staff member of their choice on a mutually agreed topic in the field of gender studies. Within this broad field, this option is designed to give students the opportunity to pursue their own research interests and explore a chosen topic independently.

• Class code: P3989
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January-May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: Lectures, Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study

Class descriptor

This module is designed to explore media representations of crime and violence, and to consdier the media as a vehicle for crime, violence and/or justice. Here, you will develop an understanding of the key principles within both Media and Cirminology that shape how media and cultural contexts shape understandings and practices of crime, voilence, victimisation and justice. The lectures will be taken by four members of staff: Meoldy House, Gemma Flynn, Ashile Dunn and Jane Barrie. The module is designed to intgroduce students to selected core contexts and critical arguments, theories and debates in Media and Cultural Stuides and Criminology and aims to privde sudents with an understanding of how media and cultgural contrext shape understandings and practices of crime, violence, victimisation and justice.

• Class code: P3988
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January-May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: On campus weekly 2hr laboratory sessions. Private study (180hrs in total).

Class descriptor

Rapid development in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has transformed the media industries: from journalism to marketing, advertising, public relations, social media management, and so forth. Newsrooms rely on audience analytics dashboards to track engagement and optimise editorial decisions. Data journalists integrate big data analytics into reporting processes to uncover patterns in social data. Public relations professionals monitor social media content to evaluate public opinions in real time. Marketing and advertising agencies depend on large-scale data analysis to tailor campaigns to segmented audiences. These shifts reflect an industry trend toward data-informed content and strategies. As a result, media professionals are increasingly expected to collect, process, analyse, and interpret digital data to inform media content, audience engagement, and strategic decision-making. The Media Analytics module (P3988) is designed to equip students in MSc programmes in Media and Communication and Digital Journalism with industry-relevant practical skills in collecting, processing, and analysing media and audience data. This is a fully practice-based, industry-oriented class that supports the broader curriculum by introducing quantitative, text- and network-based analytic techniques, using tools such as R, SPSS, Gephi, and APIs. Whether a student plans to work as a media analyst, PR specialist, marketing professional, social media strategist, content manager, or academic/non-profit researcher, this module offers essential skills for their future careers.

• Class code: P3992
• Level: 5
• Semester (including exams): 2 (January-May)
• Credits: 20 (10 ECTS)
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Prerequisites: First- or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, usually in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants with relevant experience (paid or voluntary) in feminist, queer or equalities work will also be considered. Supporting references: academic references where possible, but for students applying from a professional background, professional references are appropriate.
• Teaching methods: Seminars/Tutorials, Private Study

Class descriptor

This cross-departmental module will offer students across English, Creative Writing and Journalism, Media and Communications a diverse range of methods and skills to utilise as part of a tangible outcome; namely showcasing the research work from colleagues in other areas of the University. As well as building practical skills for English, CW, and JMC students, the module will help foster bonds across departments and help demonstrate Strathclyde University’s research work to a wider public audience.