Are you passionate about news and do you want to report and analyze current affairs? Do you want to know why journalism is transforming so quickly nowadays?
This internationally oriented programme trains students from diverse parts of the world to become journalists, with in-depth academic knowledge in the field of Journalism Studies presented by journalism researchers and intensive training by experienced journalists, offering a solid foundation in the skills that are needed to succeed in journalism today.
Theoretical Journalism Studies courses enable students to reflect on the nature of journalism as a profession and stimulate critical thinking about the future of news reporting. You will study how journalism culture and developments in globalization, citizenship, politics and digital journalism interrelate, while learning how to apply appropriate research methods and theories in empirical academic research focused on understanding the field of journalism.
The English-taught Master's track in Journalism takes a year and a half and has a study load of 90 ECTS. In the first two semesters, students will take academic courses and practice journalism skills. During the third and last semester students work on their master's thesis. They also take a second research seminar or complete an internship with a news organization.
The internship I completed as part of my Master's track led directly to a job in journalism. After an intense year of studying and three months of work experience, my internship supervisor offered me a job as a Video Journalist. Since then, I have been promoted to Gallery Director, with creative control over my channel's live content.
Studying in Groningen prepared me for daily newsgathering – it taught me how to make news – and also to look critically at the media content others create. That’s important regardless of whether you want to work in Journalism Studies or journalism itself; you can’t get better at what you do without reflecting on the work of others.
Groningen’s the sort of place where other people will want to visit you. You won’t be able to keep your parents, friends or significant others away. I’ve got very fond memories of my time there, which was academically tough enough to keep me on my toes but relaxed enough to have a lot of fun.
I’m looking forward to getting more presenting experience, something that studying in Groningen gave me a real taste for. After a year looking at such varied topics, you learn what you want to do most.
My main interest for journalist came from my passion for movies, especially my interest in film criticism. However, being from Venezuela, I have experienced many situations in which the importance and necessity of journalism are highlighted and put in question, which make me expand my interest on the field.
The Master in journalism at the University of Groningen is a complete master mixing both the practical and the theory aspect of the profession. It not only prepares you for an academic track, but also trains you as a journalist in the field, with tight deadlines and weekly stories. This, mixed with the fact that the master trains you in many areas like radio, TV or writing, made the decision to choose this master much easier. It is a very demanding master, and you will be expected to take at least 40 hours a week for it, sometimes even more.
The University of Groningen offers a diverse environment and the journalism master is not an exception. Not only the professors come from all over the world, but in the English track you share the classroom with several other cultures, which makes the experience so much more gratifying, so you also get a taste of different customs and traditions.
