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  Semester 1
  Semester 2
  Semesters 3 & 4

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SPECIALISMS

Semesters 3 & 4:
(60 ECTS). Students are divided into specialism groups of 12-14 students studying at either of the following consortium institutions:

  1. City University, London, UK: Business and Finance
  2. University of Hamburg, Hamburg, GER: Media Systems, Journalism and Public Spheres in a Comparative Perspective
  3. University of Wales, Swansea, UK: War and Conflict

 

A fuller desciption of each specialism can be downloaded here. Please note: the specialisms differ; not only in their content but in approach. It is your responsibility to choose your specialism carefully as it is not possible to switch once the programme has started.

 

a. City University, London, UK: Business and Finance

Find out more on the City University website!

The three courses we offer at City are intended to enable students to bring together rigorous academic understanding and explanation of business and finance with the practical knowledge and experience that comes from being based in one of the three key centres of global business and finance.

The courses integrate theory and practice in a variety of ways. The core course in Global Political Economy is taught by Professor Roger Tooze and will provide the key concepts and theoretical understanding necessary for any critical analysis of business and finance

The course in business will cover the key elements of business analysis and business journalism necessary for understanding contemporary global business structures and processes. It is taught by business journalist Tony Bonsignore, who has worked for Financial Times Business and City Wire.

The final course in Finance follows a similar pattern – finance is the core activity of global business and understanding global finance is a necessary prerequisite for successful journalism in this field. The Finance course is taught by Donald Nordberg--formally Vice President, Reuters America. 

Students from the 2006-7 City specialism are currently working for companies and organisations including: Thomson Financial News (London), Dow Jones Newswires (London), and OPEC.

b. University of Hamburg, Hamburg, GER: Media Systems, Journalism and Public Spheres in a Comparative Perspective

The main emphasis of the second year in Hamburg is to enhance the knowledge of the developments in the media and journalism systems within the European public sphere. Characterized by an interdisciplinary approach from both communication studies and political science the program consists of three modules of equal credit weighting:

  • Journalism, Media and Society (Professor Irene Neverla)
  • Media Systems in an international comparative perspective (Professor Hans J. Kleinsteuber)
  • Journalism and its contribution to European Public Spheres (Professors Uwe Hasebrink)
The rationale of the specialism is to concentrate on the issues involved in the development of European public spheres and the question: What journalism in different countries is able to contribute to that development? Therefore, it is necessary to take a close look at the framework within which journalists work and at the relations between journalism and society. The first module introduces students to the basic concepts and issues of the study of journalism. It aims at a critical understanding of the characteristics and problems of media in society. At the same time, it seeks to provide a “holistic” understanding of European media and their complex interrelationships – both on a ”macro” and “micro” level and from an external and internal perspective. The focus of the second module is to provide a survey of the Western media systems, including the systems of Great Britain, Germany and the U.S. In the end, students should also have gained an overview of the theories and methods of comparative research. The final module examines the interrelation between journalism and the development of European Public Spheres. Concentrating on recent journalistic approaches towards European public spheres, it aims at providing students with an informed understanding of the requirements of coverage of European activities to a professional level.

c. University of Wales, Swansea, UK: War and Conflict

The specialism in war reporting at Swansea comprises three modules: War Reporting, Reporting the Middle East and Reporting Risk.  Reporting Risk (Dr. Hoskins) explores the theoretical and conceptual issues that frame the reporting of warfare in modern society.  The impact of liveness, technology and 24 hour news amongst other factors on the reporting of war is examined.  War Reporting (Prof. Kevin Williams) provides an historical overview of the development of war journalism and war propaganda. Starting with 19th century conflicts such as the Crimean War, the module explores the reporting of conflicts such as the First World War, the Spanish and Ethiopian civil wars, Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and the two Gulf Wars.   Reporting the Middle East  (Zahera Harb) focuses on the reporting of one of, if not the, hot spot of war coverage in the twentieth century.  Drawing on her own experience as a reporter in the area, Harb compares the local, regional and international media's reporting of the area.  In parallel with the modules a seminar series runs which involves war reporters talking about their experience.




  
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