An award-winning course that provides top quality training for people aspiring to work as journalists in radio and television.

This course, established in 1977, was one of the first of its kind in the UK and is widely regarded by industry professionals as offering the best training in the country. It is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) and won the BJTC Award for Excellence in 2008.

The aim is to prepare you for employment in radio or television as a journalist, reporter or editor.

The course has an impressive track record. Alumni include Helen Boaden (Director of BBC News), Jon Sopel (BBC presenter of The Politcs Show), Rosie Millard (former BBC Arts Correspondent, now a Sunday Times journalist), Alice Bhandhukravi (BBC News presenter) and Gurinder Chadha (film director - best known for Bend it like Beckham). Three recent graduates, Ray Sadri, Amy Lewis and Declan Harvey won the Independent Radio News Reporter of the Year award (2006, 2007 and 2010). Graduates have also won other awards including those from the Broadcast Journalism Training Council, Media Guardian Awards and the Voice of the Listener and Viewer Awards. The course is run by Martin Shaw, a former news editor at BBC London, assisted by Rebecca Pearce who until recently was a producer on BBC Breakfast.

This course is taught within the School of Media.

Visit the department's website

Who teaches the course

The Course Director is Martin Shaw, himself a graduate of the course. His career began in commercial radio as a newsreader and reporter in Coventry. He then moved to the BBC in London. Martin was a reporter, newsreader and producer at BBC London before being appointed news editor of the station. He has also worked in regional television news. He is assisted by Rebecca Pearce, another graduate of the course who until recently was the producer of BBC Breakfast. There is a full time technician assigned to this course. Law is taught by leading ITV/C4 lawyer, Louise Hammersley.

Recent guest speakers have included Helen Boaden (an LCC alumna, now head of BBC News), John Sopel (another graduate and now one of the main presenters on BBC), David Mannion (Editor-in-chief, ITV news and also Visiting Professor of the course), John Waite (presenter of R4's Face the Facts), John Whittingdale MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Commons Committee and editors from SKY, the BBC and commercial radio. Our 'newsdays' are overseen by editors from the industry (six from the BBC and six from commercial radio) and elements of the course are taught by industry professionals.

What students say about the course

"I knew a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism was an essential passport into news and I only had eyes for the LCC - quite simply it had the best reputation. The course didn't let me down. Consistent package-making assignments really gave me a chance to find my style and learn all the essential techniques. The strong focus on voice has really helped me at BBC London and the tutors' constant support and attention was invaluable. I found the LCC course thorough and demanding, but I enjoyed every minute of it, and it has certainly reaped professional rewards." (Alice Bhandhukravi)

"Although I only graduated last year, I have already been given some fantastic opportunities in both radio and television. I have no doubt this is because of the exceptional teaching and training I received while studying at LCC. Every day, I put into practice something I learnt on the course, whether it is doing an interview, writing a script, or getting to grips with media law. I left the course with plenty of experience and this has been invaluable in helping me make the transition from classroom to newsroom." (Lauren Carter)

Further information

For any further course queries, please contact the School of Media Office on 020 7514 6800 or Martin Shaw, Course Director (email:m.shaw@lcc.arts.ac.uk)

For enquiries about admissions please call +44(0)20 7514 6569 or email pgadmissions@lcc.arts.ac.uk

Phase 1

• Broadcast News Reporting 1 (Radio Documentary)
• Contemporary Affairs (Local, National and European government)
• Law (Law theory and law practical)

Phase 2

• Broadcast News Reporting 2 (TV)
• Multi Media Journalism (Online, Radio, Work placement)

During the course you will cover the following:

• Newswriting for radio/TV and online
• Online journalism and social networks as a tool of research
• Website content and production 
• Media Law
• Politics – local, national and European government
• Research and newsgathering
• Bulletin and programme production
• Interviewing and editing
• Radio studio operation
• Voice training
• Documentary making
• TV production and editing

About two thirds of the course is very practical, involving newsroom simulations. Students train under the supervision of professional broadcasters and we run a 'working newsroom' twice a week in the second term. We also arrange a three-week work placement as part of the course.

There’s a newsroom equipped with a work station for each student and three production studios and a ‘talks’ studio. Work stations are equipped with both BBC software (Quick Edit Pro, Radioman and ENPS) and commercial software (BURLI). Students share TV equipment in groups of three – we have professional digital TV cameras and an edit suite equipped with Final Cut Pro. All students are provided with their own portable digital recording kit and microphone – and this is theirs to keep. Headphones are available in the newsroom and studios

During the year we will take you on a variety of field trips and visits. Recent site visits have included the BBC and commercial local radio, LBC, ITN and BBC Television Centre as well as trips to Courts and the House of Commons and Lords. Previous guest speakers included Helen Boaden (Director, BBC News and an alumna of the course), Jon Sopel (BBC presenter, also an alumnus), David Mannion (Editor-in-Chief, ITV News and Visiting Professor). Editors from BBC Oxford, Essex, London, Kent, Sussex and Surrey, Radio 1 Newsbeat , Global , Bauer and Sky are all regular guests on our newsdays. As well as getting invaluable advice from industry professionals you will get a chance to network, swap contacts and ask for work experience.

The course has a good employment record: around 80% of recent graduates have found employment within six months of leaving the course.

Graduates of this course work in almost every broadcast newsroom in the UK. In the last two years graduates have joined the BBC in London, The World Service, Radio 4, 5 Live, BBC 2012 Olympics, Radio 1 Newsbeat, Oxford, Essex, Three Counties, Leicester, Newcastle, Bristol, Brighton, Cambridge and various others. In the commercial sector they’ve joined Sky, ITN, Press TV, Al Jazeera, various commercial radio stations as well as independent production houses in the UK and abroad. Overseas destinations have included France 24 and Russia Today.

Alumni

Helen Boaden - Director of News BBC
Jane Root – Former Controller BBC 2
Mark Pougatch – BBC Sport
Mark Mardell – BBC North America Correspondent
Jon Sopel – BBC Reporter/Anchor
Emma Hurd – SKY Africa Correspondent
Lucy Cotter – SKY Entertainment Correspondent
Philip Crowther – France 24 Washington Correspondent

Recent First Jobs

Numerous BBC Local
Numerous local commercial
LBC
MTV
CBS - America
BBC2 - Culture Show
BBC World Service
TV3 - Eire
IRN
ITV News
BBC Watchdog
BBC Parliament
Bloomberg TV
France 24

Recent graduates on TV

Philip Crowther - France 24 (graduated 08)

Alice Bhandhukravi - BBC London News (graduated 06)

Andy May - BBC News (graduated 06)

Matt Cooke - BBC News (graduated 05)

Lucy Cotter - SKY

Emma Hurd - SKY

Recent graduates on radio

Hugh Ferris Sports Editor Key 103 (graduated 02)

Andrew Fagg BBC Radio 4 (graduated 06)

A degree at undergraduate level of preferably a 2:1 or above is required. It’s also helpful to have had some work experience in a radio or TV environment which could include hospital, student or local radio.

Candidates are invited to group interviews and asked to complete a series of tests including a news and current affairs test, a team exercise and a writing and spoken exercise. Candidates may then be offered a ‘one-on-one’ interview on the same day and a decision will be made immediately after this.

International and EU students: If your first language is not english you should check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English.

Application route

Entrance is via application form and a group interview session. It is in your interest to apply early, as this course is heavily oversubscribed. We take about 24 students each year. At the interview you will be expected to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of news and current affairs.

Your application should demonstrate that your intention to begin a career in broadcast journalism is founded upon a well-researched and accurate understanding of the state of the industry and the opportunities that it affords. Should you have an example of work that has been broadcast, for example on campus, community or hospital radio, you can forward it with your application on CD, DVD or standard cassette.

All applications should be made on the standard LCC Application form (PDF - 4MB).

Please send completed application form and supporting to:

Postgraduate Admissions,
Central Administration Office,
5th Floor Tower Block,
London College of Communication,
Elephant and Castle,
London,
SE1 6SB

International students should use the international postgraduate application form which is available to download on the International Office's web pages.

Admissions enquiries

For enquiries about admissions please call the postgraduate admissions team on +44(0)20 7514 6569 or email pgadmissions@lcc.arts.ac.uk (for UK and EU student enquiries) or v.gavulic@lcc.arts.ac.uk (for international enquiries).

Home/EU student fee discounts

If you have successfully completed a UAL undergraduate degree, PgDip or PgCert you will qualify for a £1000 discount from your tuition fees. For further information please contact pgadmissions@lcc.arts.ac.uk