The Multimedia course at Bournemouth University is accredited by three industry-recognised bodies that help boost your employability. In this blog, I’m going to go through what they are and what they mean for you studying this course and your future in Journalism.

When studying Multimedia Journalism at BU, one of the accreditations that you are studying for is the NCTJ qualification. You may be thinking, what is this and why do I need this qualification?

NCTJ stands for National Council for the Training of Journalists, and it is essential if you want to work in the journalism industry. It provides journalists with the training they need to be able to work in the industry, this is all covered by your fees and there are no extra costs (unless you have to resit an exam).

You have the opportunity to gain a gold star qualification (which is grade A-C) or a standard diploma.

Alongside your degree, you will take a couple of exams to gain this qualification which most editors look for when employing journalists. Having the NCTJ means that you are aware of key areas of the law which you need to be careful with.

To leave with the diploma you need a minimum of 82 points, and there are four mandatory modules you must take. As a journalist, it is important you understand the law and ethics as you want to learn the codes of conduct and the law.

So far, as a first year, I have sat one exam, which was public affairs. This is all about current affairs, politics, education, emergency services and other crucial parts of the UK. Before breaking up for summer, I will sit a media law exam which covers different types of scenarios as a journalist and what you should and shouldn’t publish.

BU’s Multimedia Journalism course is also accredited by the Broadcasting Journalism Training Council (BJTC), and the BJTC only accredits courses that offer the highest professional standards of journalism training in the UK. This is strictly about broadcasting as they have slightly different rules and regulations that need to be followed and this also boosts your employability when graduating.

Thirdly, the course is accredited by The Professional Publishers Association (PPA), which is a publishing body which promotes companies within the media. This is often used for print and magazines.

In addition, to having a qualification that will enhance your skillset you also have to complete a mandatory four-week placement or a one-year placement. Having work experience and the NCTJ diploma will prepare you for life once you leave higher education.

Bournemouth University provides this qualification alongside your degree which is vital to make it into an already competitive industry, you can take these qualifications with no added costs alongside studying here.

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BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism