MA in Journalism and International Affairs
Applications Now Open for
September 2024
CNN Academy Simulation Week
Students will have an opportunity to take part in CNN Academy simulation week in the UAE.
This year’s simulation will focus on storytelling in the age of artificial intelligence.
This is not a mandatory part of the programme.
Learn More
MA in Journalism and International Affairs
Accepting applications for September 2024
The CNN Academy UCD Clinton Institute MA in Journalism and International Affairs is a one-year programme that combines practical training in audio, video, digital, and social storytelling with academic expertise in international affairs.
In today’s media ecosystem, journalists need to be able to produce engaging content for a savvy digital-first audience while understanding the structures and dynamics that shape global issues and relations.
This is the first English-language Masters programme CNN has co-designed in collaboration with a university partner, combining journalistic and academic excellence in an innovative curriculum that is challenging and employment-orientated.
The programme will equip new generations of journalists to report on critical global issues of the day, from climate change, to human rights to terrorism. It will appeal to and reward those with a passion to not only understand the world but explain it in ways that are informative and transformative.
Connecting the Classroom to the Newsroom
The MA will combine theoretical discussion with experiential learning to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of international news media and the skills to undertake leading roles in that environment.
The syllabus is co-created and delivered by CNN Academy and UCD Clinton Institute, connecting the classroom to the newsroom, affording direct collaboration with the news industry and access to best practices in cross-platform journalism and news production.
Throughout the programme, students will learn about approaches to storytelling, international standards and ethics in journalism, and verification techniques. Each week, students will tackle key subject areas through modules at the Clinton Institute that draw on the CNN Academy Hub e-learning platform. CNN journalists, editors and producers will participate via live interactive seminars and also provide hands-on audio, video and digital production training at UCD Clinton Institute to equip the students with the tools they need to tangibly apply the media lessons they are learning.
Students will produce reports across digital and television in the first trimester and will work on a podcast group assignment in the second trimester.
Students will also work through recent case studies from CNN reports that illustrate the ideas that have been discussed in seminars, and will have access to CNN’s Newsource platform where they will find the latest reports from across the CNN network.
Scroll down for more information including the application process.
Syllabus Details
Trimester 1 (12 Weeks)
Research Skills and Methods (5 credits)
CNN Academy Newsroom 1 (15 credits)
Journalism and International Affairs (10 credits)
Trimester 2 (12 weeks)
Research Skills and Methods 2 (5 credits)
CNN Academy Newsroom 2 (15 credits)
Trimester 3
Minor Thesis (30 credits)
or
Multimedia Thesis (30 credits)
CNN Academy + UCD Clinton Institute
The practical, training components supported by CNN will be complemented by the Clinton Institute’s academic expertise in the field to provide core modules in research skills, international journalism, new media and international conflict, cybersecurity and political communications. These will be integrated to provide an innovative curriculum that will enable students to be reflective practitioners.
Work produced by students during MA programme using CNN material will feature on the Clinton Institute’s media platform (America Unfiltered) that provides a range of media productions (commentary, podcasts and videocasts). The platform will be integrated with teaching and learning on the new MA, providing students with opportunities in online storytelling and news media production. There will also be opportunities for students to publish work on CNN.
The programme is designed to equip students with a foundational understanding of newsroom best practices and trends shaping the way we report the news and cover stories. On graduation they will have learned skills to create and produce multimedia journalism, to think conceptually about newsmaking practices and about their relationship to environments of international affairs. The MA will enhance student career pathways, principally in the international news industry and also in ancillary sectors that value knowledge of international communications.
Sample Courses on the CNN Academy Hub
Video Storytelling: Character, Visuals, Narrative
Finding, Pitching, and Crafting Your Story
Reporting from the Field Best Practices
When News Breaks: Best Practices During Breaking News
Social Newsgathering During Breaking News
Audio Storytelling: Character, Sound, Narrative
Digital Design: Homepage, Headlines, Story Placement
Audience Engagement for Digital Audiences
Social Media Storytelling: Editorial Best Practices
Digital Tools Collection: Search Engine Optimization, Dataminr, Chartbeat
Manipulated Media: Spot it, Detect it, Verify it
Writing for TV News
Scriptwriting: Longform Narrative
Mobile Storytelling
Teaching Team
Liam Kennedy
UCD Clinton Institute
Alireza Haji Hosseini
CNN Academy
Scott Lucas
UCD Clinton Institute
Luke Henderson
UCD Clinton Institute
Glen Mulcahy
UCD Clinton Institute
CNN Guest Speakers*
Max Foster
CNN Anchor
Nima Elbagir
Senior International Correspondent
Nic Robertson
International Diplomatic Editor
Donie O'Sullivan
Correspondent
Salma Abdelaziz
Reporter
*Speakers may vary due to breaking news deployments
Recent Productions by Graduates
Watch some of the final projects produced by graduates from the MA in Journalism and International Affairs programme.
Daria Tarasova
You Do Not Know What War Is
Simran Kathuria
St. Patrick’s Day
Jo Hartley
Ireland. Alcohol. Cancer.
Florentina Winger
Hot Air Balloon Festival
Salome Saldarriaga
Warrenpoint - Windsor Framework
Application Process
Applicants do not need to have prior experience in journalism to enrol in this program. It provides an education and training programme for aspiring journalists while also being suitable for those seeking continuing professional development.
Entry requirements:
An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ level 8) in a relevant subject area with a minimum upper second class honours UCD GPA of 3.08, or the international equivalent is required.
Applicants without the above degree qualifications but with extensive work experience in a relevant sector will be considered.
IELTS - An average score of 6.5 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band on the Academic Version.
Applicants must submit the following:
Academic transcripts
Academic references OR professional references
Personal statement – explain why you would like to join the programme
Either a 300-word thesis proposal – What aspect of international journalism would you like to research and write on in some depth? Do you have something fresh to say about this topic?
Or a 300-word multimedia production proposal - What is a story you are passionate about telling the world? Why is your angle on this story unique and how do you propose to tell this story for audiences on multiple platforms?
IELTS certification
Optional – a sample of your journalism or multi-media work
Following review of above materials, suitably qualified candidates will be shortlisted and invited to interview.
Admissions for September 2024
Admissions to the MA in Journalism and International Affairs (MAJIA) is highly competitive Early application is advisable, as places may not be available
Suitably qualified candidates will be shortlisted and invited to interview.
Eligible applicants may be placed on a reserve list and reviewed in a subsequent stage.
Fees & Scholarship
Fees Full-Time (EU and non-EU): 25,000 EUR
The MA in Journalism and International Affairs (MAJIA) Scholarship will be competitively awarded to students demonstrating exceptional academic or journalistic ability.
Candidates must hold a MAJIA programme offer for the 2024/25 academic year
Further details from Catherine.Carey@ucd.ie
In addition students may also apply for a UCD Global Excellence Scholarship - Please note the closing date for this scholarship
CNN Academy’s News Simulation Programme in Abu Dhabi
In December 2023, 110 participants from CNN Academy worldwide converged in Abu Dhabi for the second edition of the Climate Storytelling Simulation. Hosted at the state-of-the-art Yas Creative Hub, this immersive program centered on climate reporting, uniting emerging journalists in a week-long experience of intensive journalism training. Full details including the winning video are available here, including the winning video
Hosted at twofour54’s Yas Creative Hub in Abu Dhabi, the large-scale event saw participants working in teams to explore a fictitious scenario that allowed them to function as reporters, news writers and content producers. This included verifying sources, attending mock press conferences, conducting mock interviews, responding to email updates, deciphering documents and navigating a custom-made simulated social media platform which was updated in real-time throughout the event and included evidence, bots, decoys and news to sift through.
After deducing the story and best angles the participants pitched to a panel of senior CNN staff, replicating the interaction with editors in a newsroom, and six teams were selected to write, produce and edit final packages.
The ground-breaking initiative provided a safe-to-fail environment where participants could apply their skills under CNN guidance and supervision whilst experiencing the fast-paced environment that journalists work in each day.
Alongside the simulation, masterclasses were chaired by Becky Anderson, Managing Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi and Anchor of Connect the World with Becky Anderson, delivering valuable insights into the operations behind CNN’s reporting from large-scale global events and the perspective of photojournalists, how they use various kit and operate in the field.
Becky Anderson said, “This was a tremendous event, I’ve never known anything like it in the industry. It really replicated what it’s like to newsgather in a different environment, working with new colleagues and uncovering information to get the facts and to the heart of a story. It has been great to collaborate with future talent from around the world and bring everyone together in Abu Dhabi to build connections with their international contemporaries and get first-hand advice and expertise from our global team at CNN.”