Media Studies and Journalism

The post-graduate master's program of Media Studies and Journalism offers a study aimed at acquiring advanced theoretical and analytical knowledge and critical-reflective and organizational skills necessary both for research of media and their consumers, as well as for media management and production. The program is divided into two specializations. The aim of the specialization "Media Research and Analytics" is to provide knowledge and skills in qualitative and quantitative research of media, their content and their audiences and users, and thus the advanced expertise necessary for application in analytical and research positions. The aim of the "Media Industries and Production" specialization is to provide the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to manage creative and production teams and to apply organizational and managerial positions within dynamically changing media industries. In the joint part of the study program, the students undertake the theoretical courses on which both specializations are based and which deepen knowledge in key areas of media studies (media psychology, political media economics, critical and social media theory, modern media history, media systems, media & culture).

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• to apply in the research practice the knowledge of selected quantitative and qualitative research methods used in media research (spec. "Media research and analytics")
• to apply the knowledge of selected media and scholarly theories and concepts constituting the framework of knowledge defined by the curriculum of the program and the subject of the graduate diploma thesis (spec. "Media research and analytics").
• to independently report the results of analyzes of quantitative and qualitative data and to publish original research reports (spec "Media research and analytics")
• to design and implement a research project in the field of media research (spec. "Media research and analytics")
• to apply soft skills in communication linked with the performance of the profession (both specializations)
• in the production practice to apply the knowledge of media and scholarly theories and concepts constituting the framework of knowledge defined by the curriculum of the program and the topic of the dipl. thesis (spec "Media Industries and production")
• in the production practice to apply the knowledge of the legal, institutional and normative framework applicable on media organizations (spec. "Media Industries and Production")
• to interpret and to use and apply the results of quantitative and qualitative analyzes and research reports in the publishing and production practice (spec "Media Industries and Production")
• to design media content formats and genres and media projects and to manage their realization and implementation within the media organization (spec. "Media Industries and Production")

Graduates of the program find employment in the state, public and private sectors. Graduates of the specialization "Media Research and Analytics" will be prepared for the work of media analysts working in academic research teams, research agencies and analytical departments of media companies and state institutions. The graduates of the "Media Industries and Production" specialization are prepared to work in the positions of executives in printed media (newspapers, magazines, publishers), electronic media (radio, television), online media and communication agencies. Masters program graduates can also apply professionally in the field of education (eg at the level of primary and secondary education) as experts on mass and online communication who can interpret the media's influence on the everyday life of individuals and society, and to cultivate media literacy and culture. The program also enables them to work in public relations as press spokespersons, project managers in communications agencies, or as media advisers.

A specialization internship of 6 weeks (ie 240 hours) is a compulsory part of the program. The internships logically follow the structure of specialization lectures and seminars. The analytical internship assigned to the student of "Media Research and Analytics" specialization takes the form of an internship in a research agency or analytical department of a media organization. The project- and production-oriented internship for students of the "Media Industries and Production" specialization takes the form of an internship in a media or production organization (in its program or production department, creative and dramaturgical groups, etc.).

The diploma thesis has a prescribed range of 15,000 to 25,000 words (including footnotes, not including contents, lists, registers and attachments). The diploma thesis may typically have the character of either research papers (based on the collection and analysis of own data, on secondary analysis of data already existing, or on analysis of existing media products and projects), or project-based work oriented to interfacing with the application sphere (in this case, this type of work is expected also to verify new competences and skills acquired during study and in professional practice). Both types of work examine the ability for individual application of the theoretical knowledge and analytical skills acquired in the study area.

The preparation of the diploma thesis and its topic goes through the whole study. With regard to their diploma the students adapt the choice of compulsory elective subjects in order to be theoretically, methodologically and skillfully qualified for the selected topic. In this direction, students cooperate with their supervisors throughout their studies. Both the topic of the thesis and the supervisor are selected in the first semester of study.

More detailed guidelines for diploma theses are available to students on the department's web site: https://medzur.fss.muni.cz/pro-studenty/magisterske-studium/diplomove-prace/pravidla-pro-psani-diplomovych-praci

A graduate of a master's degree program may, after meeting the admission conditions, continue with the Ph.D. study of Media and Journalism Studies at the Department of Media Studies and Journalism of the FSS MU or in a similar doctoral program at another university. At the same time, after completing the study program, a graduate is a fully qualified practitioner.