Creative Media Production and Technology: Broadcasting and Photojournalism - Level 3 Extended Diploma (UAL)

This is a specialist pathway in broadcasting and photojournalism, designed for students passionate about storytelling, media production, and delivering engaging content across various platforms. The course provides advanced training in the creative and technical aspects of journalism, photojournalism, and broadcasting, preparing you for further study or a career in the dynamic media industry.

You will explore key areas of broadcasting, photojournalism, and journalism, including news reporting, factual programming, podcast production, and live show production. You’ll develop skills in scriptwriting, interviewing, video and audio editing, photo editing, and multi-camera production. Additionally, you will learn to create compelling narratives for different formats, from investigative documentaries to feature stories. A focus on emerging technologies will introduce you to the use of generative AI in content creation and production workflows, ensuring you stay ahead in this fast-evolving field.

The course gives you hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment and software. You’ll work with professional cameras, audio recorders, and multi-camera setups, alongside editing tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Audition, Photoshop, and After Effects. These tools will allow you to craft high-quality news packages, podcasts, photo essays, and broadcasts for digital and traditional platforms.

Extended Diplomas have two one-year programmes. You need to finish the first year before moving on to the second.

This exciting and practical course explores the fast-paced world of broadcast media, journalism, and photojournalism — from television and radio to podcasts, online reporting, multimedia news production, and compelling visual storytelling.

You’ll gain hands-on experience in a range of production environments while developing the core skills of research, interviewing, scripting, presenting, editing, and storytelling for a range of platforms.

Modules can include:

• Introduction to Media Processes and Technical Skills: Learn how to use cameras, audio recording equipment, photo editing software, and studio setups for broadcast-standard and photojournalistic production.
• Introduction to Design and Research Skills: Explore journalism ethics, audience profiling, and content design through research, planning, and storyboarding, including the development of impactful visual narratives.
• Responding to a Media Brief: Create a journalistic, photojournalistic, or broadcast piece in response to a set theme, such as a video news report, photo essay, podcast, or editorial feature.
• Exploring Audio-Visual Production and Technology: Develop skills in visual storytelling, sound recording, live broadcasting, and post-production, with a focus on both moving and still imagery.
• Exploring and Developing Creative Media Skills: Experiment with different journalism styles (investigative, feature, entertainment) and broadcasting formats (TV, radio, digital), incorporating photojournalism as a key element.
• Personal Progression: Research media roles and pathways, prepare your portfolio or showreel, including photojournalism work, and plan your next steps in education or employment.
• Producing a Personal Project: Plan and deliver a self-directed piece of journalism, photojournalism, or broadcast media content that showcases your voice, visual storytelling ability, and technical skill.

To join this course, you should have:

• 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English or Maths

Or

• A relevant Level 2 qualification (such as a UAL Level 2 Diploma in Creative Media or similar), with a Merit or Distinction, plus GCSE English or Maths at grade 4 or above

We also welcome applications from students with creative potential and a strong interest in media and technology, even if they don’t meet all academic criteria. In these cases, we may ask for:

• A portfolio of creative work (this could include photography, video, digital art, or AI experiments)
• Attendance at an interview or taster session

Your coursework will include:

• Planning, scripting, filming and editing news segments, interviews, documentaries, podcasts or radio broadcasts
• Creating studio and field-based content using industry-standard equipment
• Recording voiceovers and live segments, applying audio editing techniques
• Writing articles, scripts, news bulletins and features for multimedia platforms
• Developing ideas through audience research and editorial planning
• Producing digital content for online, print or broadcast formats
• Production logs: Planning, scheduling and task tracking
• Research portfolios: Contextual analysis of media texts and target audiences
• Reflective journals: Documenting your process, challenges and creative choices
• Evaluations: Critically reviewing your work and responding to feedback

This course equips students with the skills, confidence, and experience needed to progress into higher education or employment within the media and communications industries. Upon successful completion, students can apply for a range of related university degrees, including Broadcast Journalism, Photojournalism, Media and Communications, Digital Media, Television Production, Journalism, and Public Relations. The course also supports progression to apprenticeships in broadcast production, journalism, content creation, or digital marketing.

Throughout the course, students develop industry-relevant skills such as researching, scripting, presenting, editing, producing, and publishing for radio, television, podcasts, and online platforms. By working on real-world briefs and live projects, they build an impressive portfolio or showreel that reflects their individual interests and professional potential. The course also fosters strong transferable skills in teamwork, critical thinking, organisation, communication, and digital literacy – all of which are valuable in a broad range of careers.

Graduates may go on to work in roles such as junior researcher, production assistant, podcast producer, presenter, social media journalist, or digital content creator. Whether your goal is to become an on-screen talent, investigative journalist, producer, or work behind the scenes in editorial or studio roles, this course provides a strong foundation for your next step.