Study journalism in London this summer!

The School of Mass Communication & Journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi will offer an introductory course in British Journalism in Summer 2012 as part of the USM British Studies Program. Students will spend four weeks in London attending lectures and visiting media institutions. The course, which runs from approximately June 28 to July 29, 2012, offers six hours of credit in MCJ 499 or MCJ 599. The instructors for the course are Maggie Williams and David R. Davies of the USM School of Mass Communication & Journalism.

(The British Studies Program has a full web site explaining the overall program in detail as well a full-color brochure with additional details.)

What you will learn

Students love the course, which is officially entitled Inky wretches, oddball bloggers and talking heads: Social Media and British Journalism. (See the evaluations page.) Students in the course will learn about British media and become literate in blogging, videography, photography, and podcasting. Our summer student Mo-Jos (Mobile Journalists) will compile a body of work online as they develop and stretch their practical and academic skills in one of Europe’s most exciting cities. Compelling tours and lectures that touch on the entire spectrum of media practice will provide a picture of this rapidly changing industry and its stark differences from American journalism. We’ll discuss Britain's news coverage, public relations practices, advertising policies and the pros and cons of each while developing and stretching our technology skills.

What you learn about British media will surprise you. Like many Americans, you may assume that British media are a mirror of their American counterparts, but they are not. MCJ499 will teach you the myriad reasons for the differences, including the answers to these and many other important questions:

 • Why do some journalists paint media mogul Rupert Murdoch as the great Satan, while others proclaim him the savior of British media?

 • What are "red tops," and how are they leading British journalism into the sewer?

 • Why is it that British politicians can regulate newspapers at the drop of a hat?

 • Why is advertising in British media so darn racy, and how do regulators keep it from going too far?

 • What is the fastest route into public relations in the U.K.?

 • What is "Annabella Syndrome" and how is it undermining diversity in British media?

 • How does the major bi-weekly in South London cope with covering politics in "Loony Lambeth"?

Interested? Peruse this site for more information or give Dr. Davies a call to get more information.