BA Hons Journalism with Public Relations

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Salford

Program Overview

If you enjoy telling stories, creating engaging content, and influencing how people think or respond to events, this course is a brilliant fit for you. At Salford, you’ll learn how to report news confidently and how to shape powerful PR campaigns—giving you a rare combination of skills that employers in media, broadcasting, and communications truly value.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Discovering the Foundations of Media & PR

Your first year is all about building the essential skills of a modern communicator. You’ll learn how to research and write stories through modules like Essential Reporting, explore digital storytelling in Creating Content, and understand the world of PR through the Public Relations module. You’ll also study Law and Ethics, helping you understand what responsible journalism looks like, and practise using multimedia tools to produce your earliest pieces of work.

Year 2 – Growing Your Voice as a Journalist and PR Professional

In your second year, you start to shape your own style and explore journalism and PR in more depth. You’ll work on strategic communication in PR Campaigns and Strategy, develop stronger storytelling techniques, and take on more complex digital media projects. This is the year where your confidence grows—you’ll experiment, collaborate, and start to discover the areas you’re most passionate about.

Year 3 – Creating Professional Work and Preparing for Media Careers

Your final year lets you bring everything together through major creative or strategic projects. Whether you choose to focus on journalism, PR, or both, you'll have the chance to create work you’re proud to show employers—like long-form features, documentary-style pieces, or professional PR campaigns. With support from tutors and access to MediaCityUK’s industry environment, you’ll step into your career with a polished portfolio and real experience behind you.

Focus Areas

“Digital and broadcast journalism · public relations campaigns and strategy · multimedia storytelling · crisis and reputation management · brand communication · content creation.”

Learning Outcomes

“You’ll graduate knowing how to produce credible journalism, design and manage PR campaigns, communicate effectively across digital platforms, and work confidently within legal and ethical media guidelines.”

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Salford’s journalism programmes are accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), meaning your training closely reflects professional newsroom standards.

Reputation (Employability & Industry Positioning)

Graduates in media, journalism and communications at Salford earn an average salary of around £24,000 just 15 months after graduating.
You’ll study right inside MediaCityUK, surrounded by the BBC, ITV and over 250 media companies — giving you incredible access to real-world opportunities.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the best parts of studying Journalism with Public Relations at Salford is how hands-on the experience is. You won’t just learn theory—you’ll actually work in real studio environments, handle professional equipment, and create content exactly the way journalists and PR teams do in industry. With MediaCityUK as your campus, you’re learning right next door to the BBC, ITV and more than 250 media companies, which makes every project feel close to real industry practice.

To give you a clear sense of what your practical learning will look like, here are the specific experiential opportunities built into the course:

Access to MediaCityUK’s industry-level facilities, including digital newsrooms, TV and radio studios, editing suites, and specialist equipment used by real broadcasters.
Practical modules that mirror newsroom and PR environments, where you produce stories, manage PR briefs, and work on communication campaigns as part of your coursework.
Opportunities to collaborate with students in broadcast journalism, digital media, and television, giving you a broader creative network and a multi-platform portfolio.
Professional-standard software and production tools, including audio editing, video editing, digital journalism tools, and PR planning platforms used across the media sector.
Guest sessions and insights from industry professionals, thanks to the close connection with media companies at MediaCityUK.
A strong emphasis on digital content creation, where you practice producing multimedia stories, social content, and PR materials aligned with current industry expectations.
Support from the university’s specialist technical team to help you use cameras, lighting equipment, audio tools, and editing technology confidently.
A dedicated journalism and media space at the New Adelphi building, giving you access to up-to-date equipment, open study areas, and collaborative spaces for group projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

When you graduate from this course, you’ll be ready to step confidently into the fast-paced world of media and communications. With a skill set that covers journalism, storytelling, PR strategy, and digital content creation, you’ll be prepared for roles such as Journalist, Public Relations Consultant, Media and Communications Officer, or Brand Content Strategist. What makes studying at Salford even more valuable is the strong support system and the industry environment you’ll experience throughout your degree.

Here’s how Salford helps you turn your studies into real career opportunities:

Careers & Employability Support: Through the university’s dedicated askUS hub and career services, you’ll receive guidance on building your CV, preparing applications, finding placements, and connecting with employers—so you’re never navigating your career journey alone.
Strong employment and salary outcomes: Graduates from media, journalism, and communications at Salford typically earn around £24,000 within 15 months of finishing their degree, and a large majority move into skilled roles within the industry.
A campus inside the industry: Because you’re based at MediaCityUK, you’re literally studying next to the BBC, ITV, and more than 250 media and creative companies. This means constant exposure to industry professionals, live projects, and networking opportunities that can shape your career.
Long-term professional value: Even without a specific external accreditation, the programme’s real-world approach—placements, multimedia skills, digital-first training—gives you a versatile and future-proof foundation for careers across journalism, PR, advertising, social media, and corporate communications.
Strong graduate readiness: By the time you finish, you’ll have a polished portfolio, hands-on production experience, and the ability to plan, write, film, edit, or strategize at a professional level—making you job-ready from day one.

Further Academic Progression:

If you choose to continue your studies, this degree prepares you well for postgraduate pathways such as Digital Communications, Strategic Public Relations, Media Management, Global Marketing and Media, or related areas. Your experience in PR campaigns and multimedia storytelling also gives you a strong foundation for research-focused roles or even future doctoral studies in media and communication.