Postgraduate Course ‘Excellence Degree in European Journalism’

The importance of the European Union can hardly be overestimated. Most national legislation is in fact made, or at least prepared,  in 'Brussels', and the everyday life of the 500 million European citizens in the 27 member states depends to an ever increasing degree on what is decided in 'Brussels', the capital of a project of political and economic integration never before witnessed in history.

Some one thousand journalists from all over the world daily report on the slow but determined process towards greater unity. They see how ministers, prime ministers and heads of state frequently come to Brussels to overcome yet another crisis or to take a new, irreversible step towards more Europe.

For many journalists, Europe is not appealing or sexy. It is too technical, too bureaucratic, with insufficient material for a really good story (except perhaps regarding the expensive to-and-fro between Brussels and Strasbourg). They think Europe is too complex, not just for citizens, but also for themselves.

Today, however, no serious newspaper, radio or television station or website can state that it can do without European coverage. Europe is no longer the happy hunting ground for the European super-specialized reporter. Every journalist in his daily reporting now stumbles upon Europe in one way or another.

With the European institutions only a stone’s throw away, this postgraduate course aims at being  a tool  for young graduates in journalism and for professional journalists who want to deepen and expand their knowledge about Europe, who want to hear from experts how the European machine works and what it produces and who want to start reporting on Europe themselves. Investing in European journalism is investing in your future.

Terms of admission

You will have graduated as a bachelor or master in journalism or you have a bachelor degree and have been a professional journalist for at least three years.
You have a good command of English, corresponding at least to level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Upper Intermediate), since the course and the production of journalistic material are in English.
A maximum of 20 students will be admitted.

Certificate

If you pass, you receive a certificate.

Programme

One semester (from 19.09.2011 until 10.02.2012); 30 ECTS credits (or 24 exclusive of internship).

Strong emphasis is put on journalistic practice. After a short introductory period the mornings are devoted to courses on the European institutions, the decision making process, the policies... After this period, at the cross-media newsdesk (CND), you use the freshly acquired knowledge to develop a journalistic product: a radio or television report, a topic for the website. You will work according to a  weekly rotation system: one week you will be part of the intake desk, the next week you will be a radio reporter, the week after that a television journalist and finally, you will write for the website. In the first weeks the morning lecturer will give you some guidance, after that you will function autonomously. Multitasking is the motto.
You also hand in an individual final project at the end of the CND period.
An (optional) internship will conclude the postgraduate course.

The courses will be given by specialists in their fields: academics, people with years of experience within the European institutions and dyed-in-the-wool European journalists.

Assessment

There are no exams, you will be continuously assessed (through the CND portfolio and the internship)

Costs

2,300 euros (2,200 euros exclusive of internship)

Read the general terms and conditions of payment before you register via the link hereunder.

Registration