UDFSMKJR - BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Journalism

The BA Fashion Marketing and Journalism course is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of the fashion industry and help you develop the writing, broadcasting and multimedia communication skills you need to forge a successful career.

This undergraduate degree gives you the opportunity to study with experienced journalists and marketeers in the heart of London’s buzzing fashion scene. As industry experts, they’ll help you develop all the skills, knowledge and contacts you need for a career in fashion journalism. You’ll also gain first-hand experience of the industry during a work placement with some of the leading names in fashion marketing and journalism. You will take modules both in the School of Computing and Digital Media and in the Guildhall School of Business and Law, to give you important knowledge about both Journalism and how the world of fashion marketing operates

As part of this course, you will cover all aspects of the industry, from historical and theoretical backgrounds of journalism to international fashion marketing strategy. You’ll also gain a solid grounding in media law – vital for a career in journalism - as well as first-hand knowledge of how the fashion business works. Taught by practicing journalists and skilled marketers in the vibrant heart of London, you’ll gain all the skills required to write compelling academic essays, analyse and present marketing strategy and curate your own fashion blog.

To expand your skills, you’ll also undertake a work placement where you’ll develop the practical experience and industry contacts you need to get a head-start in your career. In addition, you'll discover what working in the industry is really like during news days, as you’ll practise working under the same pressure as media professionals.

The course also focuses on developing critical inquiry and professional skills, both of which are essential to success in the field of journalism. Writing is paramount in journalism, even in today’s convergent media world, so you will learn a range of writing techniques, from academic essay to snappy tweet. Curiosity about and knowledge of a wide knowledge of social and historical contexts is also crucial in developing professional journalistic practice within today’s fast-changing industry, as is an understanding of ethics and law in the post-Leveson media geography, as well as post-Trump fake news challenges.
Using a mixture of workshops, simulations, seminar discussions and exposition, the course is taught by respected, experienced practitioners. Every session makes use of blended learning, particularly via class blogs and the course website, and many modules are taught within the multimedia newsroom, TV studio or radio studio. Team working and collaboration, among other key social skills like the ability to gain interviews, present oneself successfully and sell ideas, are developed through class exercises and newsdays. Event-led news weeks are a unique feature of the course.
Your modules in the Business School will teach you all about fashion marketing and retailing, and you will learn how to apply this to the business world. In the rhid year, you will have a choice of doing a journalism dissertation – which could involve putting together a fashion magazine or a series of fashion podcasts – of doing the Consultancy Project. This will require you to undertake a fashion-related business project aimed at enhancing your employability as well as providing a platform for further professional development.

On graduation, you’ll leave with all the relevant knowledge and skills you need for a career in fashion marketing and journalism. For more information, visit the Holloway Express, our independent news website run by London Metropolitan University’s journalism students.

The course seeks to teach students:

• A broad understanding of marketing with particular focus on how the fashion industry is marketed, with both an academic and practitioner perspective of the various disciplines relevant to fashion marketing;
• the history and ideas important to understanding the practice of journalism in the UK today, as well as globally, so that they have an analytical framework with which to grasp their role within that industry;
• the role and significance fashion marketing plays in contemporary society and the process of consumer consumption;
• independent and critical thinking skills so that they can think independently, select appropriate approaches and solve problems relevant to fashion marketing and journalism
• writing skills so that they can write accurately and fluently in a variety of formats, to a variety of audiences (including academic essays, news items, headlines, features, reviews, reports, commentaries, blogs, tweets, interviews, profiles, investigations, critiques, comments, columns, nibs, campaigns and any other formats chosen – to deadline and to length);
• to develop their own understanding of their work so that they can produce it and target it to a range of media audiences, specialist and non-specialist;
• to develop their social skills so that they can interview primary sources face to face, over the phone, via email and social media and so that they can pitch ideas and presentations to possible employers;
• to foster independence as learners and practitioners, especially through individual projects;
• to foster collaboration as learners and practitioners, especially through group work and simulations;
• to have the opportunity for monitored work placements, extension of knowledge skills (shorthand), and publication within and outside the course website;
• the chance to progress towards more specialised accredited learning.

On completion of the course, students should be able to:

ULO: Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible practitioners/professionals in their discipline.

1. Demonstrate writing skills so that they can Demonstrate wrtiting skills so they can write accurately and fluently in a variety of formats, including academic essays, news items, headlines, features, reviews, reports, commentaries, blogs, tweets, interviews, profiles, investigations, critiques, comments, columns, nibs, campaigns and any other formats chosen – to deadline and to lengt

2. Have the newsgathering tools required to research the background data and risk implications of any journalistic task they may have to do;

3. Be familiar with the history and ideas important to understanding the practice of journalism in the UK today, as well as globally, so that they have an analytical framework with which to grasp their role within the industry and with the history and ideas important to understanding the legal and political systems in the UK today, as well as globally, so that they have an analytical framework and practical knowledge with which to grasp and practice effectively their role within society;

4. Demonstrate the necessary social skills so that they can interview primary sources face to face, over the phone, via email and social media and so that they can pitch ideas and presentations to possible employers;

5. Utilise their powers of argument, analysis, narrative and sequencing so that they can construct effective, substantiated content for different audiences;

6. Introduce and promote the technical skills essential for any career in convergent media – text, audio, video;

7. Foster their own independence as learners and practitioners, especially through individual projects and to foster collaboration as learners and practitioners, especially through group work and simulations;

8. Take advantage of the opportunity for monitored work placements, extension of knowledge skills and publication within and outside the course website and to work with students to enhance their employability through perfecting the production of CVs, interview skills, portfolio website development and more;

9. Know and understand how the fashion marketing industry works, with both an academic and practitioner perspective of the various disciplines relevant to fashion marketing, as well as understanding the role and significance fashion marketing plays in contemporary society and the process of consumer consumption. This includes a strong understanding of the social, political and ethical dimensions within which the fashion industry operates,

10. Be aware of the marketing strategies involved with being a fashion journalist, and the importance of being aware of current trends. This includes understanding the relationship between fashion marketing/PR and journalism, and how they work together.

Subject Benchmark Statement: Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies (April-2024)

Guidance at:

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/sbs/sbs-communication-media-film-and-cultural-studies-24.pdf?sfvrsn=c401b481_4
The above latest subject benchmark statement and general guidance available are used in the design, delivery and review of the course and in facilitating the knowledge and skills normally expected of a typical course graduate.

The course uses a wide range of assessments, from online journals and group presentations to contributions to the course website and academic essays, from video footage and sound recordings to magazine and website layouts and pop quizzes, in-class examination and long-form writing.

Assessment develops with on a coaching model, with formative assessment being offered at drafting and intermediate submission, both face to face and electronically. Students are encouraged to help their fellow students learn by providing constructive criticism and encouragement, to help them grow further and also to help course members grow as a cohesive group. News and enhancement weeks offer the chance to receive formative assessment whilst engaged on simulations, newsdays and practical activities.

Since much teaching is run on an interactive coaching model, tutorials are built into class sessions as well as offered privately. Feedback on summative assessment is given within one week of submission for the first instance and thereafter two weeks. Often, tutors talk in class about the assessments after submission, helping students to celebrate what they have done well and work better on what needs to be improved.

Students are encouraged to do work on topics considered with the Education for Social Justice Framework and are often given free rein to decide the topics they want to cover. News weeks are aligned with the ESJF, and the topics we have covered in the past included immigration, the rise of food banks, vegan fashion, sustainability in fashion, cultural appropriation and more.

Most modules include a reflective assessment, where students evaluate their own contribution to class via an online journal moderated by tutors. Much of the work that the students carry out builds over time, not just from level to level but from assessment to assessment. Students have a say in what the assessments are and tutors listen to feedback to make students feel they are doing work that is worthwhile and reflects their personal and professional growth.

A compulsory work experience placement in the second year is credited within the course. The London Met Journalism Diversity Network is instrumental in helping students find suitable placements, and help from Career Services and/or tutors is also readily available. Often, students find their own work placements. Alternatively, students can take the Learning Through Work module in the Business School.

News days and news weeks are simulations which offer work-based learning.
The course includes information, training and advice on employability, job applications, CVs and finances. Simulation of the work environment also includes job applications and interviews. Students will learn how to write their own CVs and also learn how to devise a portfolio website, to showcase not only articles, podcasts and TV shows in which they have participated but also their work experience in other areas, in which transferrable skills are displayed.

They would normally proceed through the program, taking only half the number of modules per year.

Cert Ed: All modules specified at L4.
Dip Higher Ed: Credits specified at L4 and L5
BA without hons: Credits specified at L4, L5 and 60 credit core modules at L6
BA hons: all credits specified in Course Spec.

All Journalism-only modules, apart from the final project, include an online journal, to be completed at the end of each class. Tutors give formative comments before the next class. This ensures a virtual circle of feedback, allows students to let their tutors what parts of their learning they feel competent about and which areas may need more attention. It helps include students as partners, as it can contribute to the next week’s learning session. It also forms part of assessment, so contributes to students’ ownership of their progress.

Students’ personal blogs and the course website are repositories for successful work, creating portfolios. Students are also asked to design portfolio websites in their second year, where they can showcase published work as well as their CVs. This provides a helpful tool that is useful in gaining work placements as well as jobs after graduation. In addition, many modules require students to do group presentations, which, when submitted, include a personal reflection of their work up until this point.

The course is entirely work-focused. Graduates have moved into a variety of communications fields: advertising, public relations, social media, business communications, media production and journalism. A sizable number have gone on to further higher education degrees. Notable alumni destinations include those working for the Economist, Newsweek, BBC radio and IBtimes. Work placements have been available in Marie Claire magazine, Black Beauty and Hair magazine, Heat, Closer, Bella and more.

During this degree, you’ll gain the qualifications and skills you need for a range of roles in fashion journalism, newspapers and magazines (both print and online.

Our creative technologies and digital media graduates have gone on to exciting careers as content programmers, fashion copywriters, motion graphic designers, multimedia journalists and visual effects production assistants, radio presenters, studio runners and producers in companies such as D2 Interactive, TK MAXX, Motion Picture Company, Virtual Arts, Volant Media and We Are Capture.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• a minimum of grades BBC in three A levels (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC National, OCR Diploma or Advanced Diploma)
• GCSE English at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing our Fashion Marketing and Journalism (including foundation year) BA (Hons) degree.

Applicants with relevant professional qualifications or extensive professional experience will also be considered on a case by case basis.