Birmingham School of Media
Encyclopedia
Birmingham School of Media, known informally as BCU Media, is a school of Birmingham City University
in the city of Birmingham
, England
. It is part of the Faculty of Performance, Media and English
(PME), which also includes the Birmingham School of Acting
, the Birmingham Conservatoire, and the School of English
.
It was one of the first in the country to teach media studies
and has accredited status as a Skillset
Media Academy. The school is based on the first, second, third and fourth floors of the Baker Building at the university's City North Campus in Birmingham
's Perry Barr
area. Subjects taught at the school include communications
, the creative industries
, event management
, interactive media
, journalism
, photography
, popular music, public relations
, radio
, and television
. Alongside provision for undergraduate
and postgraduate
education, the school teaches short courses geared towards the media industry.
The school includes a screen media and visual design production facility, Screen Media Lab (based in Birmingham's Digbeth
area), and an academic research centre, Interactive Cultures.
(BIAD) until a re-organisation of the university's faculties in mid 2008. It still takes part with BIAD in the New Generation Arts (NGA) Festival, an annual showcase of the university's creative arts
graduates.
In 2009, the school's introduction of master's degrees focusing on multimedia and entrepreneurial skills for journalists and photographers was cited by the Poynter Institute
as a demonstration of how the university was "leading the way in 21st-century journalism education
". A postgraduate degree in social media
was criticised in the popular press, though staff at the school argued its relevance and scholarliness.
All courses are honours degrees of Bachelor of Arts
(BA).
Postgraduate
Professional
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
in the city of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is part of the Faculty of Performance, Media and English
Faculty of Performance, Media and English
Faculty of Performance, Media and English is the newest faculty of Birmingham City University, established in 2009...
(PME), which also includes the Birmingham School of Acting
Birmingham School of Acting
Birmingham School of Acting is a drama school located in Birmingham, England....
, the Birmingham Conservatoire, and the School of English
School of English (Birmingham City University)
The School of English is part of the Faculty of Performance, Media and English at Birmingham City University. The School offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, is home to the Research and Development Unit for English Studies, and has an association with the National Academy of...
.
It was one of the first in the country to teach media studies
Media studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
and has accredited status as a Skillset
Skillset
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council which supports skills and training for people and businesses to ensure the UK creative media industries competitive and productive.-History:It was founded 1992 and is jointly funded by industry and government...
Media Academy. The school is based on the first, second, third and fourth floors of the Baker Building at the university's City North Campus in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
's Perry Barr
Perry Barr
Perry Barr is an inner-city area in north Birmingham, England. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Perry Barr ward and the wards of Handsworth Wood, Lozells and East Handsworth, and Oscott, which elect three councillors to...
area. Subjects taught at the school include communications
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
, the creative industries
Creative industries
The creative industries refers to a range of economic activities which are concerned with the generation or exploitation of knowledge and information...
, event management
Event management
Event management is the application of project management to the creation and development of festivals, events and conferences.Event management involves studying the intricacies of the brand, identifying the target audience, devising the event concept, planning the logistics and coordinating the...
, interactive media
Interactive media
Interactive media normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, graphics, animation, video, audio, etc.-Terminology:...
, journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, popular music, public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, and television
Television studies
Television studies is an academic discipline that deals with critical approaches to television. Usually, it is distinguished from mass-communication research, which tends to approach the topic from an empirical perspective...
. Alongside provision for undergraduate
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education is an education level taken prior to gaining a first degree . Hence, in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is...
and postgraduate
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
education, the school teaches short courses geared towards the media industry.
The school includes a screen media and visual design production facility, Screen Media Lab (based in Birmingham's Digbeth
Digbeth
Digbeth is an area of Birmingham, England. Following the destruction of the Inner Ring Road, Digbeth is now considered a district within Birmingham City Centre. As part of the Big City Plan, Digbeth is undergoing a large redevelopment scheme that will regenerate the old industrial buildings into...
area), and an academic research centre, Interactive Cultures.
History
The school was formerly known as the Department of Media and Communication, and was part of the Birmingham Institute of Art and DesignBirmingham Institute of Art and Design
The Birmingham Institute of Art and Design is the largest British university art and design teaching and research centre outside London. It is a faculty of Birmingham City University and the largest, most successful department of the university.-History:BIAD dates back, in various incarnations, to...
(BIAD) until a re-organisation of the university's faculties in mid 2008. It still takes part with BIAD in the New Generation Arts (NGA) Festival, an annual showcase of the university's creative arts
Creative Arts
Creative arts is the term used to describe different types of art. Specifically, to introduce fine art ideas, techniques, skills and media. It is generally used as an umbrella for Dramaturgy, Music , Graphic Arts/Cartooning, Performing Arts, Film and Publishing, Galleries and Museums and the Visual...
graduates.
In 2009, the school's introduction of master's degrees focusing on multimedia and entrepreneurial skills for journalists and photographers was cited by the Poynter Institute
Poynter Institute
The Poynter Institute is a non-profit school for journalism located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school's mission statement says that "The Poynter Institute is a school dedicated to teaching and inspiring journalists and media leaders. It promotes excellence and integrity in the practice of...
as a demonstration of how the university was "leading the way in 21st-century journalism education
Journalism school
A journalism school is a school or department, usually part of an established university, where journalists are trained. An increasingly used term for a journalism department, school or college is 'J-School'...
". A postgraduate degree in social media
Social media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
was criticised in the popular press, though staff at the school argued its relevance and scholarliness.
Courses
UndergraduateAll courses are honours degrees of Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(BA).
- MediaMedia studiesMedia studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
and CommunicationCommunication studiesCommunication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass... - Media and Communication (Events and Exhibition IndustriesEvent managementEvent management is the application of project management to the creation and development of festivals, events and conferences.Event management involves studying the intricacies of the brand, identifying the target audience, devising the event concept, planning the logistics and coordinating the...
) - Media and Communication (JournalismJournalismJournalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
) - Media and Communication (Media PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
) - Media and Communication (Music Industries)
- Media and Communication (Public RelationsPublic relationsPublic relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
) - Media and Communication (RadioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
) - Media and Communication (TelevisionTelevision studiesTelevision studies is an academic discipline that deals with critical approaches to television. Usually, it is distinguished from mass-communication research, which tends to approach the topic from an empirical perspective...
) - Media and Communication (WebWorld Wide WebThe World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
and New MediaNew mediaNew media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
)
Postgraduate
- PgDipPostgraduate diplomaA postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma...
Broadcast JournalismBroadcast journalismBroadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast methods include radio , television , and, especially recently, the Internet generally... - MAMaster of Arts (postgraduate)A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
Creative IndustriesCreative industriesThe creative industries refers to a range of economic activities which are concerned with the generation or exploitation of knowledge and information...
and Cultural PolicyCultural policyCultural Policy is the area of public policy-making that governs activities related to the arts and culture. Generally, this involves fostering processes, legal classifications and institutions which promote cultural diversity and accessibility, as well as enhancing and promulgating the artistic,...
(MACICP) - MA Event and Exhibition Management
- MA Freelance Photography
- MA Freelancing and Journalism EnterpriseEntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
- MA Global Media Production
- MA International Broadcast Journalism
- MA International Journalism
- MA Magazine Journalism and Interactive ContentInteractive mediaInteractive media normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, graphics, animation, video, audio, etc.-Terminology:...
- MA Media and Creative Enterprise
- MA Music Industries
- MA Music RadioMusic radioMusic radio is a radio format in which music is the main broadcast content. After television replaced old time radio's dramatic content, music formats became dominant in many countries...
- MA Online JournalismOnline journalismOnline journalism is defined as the reporting of facts when produced and distributed via the Internet.As of 2009, audiences for online journalism continue to grow...
- MA Radio and Audio ProductionSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
- MA Radio for DevelopmentDevelopment studiesDevelopment studies is a multidisciplinary branch of social science which addresses issues of concern to developing countries. It has historically placed a particular focus on issues related to social and economic development, and its relevance may therefore extend to communities and regions...
- MA Social MediaSocial mediaThe term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
- MA Television Production
- MPhilMaster of PhilosophyThe Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
s and PhDDoctor of PhilosophyDoctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
s in Media and Communication
Professional
- CIPR Advanced Certificate in Public Relations
Alumni
- Smitthi BhiraleusSmitthi BhiraleusSmitthi Bhiraleus is the founder, CEO and Managing Director of VERY Inc and MTV Thailand. In early 2003, he joined Channel [V] Thailand as a General Manager and was awarded a place in Thailand's top 50 young executive list in 2003, 2004 and 2005 by Manager Newspaper Group...
(MA Media Production) – television executive - Paul BradshawPaul Bradshaw (journalist)Paul Bradshaw is an online journalist and blogger, a Reader in Online Journalism at Birmingham City University and a Visiting Professor at City University's School of Journalism in London. He manages his own blog, the Online Journalism Blog , and is the co-founder of Help Me Investigate, an...
(BA Media 1998) – online journalist and media academic - Marverine ColeMarverine ColeMarverine Cole is a British radio and television presenter and news reporter from Birmingham, England. She has worked for BBC Midlands Today, BBC Radio WM, Imagine FM, ITV Central News, Sky News, and Touch FM....
(PGDip Broadcast Journalism 2003) – television and radio presenter and news reporter - Kirsten O'BrienKirsten O'BrienKirsten O'Brien is an English television presenter and stand-up comic.She is known for presenting SMart, and presented Smile and Totally Doctor Who alongside Barney Harwood on CBBC....
(BA Media and Communication 1993) – television presenter - Mary RhodesMary RhodesMary Rhodes is a regular sports presenter on BBC World throughout the week and often presents the sport on the BBC One Weekend Bulletins. She has held this role since 2000, but prior to this was with BBC News 24 since its 1997 launch. She hosted the daily magazine programme 110%...
(BA Media and Communication (Television) 1990) – television presenter - Margherita TaylorMargherita TaylorMargherita Taylor is a British broadcaster, TV and radio presenter.Taylor studied media and communications at the University of Central England, majoring in video production for her degree. She found fame in 1993 when Birmingham based radio station BRMB offered her a slot as a DJ as part of a...
(BA Media and Communication) – radio and television presenter - Phil UptonPhil UptonPhil Upton is a British radio presenter in the West Midlands region.-Early life:Born the same day as David Cameron, he attended King's Norton Boys' School in Cotteridge from 1978-85....
(BA Media and Communication 1985) – radio presenter