Press & Editorial Photography BA(Hons)

From photography’s history and theories to essential technical and creative skills, this photojournalism course will teach you what lies behind the everyday practice of photographers and publications. You’ll study practical modules, communication and copyright, and magazine and layout production. 

Modules

Essentials of Photographic Narrative

In this module, you’ll develop your narrative photographic technique through a series of assignments designed to build your skills of observation, your ability to find stories and the technical understanding required to create compelling images. 

Professional Practice

This module will equip you with the basis for your growing identity as a professional photographer. You’ll build your own website, create your CV and develop a network of professional contacts. 

Histories, Theories, Practices and Contexts of Press & Editorial Photography

We’ll cover key debates and theories in communication and cultural studies, such as the changing role of photography as a social practice; how photojournalism has evolved within news and magazine industries; the growth of digital storytelling; the changing political and economic structures of journalism, and its role in shaping public opinion. 

Photographic Narrative in Context

You’ll produce relevant, real-world work that aligns with, and is attractive to, pre-existing editorial print spaces and clients. As part of this, you will recognise valid content relevant to specific spaces, by understanding products, audiences and markets within a press and editorial context.   

Critical Approaches to Press & Editorial Photography

This module provides an introduction to the varying ways that images convey meaning, and how we read them. Through a series of lectures, discussions, workshops and student-led seminars, you’ll engage with the origins of these theoretical and philosophical conventions in image communication.  

We’ll explore theoretical studies alongside ethics, representation and media law. You’ll develop audio and multimedia skills, and promote your work in print, online and at an exhibition in London. We’ll also help you develop your professional network as you complete a work placement and get the opportunity to study abroad. 

Modules

Audio Visual & Multimedia

This module will demonstrate the power and potential of multimedia storytelling. Through an introduction to the diversity inherent within multimedia practice, and via practical workshops and processes, you will learn how to marry story, content and context to create work that resonates with an audience. 

Media Law, Ethics & Human Rights

Through this module, you’ll develop a working knowledge of the legal and ethical frameworks that impact on story identification, gathering and publishing across digital and print media. 

Audiences

This module introduces you to the theory and practice of engaging and understanding audiences across a range of media and contexts. Working in groups, you will develop the identity of your project, assign the necessary roles to manage the project, and complete the production, editing and curation of content. 

Cultural & Critical Context or News, Editorial and Photojournalism Genre

We’ll consider generic conventions across media and how they shape public knowledge. In doing so, we’ll look at specific journalism, documentary, editorial, photojournalism and visual storytelling genres. A combination of lectures and seminars will encourage you to critically contextualise practices with wider social, cultural, technical and political contexts. 

You can choose to take an optional placement year after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the RealWORKS employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your placement year 

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

On top of producing a multi-part developmental portfolio and completing your dissertation, you’ll work toward a final major project in a subject area and medium of your choice. 

Modules

Developmental portfolio

The developmental portfolio is driven by and designed for each individual, being built upon previous portfolio success and married to the unique aspirations of each student. You’ll be supported in this development process through stages of proposal, portfolio and reflection. You will align your ambitions and abilities with the five-part practical construct, ensuring that your unique voice is heard and supported. This module will help you to identify your specific strengths, which will direct future possibilities. 

Dissertation

Your dissertation is the major piece of academic work undertaken in the final year of study, and is an opportunity for you to explore your own interests. While writing, you’ll engage with research and analysis into the historical and professional concepts, practices and theories that have been introduced during the course. Although supported by workshops, seminars and specific supervision, the emphasis of this module is student-led independent learning. 

Final portfolio

Building on previous experience, and especially upon the strengths of your developmental portfolio, you’ll design individual and unique outputs that speak to an identified audience. Evidencing a deep and clear understanding of context and purpose, your creative work will be dictated by you with the support of your tutors. Your final submission will be highly professional, creative and critically engaged. 

Why study an Integrated Foundation Year route? 

If you’re taking on a new subject that you haven’t studied in depth before, have been out of education for a while or have a non-standard educational background then an Integrated Foundation Year degree may be the right choice for you. It is a four-year degree with an Integrated Foundation Year to start, which allows you to explore the primary elements of your subject before progressing on to the remaining three years of the BA(Hons) degree. 

What you'll study in your Foundation year

If you choose this pathway, you'll study five core modules in your Foundation year. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your subject. You'll gain relevant technical skills, learn to experiment and take risks, develop an understanding of professional practice, have opportunities to work across disciplines and collaborate with other students on live project briefs. 

Modules

Explore

You'll begin your foundation year by working collaboratively with others to explore themes of the future. You'll take risks, experiment through play and be supported to break through barriers.

Technique

You'll take subject-specific workshops and develop essential technical and practical skills in your area of study. You'll also enhance your analytical and organisational abilities.

Apply

You'll work with your peer group to think beyond discipline by addressing a societal or global issue. You'll then showcase your work to your peers and deliver and accompanying evaluation of your process.

Industry

You'll enhance your creative and practical skills in your subject specialism by responding to typical industry briefs, underpinned by focused research and experiments. You'll also gain industry insights through guest lectures and workshops.

Launch

You'll develop your unique identity in your specialism through the production of a self-initiated body of work. Your final project will be the bridge to your next year, fully supported by evaluative reviews and critical analysis of the work you have created.

After the Foundation year, you progress into Year One of the full three-year degree, equipped with a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, and develop a practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen subject. 

If you apply for and enrol onto a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year, you’ll have the option to switch onto a five-year version including a placement year. That means you’ll complete the first three years of your course before completing a placement in industry in your fourth year and returning to Falmouth for the fifth year of your programme. 

The Integrated Foundation Year pathway for this course is new for entry year 2023 and subject to validation.