There are many reasons to pursue a career in Music Journalism. You may have a passion for music but want to explore other avenues, or you may just want to write as much as you can about the thing you love! A degree in Music Journalism enables you to combine practical and theoretical aspects of the extraordinary world of music and allows you to think about the industry in a critical way, whilst still enjoying real-world experiences and opportunities in the world of music writing.

If you love music and communicating your thoughts and feelings about music with others, then studying a degree in Music Journalism is a great way to both indulge your passions and start your professional career. At the University of Chester, we will give you opportunities to go to gigs, interview bands, write for websites (the department’s website, Cat Media, and others beyond the campus), and starting your own blogs. Seeing your name in print will really give you the initial boost, so your career begins the moment you start your Chester story. 

If Music Journalism is a career that interests you, here are some key things to bear in mind when choosing a degree:

• Work-Based Learning

Although much of your university experience will come from class-based activities and learning (as well as actually getting out to gigs), what will set you apart from other graduates is gaining some work experience as part of your degree.  At Chester, our courses include a five-week Work-Based Learning placement at the end of your second year. Taking this placement means that as well as your degree, you will have experience in the workplace, which is something employers really look out for. Previous placements for Music Journalism students have included titles such as Mojo, NME, Clash and Mixmag. It is easy to see the value of such endeavours - the student who did his work experience at Mixmag then began writing professionally for the magazine.

• Course Content

Take a look at the different modules offered at different universities.  The Music Journalism degree course at Chester covers a range of practical and theoretical subjects. So while you will learn, for example, about the history of music magazines or the role of music websites, you will have the opportunity to apply the theory into practice by making your own magazines and websites. Similarly, we also produce music content for TV and radio, using the great facilities at the University. Before you make your final choice, make sure the content and opportunities of the course suits your needs.  For example, you may you may want to study abroad.

• Staff Expertise

It’s worth checking what sector experience teaching staff have.  At Chester, the staff across all our modules are extremely experienced and passionate about the subject.  As the Programme Leader, I have over 20 years’ experience writing about music.  Author of the book Discombobulated - a collection of my columns penned for DJ magazine – I have reported on the music scene everywhere from Beijing to Brazil; Moscow to Marrakech.  I have also edited Ministry of Sound’s Ibiza magazine and produced and presented TV and radio from the island. In academic terms, I have contributed to Bloomsbury books including How To Write About Music, DJ Culture in the Mix and Kerouac on Record, as well as various academic publications including the Journal of Popular Music. 

Find Out More

If you would like to find out more about the Music Journalism course at Chester, we would love to meet you at one of our forthcoming Open Days.  And if you have any queries in the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact me on s.morrison@chester.ac.uk or 01925 534 605.