Media & Communication

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The Master of Arts in Digital Journalism is a two-year graduate programme offered by Aga Khan University through the Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi. The programme combines real-life practice with academic rigour to position early and mid-career journalists as leaders in their field.

The programme enables journalists to develop knowledge, skills, and professional qualities for success at the highest levels of their profession. Students work with world-renowned journalists and scholars as they blend practice, critical thinking, and theory in their coursework, with a focus on digital media transformation.

Core areas of study include digital journalism practice, multimedia storytelling, data journalism, media ethics and law, digital media entrepreneurship, investigative journalism, audience engagement strategies, and research methods in journalism. The programme emphasises both technical skills and critical understanding of the rapidly evolving media landscape.

Aga Khan University's Graduate School of Media and Communications is a premier institution providing media education in East Africa. The school is part of AKU's global network, with strong connections to international media organisations and standards of excellence in journalism education.

The programme is designed for early and mid-career journalists with professional experience, requiring a minimum of two years in journalism or related fields. The curriculum includes one and a half years of classwork and six months of project or research work, culminating in a professional project or thesis.

Graduates are prepared for careers as digital journalists, editors, media managers, data journalists, content strategists, and media entrepreneurs in newsrooms, digital media companies, corporate communications, and independent media ventures across East Africa and globally.

Skills Required

Digital Journalism Practice
Multimedia Storytelling
Data Journalism
Media Ethics and Law
Investigative Journalism
Digital Media Entrepreneurship
Audience Engagement Strategies
Content Management Systems
Mobile Journalism
Research Methods in Journalism

Key Subjects

Digital Journalism Practice
Multimedia Storytelling
Data Journalism
Media Ethics and Law
Digital Media Entrepreneurship
Investigative Journalism
Audience Engagement Strategies
Mobile Journalism
Research Methods in Journalism
Media Leadership

Certifications

Media Council of Kenya Accreditation
Google News Initiative Certification

Specializations

Multimedia Journalism

Focuses on multimedia content production including video, audio, photography, and interactive storytelling for digital platforms.

Data Journalism

Covers data collection, analysis, visualisation, and storytelling using data-driven approaches to journalism.

Investigative Journalism

Examines investigative reporting techniques, document analysis, source development, and digital tools for investigative work.

Media Entrepreneurship

Focuses on building and managing digital media ventures, including business models, audience development, and monetisation strategies.

Mobile Journalism

Covers mobile-first journalism production using smartphones and portable technology for reporting, editing, and publishing.

Audience Engagement

Examines strategies for building and engaging digital audiences, including social media, community management, and analytics.

Media Leadership

Focuses on leadership and management of media organisations, including newsroom management, editorial strategy, and digital transformation.

Development Journalism

Covers journalism focused on development issues including health, education, environment, and social change in African contexts.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 416,100
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Digital Journalism Practice
Multimedia Storytelling
Data Journalism
Media Ethics and Law
Digital Media Entrepreneurship
Investigative Journalism
Audience Engagement Strategies
Mobile Journalism
Research Methods in Journalism
Media Leadership

Modules

10 in the programme

Digital Journalism Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines the practice of digital journalism including online news production, digital storytelling formats, and the transformation of journalism in the digital age.
Multimedia Storytelling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers multimedia content production including video, audio, photography, interactive graphics, and cross-platform storytelling for digital audiences.
Media Ethics and Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines ethical principles and legal frameworks governing journalism in the digital age, including media law in Kenya and East Africa.
Data Journalism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers data collection, analysis, visualisation, and storytelling using data-driven approaches to journalism, including tools and techniques for data reporting.
Investigative Journalism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines investigative reporting techniques, document analysis, source development, and digital tools for investigative journalism in African contexts.
Digital Media Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers building and managing digital media ventures, including business models, audience development, monetisation strategies, and innovation in media.
Audience Engagement Strategies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines strategies for building and engaging digital audiences, including social media, community management, analytics, and audience research.
Research Methods in Journalism
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in journalism and media studies.
Mobile Journalism
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Covers mobile-first journalism production using smartphones and portable technology for reporting, editing, and publishing across digital platforms.
Professional Project or Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original professional journalism project or research thesis demonstrating mastery of digital journalism skills, assessed through submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Multimedia Journalism
Focuses on multimedia content production including video, audio, photography, and interactive storytelling for digital platforms.
Data Journalism
Covers data collection, analysis, visualisation, and storytelling using data-driven approaches to journalism.
Investigative Journalism
Examines investigative reporting techniques, document analysis, source development, and digital tools for investigative work.
Media Entrepreneurship
Focuses on building and managing digital media ventures, including business models, audience development, and monetisation strategies.
Mobile Journalism
Covers mobile-first journalism production using smartphones and portable technology for reporting, editing, and publishing.
Audience Engagement
Examines strategies for building and engaging digital audiences, including social media, community management, and analytics.
Media Leadership
Focuses on leadership and management of media organisations, including newsroom management, editorial strategy, and digital transformation.
Development Journalism
Covers journalism focused on development issues including health, education, environment, and social change in African contexts.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on digital journalism practice, multimedia storytelling, or data journalism at AKU's Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi. Students engage in hands-on digital production sessions, working with multimedia tools to create news content. The programme includes case studies of digital media transformation, discussions on media ethics, and collaborative projects developing digital journalism products. Students participate in newsroom simulations and work on real stories for publication. Those in the project phase develop a professional journalism project or research thesis, often involving fieldwork and original reporting.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered at AKU's Graduate School of Media and Communications, a premier media education institution in East Africa with international standards.
Combines real-life practice with academic rigour, taught by world-renowned journalists and scholars with strong industry connections.
Need- and merit-based financial assistance available for all students, making the programme accessible despite premium fees.
Programme serves journalists from across East Africa, providing valuable regional networking and perspective on digital media.

Against it

Programme is the most expensive in this category at approximately KES 832,200 total for a private university.
Requires minimum two years of professional journalism experience, excluding recent graduates seeking direct entry.
Only one institution offers this specific programme in Kenya, limiting choice.
Admission process includes an entrance test and oral interview, adding complexity to the application process.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses

Public118k to 221k

118k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private341k to 416k

341k at USIU-Africa416k at Aga Khan University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

AKU MADJ KES 416,100/yr (aku.edu PDF). USIU 340,900/yr (usiu.ac.ke). Maseno 118,350/yr (yumpu).

Aga Khan University offers need- and merit-based financial assistance for this programme, with all students eligible to apply. The amount of assistance is determined on a case-by-case basis by a committee. HELB postgraduate loans are also available for Kenyan students.

Funding options

AKU Need-Based Financial Assistance
HELB Postgraduate Loan
Media Development Fund

Scholarships

3 recorded

AKU Need-Based Financial Assistance
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
All admitted students are eligible to apply. Amount determined on a case-by-case basis by a committee based on financial need and merit.
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Media Council of Kenya Training Fund
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Kenyan journalists seeking professional development, administered through the Media Council of Kenya.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Candidates must demonstrate a clear commitment to journalism and its ethical practice, with outstanding written and verbal communication skills in English, basic computer literacy, broad knowledge of history and current affairs, and relevant work experience evidenced by a portfolio of work and professional references. Shortlisted applicants must pass an admission test and oral interview.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Journalism assignments, multimedia production projects, data analysis exercises, seminar presentations, and peer reviews conducted throughout each semester.
Professional Portfolio
Practical30% of the mark
Portfolio of published or production-ready journalism work demonstrating mastery of digital journalism skills across multiple formats.
Final Examination
Examination30% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering theoretical and analytical aspects of digital journalism, media law, and ethics.
Professional Project or Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original professional journalism project or research thesis demonstrating mastery of digital journalism, assessed through submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region. The programme is offered by Aga Khan University, a chartered private university, through its Graduate School of Media and Communications.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
Media Council of Kenya
Professional accreditation
Kenyan statutory body for media regulation and professional accreditation. Accreditation recommended for graduates working in Kenyan media.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Digital Journalist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Produces digital news content across platforms, including written articles, multimedia stories, and social media content for newsrooms and digital media companies.
Editor
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages editorial content for digital newsrooms, overseeing content strategy, editorial standards, and team coordination.
Data Journalist
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 280,000
Specialises in data-driven journalism, collecting, analysing, and visualising data to produce investigative and analytical news stories.
Media Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages media operations, overseeing digital transformation, content strategy, and business development for media organisations.
Content Strategist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Develops and manages content strategies for media companies, corporate communications, or digital agencies, applying journalism skills to content planning.
Media Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 500,000
Builds and manages independent digital media ventures, developing audiences, content, and revenue models for online media businesses.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as digital journalists, editors, media managers, data journalists, and media entrepreneurs in newsrooms, digital media companies, and corporate communications across East Africa.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Premiere Pro
SoftwarePrimary
Professional video editing software for producing multimedia journalism content, including news videos, documentaries, and social media content.
Google Data Studio
SoftwarePrimary
Data visualisation tool for creating interactive charts, maps, and dashboards for data journalism stories.
WordPress
Software
Content management system used by many digital news platforms for publishing and managing online journalism content.
Hootsuite
Software
Social media management platform for scheduling posts, monitoring engagement, and distributing journalism content across social platforms.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Digital journalism is just about writing for websites.
The programme covers multimedia production, data analysis, audience engagement, media entrepreneurship, and strategic thinking alongside digital content creation.
You don't need a master's degree to be a journalist.
As the media landscape becomes increasingly digital and competitive, advanced training provides journalists with the skills and credibility needed for leadership roles and specialised positions.
The programme is only for those already working in media.
While professional experience is required, the programme serves journalists from various backgrounds seeking to transition to digital media or advance their careers.
Digital journalism is replacing traditional journalism completely.
The programme teaches digital skills within the broader context of journalistic principles, ethics, and storytelling that remain fundamental across all media platforms.
The programme is only for Kenyan journalists.
The programme serves journalists from across East Africa including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, providing a regional perspective on digital journalism.
Online-only delivery means lower quality education.
The programme has been delivered through flexible modes including online, maintaining AKU's high academic standards while accommodating working professionals across the region.