Media & Communication

Master of Journalism

The Master of Journalism is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in journalism, media studies, and communication. The programme combines journalism theory with practical media production, editing, and communication management application.

Core areas include journalism practice, media theory, communication research methods, multimedia journalism, media management, development communication, public relations, digital communication, media ethics, research methods, and thesis or project. Students engage with both journalism theory and practical media production and field work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi as MA in Communication Studies through the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kenyatta University as MA in Communication and Media Studies, Technical University of Kenya as Master of Journalism and Media Studies, and Kisii University as Master of Journalism and Mass Communication. Private universities including USIU-Africa and Daystar University also offer related communication and journalism programmes. Public and private universities offer programmes over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in journalism practice, media theory, communication research, multimedia journalism, media management, development communication, and digital communication. The programme includes coursework, examinations, media production projects, and a supervised research thesis or project.

TU-K charges approximately KES 191,650/year (KES 383,300 total) for journalism and media studies. Kisii University charges approximately KES 170,000/year for journalism and mass communication. UoN charges approximately KES 361,500/year for communication studies. USIU-Africa charges approximately KES 600,000/year as a private university. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in journalism, communication, media studies, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as journalists, editors, media managers, communication specialists, public relations practitioners, and lecturers in journalism across media houses, PR firms, corporate communications, NGOs, government agencies, and universities.

Skills Required

Journalism Practice and News Writing
Media Theory and Communication Analysis
Multimedia Journalism and Digital Media Production
Communication Research Methods
Media Management and Editorial Leadership
Development Communication and Social Change
Public Relations and Strategic Communication
Media Ethics and Regulatory Compliance
Digital Communication and Social Media Strategy
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Journalism Practice and News Writing
Media Theory and Communication Analysis
Multimedia Journalism and Digital Media Production
Communication Research Methods
Media Management and Editorial Leadership
Development Communication and Social Change
Public Relations and Strategic Communication
Media Ethics and Regulatory Compliance
Digital Communication and Social Media Strategy
Thesis or Project Research

Certifications

Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Accreditation
International Communication Association (ICA) Membership

Specializations

Multimedia Journalism

Focuses on multimedia journalism, covering digital media, online journalism, multimedia production, and managing multimedia journalism.

Media Management

Examines media management, covering media organisations, editorial management, business models, and managing media enterprises.

Development Communication

Covers development communication, covering social change, development theory, participatory communication, and managing development communication.

Public Relations

Focuses on public relations, covering strategic communication, corporate communication, reputation management, and managing public relations.

Digital Communication

Examines digital communication, covering social media, online content, digital strategy, analytics, and managing digital communication.

Media Studies

Covers media studies, covering media criticism, media theory, representation, identity, and managing media analysis.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 382,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Journalism Practice and News Writing
Media Theory and Communication Analysis
Multimedia Journalism and Digital Media Production
Communication Research Methods
Media Management and Editorial Leadership
Development Communication and Social Change
Public Relations and Strategic Communication
Media Ethics and Regulatory Compliance
Digital Communication and Social Media Strategy
Thesis or Project Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Theories of Communication and Media
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines communication theories, media effects, agenda setting, framing, and managing media analysis.
Journalism Practice and News Writing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers news writing, reporting, editing, feature writing, investigative journalism, and managing journalism practice.
Research Methods in Communication
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, quantitative methods, qualitative methods, content analysis, and conducting communication research, preparing students for their thesis.
Multimedia Journalism and Digital Media
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines digital media, online journalism, multimedia production, data journalism, and managing multimedia journalism.
Media Management and Editorial Leadership
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers media organisations, editorial management, business models, revenue, and managing media enterprises.
Development Communication and Social Change
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines social change, development theory, participatory communication, campaigns, and managing development communication.
Public Relations and Strategic Communication
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers strategic communication, corporate communication, reputation management, crisis communication, and managing public relations.
Digital Communication and Social Media Strategy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines social media, online content, digital strategy, analytics, SEO, and managing digital communication.
Media Ethics and Regulatory Frameworks
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers press freedom, accuracy, privacy, regulation, media law, and managing media ethics.
Global Communication and International Media
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines global communication, international media systems, comparative media, and managing global communication.
Contemporary Issues in Communication
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers trends in communication, convergent technologies, media convergence, misinformation, and managing contemporary communication issues.
Research Thesis or Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis or project on a journalism and media studies topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and journalism knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Multimedia Journalism
Focuses on multimedia journalism, covering digital media, online journalism, multimedia production, and managing multimedia journalism.
Media Management
Examines media management, covering media organisations, editorial management, business models, and managing media enterprises.
Development Communication
Covers development communication, covering social change, development theory, participatory communication, and managing development communication.
Public Relations
Focuses on public relations, covering strategic communication, corporate communication, reputation management, and managing public relations.
Digital Communication
Examines digital communication, covering social media, online content, digital strategy, analytics, and managing digital communication.
Media Studies
Covers media studies, covering media criticism, media theory, representation, identity, and managing media analysis.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Master of Journalism programme combines lectures, media production workshops, practical exercises, seminars, field assignments, and independent study. Sessions cover journalism practice, media theory, communication research, and digital media. Journalism practice sessions examine news writing, reporting, editing, feature writing, investigative journalism, and managing journalism practice. Media theory sessions cover communication theories, media effects, agenda setting, framing, and managing media analysis. Communication research sessions cover research design, quantitative methods, qualitative methods, content analysis, and managing communication research. Multimedia journalism sessions cover digital media, online journalism, multimedia production, data journalism, and managing multimedia journalism. Media management sessions cover media organisations, editorial management, business models, revenue, and managing media enterprises. Development communication sessions cover social change, development theory, participatory communication, campaigns, and managing development communication. Public relations sessions cover strategic communication, corporate communication, reputation management, crisis communication, and managing public relations. Digital communication sessions cover social media, online content, digital strategy, analytics, SEO, and managing digital communication. Media ethics sessions cover press freedom, accuracy, privacy, regulation, and managing media ethics. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis or project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Media production workshops provide hands-on experience with video production, audio production, photography, and digital content creation. Practical exercises provide hands-on experience with news writing, editing, interviewing, and multimedia storytelling. Field assignments provide real-world exposure to news gathering, event coverage, and media production. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in journalism and media. Guest lectures from experienced journalists, editors, media managers, and PR practitioners provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis or project on a journalism and media studies topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered by six universities (4 public, 2 private), providing wide institutional choice.
Kisii University offers competitive fees at approximately KES 170,000/year for journalism and mass communication.
Digital media, multimedia journalism, data journalism, and content creation are growing fields in Kenya.
Graduates are eligible for MCK accreditation and ICA professional membership, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

USIU-Africa (private) charges significantly higher fees at approximately KES 600,000/year.
Traditional print media is declining, requiring graduates to adapt to digital media platforms.
UoN journalism specific fees not independently verified.
Programme requires journalism, communication, media studies, or related background, which may limit access for non-related graduates.

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

Public100k to 221k

100k at Kisii University221k at University of Nairobi

Private258k to 383k

258k at USIU-Africa383k 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

Kisii 100K/yr, UoN 220.5K/yr. AKU MADJ 191.3K/sem, USIU 128.8K/sem (aku.edu, eafinder)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Media Council of Kenya may provide training support for journalism professionals. USIU-Africa offers financial aid for eligible students. Some media houses and organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Media Council of Kenya Training Support
USIU-Africa Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
MCK Training Support
GrantKsh 150,000Kenyan
Media Council of Kenya may provide training support for journalism professionals pursuing postgraduate study.
USIU-Africa Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
USIU-Africa offers financial aid for eligible postgraduate students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in journalism, communication, media studies, or related fields. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Bachelor's degree in any discipline with postgraduate qualification in journalism or communication may also be considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, media production reports, practical exercises, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering journalism practice, media theory, communication research, and media management.
Practical and Media Production Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through media production projects, news writing, editing, multimedia content, and demonstrating journalism skills.
Research Thesis or Project
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis or project on a journalism and media studies topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and journalism knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Technical University of Kenya, and Kisii University (public) offer MA in Communication Studies or Master of Journalism and Media Studies. USIU-Africa and Daystar University (private) offer related communication and journalism programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in journalism and communication. Graduates are eligible for MCK accreditation and ICA professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Technical University of Kenya, and Kisii University (public) offer MA in Communication Studies or Master of Journalism and Media Studies. USIU-Africa and Daystar University (private) offer related communication and journalism programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in journalism and communication. Graduates are eligible for MCK accreditation and ICA professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Journalist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Reports and writes news stories, overseeing news gathering, interviewing, writing, and managing journalism practice.
Editor
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages editorial operations, overseeing content, editing, production, staff, and managing editorial leadership.
Media Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages media organisations, overseeing operations, revenue, strategy, staff, and managing media enterprises.
Communication Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages communication programmes, overseeing strategy, content, campaigns, and managing organisational communication.
Public Relations Practitioner
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages PR programmes, overseeing media relations, reputation, events, and managing public relations.
Journalism Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches journalism at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Premiere Pro
SoftwarePrimary
Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing, covering video production, editing, multimedia content, and managing video journalism.
WordPress
Software
WordPress for online journalism, covering content management, blogging, web publishing, and managing digital media.
Google Analytics
Software
Google Analytics for digital media analytics, covering audience metrics, traffic, engagement, and managing digital communication data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for communication research, covering survey data, content analysis, media research, and managing statistical analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Journalism is just about writing news.
Journalism covers comprehensive multimedia production, digital media, data journalism, investigative reporting, media management, and communication research beyond just writing news.
This programme is only for those who want to be reporters.
Journalism skills are valuable for editors, media managers, PR practitioners, communication specialists, educators, and consultants beyond just reporters.
Journalism has limited career prospects with digital disruption.
While traditional print media is declining, digital media, multimedia journalism, data journalism, content creation, and strategic communication are growing fields in Kenya.
Media management is just about running a newsroom.
Media management covers comprehensive business models, revenue generation, digital transformation, audience engagement, and strategic planning.
Development communication is just about press releases.
Development communication covers comprehensive social change, participatory communication, behaviour change, campaign design, and evaluation.
Digital communication is just about social media posts.
Digital communication covers comprehensive digital strategy, content marketing, analytics, SEO, online engagement, and digital transformation.