Media & Communication

Master of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Master of Journalism and Mass Communication is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in journalism, media, and mass communication. The programme combines journalism theory with practical media skills and communication research.

Core areas include journalism theory, news writing and reporting, media ethics, digital journalism, mass communication theory, media law, broadcast journalism, communication research methods, and thesis or project. Students engage with both journalism theory and practical media production.

The programme is offered by Mount Kenya University, Chuka University, Multimedia University of Kenya, and Laikipia University. Both public and private universities offer the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes.

Students develop competencies in news writing, investigative journalism, digital media production, media analysis, communication research, media ethics, and broadcast journalism. The programme includes coursework, examinations, practical media projects, and thesis or project.

Chuka University charges KES 71,000 for Semester 1, KES 48,000 for Semester 2, and KES 40,000 per block. Multimedia University of Kenya charges approximately KES 138,000/semester (Year 1) and KES 116,000/semester (Year 2), total approximately KES 371,500. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communication, or related fields with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or Lower Division with relevant experience.

Graduates pursue careers as journalists, editors, media managers, communication specialists, broadcast producers, and lecturers in journalism and mass communication.

Skills Required

Journalism Theory and Practice
News Writing and Reporting
Digital Journalism and New Media
Broadcast Journalism
Media Ethics and Law
Mass Communication Theory
Investigative Journalism
Media Analysis and Criticism
Communication Research Methods
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Journalism Theory and Practice
News Writing and Reporting
Digital Journalism and New Media
Broadcast Journalism
Media Ethics and Law
Mass Communication Theory
Investigative Journalism
Media Management
Communication Research Methods
Thesis or Project

Certifications

MCK Journalist Accreditation
ICFJ Professional Certification

Specializations

Digital Journalism

Focuses on journalism in the digital age, covering online news, social media journalism, data journalism, and multimedia storytelling.

Broadcast Journalism

Examines broadcast journalism practice, covering radio and television news production, broadcast writing, and broadcast management.

Print Journalism

Covers print journalism practice, covering newspaper and magazine writing, investigative reporting, and print media management.

Media Management

Focuses on managing media organisations, covering media business models, media economics, and media leadership.

Development Communication

Examines using communication for development, covering development journalism, health communication, and participatory communication.

Corporate Communication

Covers corporate communication practice, covering public relations, corporate media, internal communication, and crisis communication.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 138,000
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Journalism Theory and Practice
News Writing and Reporting
Digital Journalism and New Media
Broadcast Journalism
Media Ethics and Law
Mass Communication Theory
Investigative Journalism
Media Management
Communication Research Methods
Thesis or Project

Modules

12 in the programme

Journalism Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines journalism principles, media theory, and the role of media in society, covering journalism theory and professional practice.
News Writing and Reporting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers news writing techniques, reporting skills, editorial decision-making, and advanced news production.
Digital Journalism and New Media
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines online news production, social media journalism, data journalism, and multimedia storytelling in the digital age.
Communication Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting communication research, preparing students for their thesis or project.
Media Ethics and Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines ethical principles in journalism, ethical decision-making, media law, freedom of expression, and legal frameworks for media practice.
Broadcast Journalism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers radio and television news production, broadcast writing, studio operations, and broadcast management.
Mass Communication Theory
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines communication models, media effects, audience analysis, and mass communication theory and research.
Investigative Journalism
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers investigative methods, source development, investigative reporting techniques, and producing in-depth investigative stories.
Media Management and Economics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines media business models, media economics, managing media organisations, and media leadership.
Development Communication
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers development journalism, health communication, participatory communication, and using media for development.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal or media project plan, including design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.
Research Thesis or Media Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis or media project on a journalism and mass communication topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and practical application, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Digital Journalism
Focuses on journalism in the digital age, covering online news, social media journalism, data journalism, and multimedia storytelling.
Broadcast Journalism
Examines broadcast journalism practice, covering radio and television news production, broadcast writing, and broadcast management.
Print Journalism
Covers print journalism practice, covering newspaper and magazine writing, investigative reporting, and print media management.
Media Management
Focuses on managing media organisations, covering media business models, media economics, and media leadership.
Development Communication
Examines using communication for development, covering development journalism, health communication, and participatory communication.
Corporate Communication
Covers corporate communication practice, covering public relations, corporate media, internal communication, and crisis communication.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Master of Journalism and Mass Communication programme combines lectures, practical media sessions, project work, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover journalism theory, news writing, digital media, and broadcast journalism. Journalism theory sessions examine journalism principles, media theory, and the role of media in society. News writing sessions cover news writing techniques, reporting skills, and editorial decision-making. Digital journalism sessions examine online news production, social media journalism, data journalism, and multimedia storytelling. Broadcast journalism sessions cover radio and television news production, broadcast writing, and studio operations. Media ethics sessions examine ethical principles in journalism, ethical decision-making, and professional standards. Media law sessions cover media law, freedom of expression, and legal frameworks for media practice. Mass communication theory sessions examine communication models, media effects, and audience analysis. Investigative journalism sessions cover investigative methods, source development, and investigative reporting. Media management sessions cover media business models, media economics, and managing media organisations. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis or project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Practical media sessions provide hands-on experience with news writing, broadcast production, and digital media tools. Project work involves producing news content, media projects, and research. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in journalism and media. Guest lectures from experienced journalists and media professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis or media project on a journalism and mass communication topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya has a vibrant media sector with strong demand for qualified journalism and media professionals.
Programme offered by multiple universities including both public and private, providing institutional choice.
Chuka University offers affordable fees (~KES 119,000/year) compared to MMU.
Programme combines journalism theory with practical media skills, preparing graduates for diverse media careers.

Against it

MMU fees are relatively high at ~KES 185,750/year compared to Chuka University.
Laikipia University and MKU fee data not independently verified, limiting cost comparison.
Journalism can be a demanding profession with irregular hours, ethical pressures, and job insecurity in some sectors.
Programme may overlap with MA in Journalism and Mass Communication and MA in Communication, causing confusion for prospective students.

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

Public119k to 138k

119k at Chuka University138k at Multimedia University of Kenya

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

Chuka 119K/yr (official PDF). MMU 138K/yr (mmu.ac.ke). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. MCK may provide training support for journalists. ICFJ and other international bodies may provide professional development support. Some media organisations may sponsor employees for journalism postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
MCK Training Support
ICFJ Professional Development

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
MCK Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Media Council of Kenya supports training and professional development for accredited journalists in Kenya.
ICFJ Professional Development
GrantKsh 150,000
International Center for Journalists provides training, fellowships, and professional development grants for journalists globally.

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 a Bachelor's degree with Upper Second Class Honours. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. MMU also accepts relevant postgraduate diploma holders. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework25% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, media production exercises, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination35% of the mark
Written examinations covering journalism theory, mass communication, media ethics, and media law.
Practical Media Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment through news writing, broadcast production, digital media projects, and demonstrating journalism and media skills.
Research Thesis or Media Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis or media project on a journalism and mass communication topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and practical application, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Chuka University, Multimedia University of Kenya, and Laikipia University (public) and Mount Kenya University (private) offer Master's programmes in Journalism and Mass Communication. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate journalism training. Graduates are eligible for Media Council of Kenya accreditation.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Chuka University, Multimedia University of Kenya, and Laikipia University (public) and Mount Kenya University (private) offer Master's programmes in Journalism and Mass Communication. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate journalism training. Graduates are eligible for Media Council of Kenya accreditation.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Journalist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 400,000
Reports and writes news stories for print, broadcast, or digital media, covering news, features, and investigative stories.
Editor
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Oversees editorial content in media organisations, managing news content, editorial decisions, and editorial teams.
Media Manager
Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages media organisations or departments, overseeing operations, business strategy, and media business management.
Communication Specialist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages communication in organisations, overseeing media relations, content creation, and corporate communication.
Broadcast Producer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Produces broadcast content for radio or television, overseeing programme production, content development, and broadcast operations.
Journalism Lecturer
Low demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches journalism and mass communication at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes