COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA Ethical Media and Communication at Nottingham Trent University is a contemporary postgraduate programme that prepares students to become responsible, reflective, and innovative communication professionals in an increasingly complex digital world. The course combines ethical theory with practical media production, helping students understand how communication can influence society, shape public opinion, and contribute to positive social change. A key feature of the programme is the Careers, Reflection, Experience and the Ethical Self (CREATES) module, which enables students to complete up to 120 hours of work-related experience through placements, internships, volunteering, professional training, business projects, or research proposals while building a strong career development portfolio. Students also explore the impact of technology on creative and cultural industries through the Digital Creative Industries module, examining how digitisation is transforming professional practices and employment opportunities. The Critical Understandings of Global Media and Communications module encourages students to engage with major contemporary debates including colonialism, decolonisation, global inequality, diversity, inclusivity, identity, sustainability, and environmental challenges, while critically assessing the role media plays in shaping society. Through the Experimental Creative Practice module, students develop advanced practical skills in storytelling, photography, video production, audio recording, filming, editing, and digital content creation using industry-standard equipment and software. The programme culminates in a Major Project, allowing students to pursue a dissertation, an academic research article with a PhD proposal, or a substantial creative project suitable for professional exhibition. Optional modules such as Podcasting Production, Exploring Promotional Cultures, and Digital Media, Politics and Culture in Asia-Pacific enable further specialisation. Graduates leave with strong communication, research, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and media production skills, making them well prepared for careers in journalism, public relations, digital media, content creation, communications management, marketing, non-profit organisations, policy communication, and creative industries. The course is particularly valuable for students who want to combine professional media expertise with social responsibility, ethical leadership, and a commitment to creating meaningful and impactful communication in a rapidly evolving global media environment.