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Masters in Journalism - Advice on application article

  • 21-04-2010 5:01pm
    #1
    Tusky
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,080 ✭✭✭✭


    Im about to apply for the masters in journalism in DCU (currently in final year of a degree in media) and was wondering about what kind of article to write. They say it can be on any topic, any genre and needs to be 750 words. Are they looking for proper old fashioned journalism here or would an opinion piece that might appear in a magazine (something like Mogrel...or is that gone out of business?) be ok ?

    I'm comfortable with either style but want to do what will give me the best chance of entry.


Comments

  • #2
    Tusky
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,080 ✭✭✭✭Tusky


    Noone ? Also it says a hardcopy needs to be submitted..is this at the interview or do you need to drop it out to DCU ?


  • #3
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,093 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    Tusky wrote: »
    Noone ? Also it says a hardcopy needs to be submitted..is this at the interview or do you need to drop it out to DCU ?

    If it was like the mature student article I had to submit, it has to be sent in with your application (mine was lost, but that's another story -- yeah, actually, ring / email the programme chair if you don't hear back).

    Tusky wrote: »
    Im about to apply for the masters in journalism in DCU (currently in final year of a degree in media) and was wondering about what kind of article to write. They say it can be on any topic, any genre and needs to be 750 words. Are they looking for proper old fashioned journalism here or would an opinion piece that might appear in a magazine (something like Mogrel...or is that gone out of business?) be ok ?

    I'm comfortable with either style but want to do what will give me the best chance of entry.

    I would say standard of writing is more important. This alone can sometime set you apart. Everything from flow of how it reads, spelling and grammar, getting punctuation spot on (no pun intended).

    Although, an opinion article might be less advisable as notably good comment articles can be hard to write. And some people -- including lecturers -- sometimes confuse what they disagree with and what is bad. But if you know you can write something great, try it.

    If you mean "proper old fashioned journalism" to be an article you've researched well and have quotes from people you've talked to, that might impress. But don't restrict your self to news or very heavy stuff.

    EDIT: Another thing, a comment article might be a bit long at 750 words. Some kind of feature would be more advisable. Look at what gets published in the national newspapers or magazines. Don't think "would my article fit" in your view, think would an editor agree or not. Also on word count keep close enough to it, say something like 25 words over or under.

    Hope that's of some help.


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