Journalism for 15 - 17 Year Olds
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£525
- Start Date(s): 28 July 2025
- Duration: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, one week
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course dates:
28 July - 1 August 2025, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm
Dive headfirst into the exciting world of journalism; ignite your passion for storytelling, media, and all things news!
This course goes beyond the classroom, bringing journalism to life in the heart of Nottingham.
You’ll be introduced to the craft of journalism and learn the skills required for newsgathering, features, as well as a taste of broadcasting news.
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You'll be training in our state-of-the-art industry led facilities within the Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism. -
Focus on an area of journalism that really appeals to you, whether that’s sports, news, fashion, photography, politics, arts and culture, or music. -
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and extensive experience, working in various disciplines and professional practices.. -
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance.
Doing your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award?
This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential Award and is an amazing opportunity to make new friends and memories. It will be fun and gently challenging, allowing you to follow your passion and discover talents you never knew you had.
DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.
You must also attend the social events that are planned on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and you must plan and attend your own social activities with other participants on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Here's what our previous attendees said:
‘I wanted to learn more about journalism and university life. I've learnt how to structure and write different forms of articles, like news, opinion pieces and features. I've also made some great friends! I most enjoyed the parts which focused on history and culture. I specifically liked the trip to the Galleries of Justice! I also really enjoyed the social events and getting to know the other people doing the courses.’
‘I found out about this course through Duke of Edinburgh, I chose it because I wanted to learn more about journalism as a potential career, experience university life and complete by DofE Gold Award. I've made some really great friends, learnt new skills and had so much fun!’
‘I wanted to do this course to learn more about the Journalism degree. I've learnt about the range of roles you have as a journalism student and had a good introduction to the degree. I really enjoyed getting to interview people and making short hand notes in the moment.’
‘I wanted to learn more about journalism and see if it is a career path I want to follow. I've learnt how to improve articles that I’ve already written and how to write better ones in the future. I really enjoyed working in the TV presenting studio and collecting materials to write articles on from Wollaton Hall.’
What you’ll study
Stay on trend with current events – this course is as dynamic as the news cycle itself.
Designed as a practical and fun introduction to journalism, you'll learn about the different career options open to you, as well as the essential skills required to be a successful journalist, from researching and writing a story to how to make contacts and conduct effective interviews.
Team-working, planning, problem-solving and communication skills will be developed whilst you learn the tricks of the trade. You’ll also consider legal and ethical factors, as well as engage with the biggest newsworthy issues of the day.
This course is ideal if you're considering further studies in journalism and want to explore the subject in detail. It also develops numerous transferrable skills and provides an exciting opportunity to gain a taste of university life.
During this course, you will:
- discover how to become a journalist and where to train
- learn how to research stories and appeal to audiences
- develop newsgathering skills for writing, editing and interviewing
- understand how a story is processed from initial idea to publication or broadcast
- use cutting-edge techniques of professional journalists in the field and in our state-of-the-art facilities and newsroom
- build a portfolio of your work throughout the week.
- connect with like-minded people who are just as passionate about the future of media.
Get ready to join us for an unforgettable journalistic experience - your future scoop awaits!
By the end of this week, you'll not only have a taste of the exhilarating world of journalism, but also gain valuable insights to help you chart your own path in this ever-evolving industry.
You'll be able to identify suitable markets for your work, write in a journalistic style and notice an improvement in your English literacy, all of which will be useful tools for the future.
You’ll also leave the course with examples of your written work to add to your portfolio, alongside a newsreel you can share on social media.
Social events
We appoint NTU Student Ambassadors who host social events on Monday and Wednesday evening to help you make friends across the whole of our summer school programme for 15 – 17 year olds, which are free to attend.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll study during the course:
- Day 1: News Flash
- Day 2: Unleash Your Inner Detective
- Day 3: Features and Newswriting
- Day 4: Columns, Reviews and Opinion Pieces
- Day 5: The Newsroom Challenge
Kick off with a bang as you immerse yourself in the latest headlines, dissecting breaking news and exploring the power of digital media. Get ready to craft your first news piece as you get to know the city centre and start building your fact-files.
Ever wanted to be an investigative journalist? Today is your chance! Dive into the world of reporting and crack open real-life stories. Who knows, you might uncover the scoop of the century right on campus!
Get your comfy shoes on because today, we hit the streets! Expect the unexpected as we focus on current news stories, experiencing journalism in action.
Experience the real-world application of architecture with a site visit to a building under construction.
Dive into our hands-on newsroom challenge where you and your fellow budding journalists will look at the four main areas of working in the newsroom.
You’ll read to camera to cover a news story, have a go delivering the weather, practice using the autocue and take part in editing your newsreel.
How you’re taught
This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.
96% of previous course attendees were satisfied with the course, received the attention they needed and would consider doing another short course at NTU.
Contact hours
You will receive 25 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
The course is designed to give you a real experience of university life, make new friends who share similar interests and develop your portfolio, so that ultimately, you can make an informed decision about your future.
Whether you’re interested in pursuing further studies or a career in radio, TV, newsrooms, writing or fact-finding, this course is a great way to discover what you are most interested in.
It's not just about journalism – it's also a pathway to further studies or careers in events, PR, campaigning, marketing, and more with the transferable skills you will gain.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.
Campus and facilities
You will be studying in the Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism, as part of the School of Social Sciences on the City Campus.
You will find modern teaching spaces and group study environments to develop your ideas and skills as a journalist.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Beginner
Entry requirement: You should have an interest in events and current affairs, and be eager to develop your writing and research skills.
You must be 15, 16 or 17 years old at the time of the course in order to attend.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £525.
Payment is due at the time of booking.
Secure your place with a deposit - If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
You will also need to bring with you:
- A notepad and pen.
- Please wear sensible, fully covered shoes as you will be visiting sites around the city during the course.
Read the terms and conditions of booking.
Need accommodation?
Accommodation can be booked separately to the course; the rooms are only a few minutes’ walk from our studios and classrooms, and cost £259 per week, which is ideal if you're looking to be based in Nottingham's lively city centre and want an economical place to stay.
These are single rooms with a private bathroom in shared apartments in Nottingham Trent University’s city campus accommodation.
If you're aged 16 or 17 then you can stay unaccompanied with agreement from a parent/guardian (to support safeguarding, all guests aged 16 and 17 will be accommodated together in the same halls of residence and there is a dedicated Warden available).
If you're aged 15 then you can stay as long as you are accompanied by a parent/guardian (you must book two separate rooms and let us know so we can place you in rooms next to each other).
This option is particularly popular with students completing their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award.
Find out more and book your accommodation here.
Looking to turn your one-week course into a two-week experience?
If you can match this with any second course, you’ll receive a 10% refund on your course fees (email the short course team with your order number to claim the refund).
How to apply
You can book this course for the following dates via the NTU online store:
28 July - 1 August 2025, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm
Browse all our summer courses for 15 – 17 year olds.
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813