Computational and Data Journalism (MSc)

How will I be taught?

Teaching is a mix of formal lectures, practical exercises, and individual or group projects which replicate an industry environment.

You’ll benefit from a programme of seminars to complement your skills and understanding across the 2 disciplines and to bring together the material from the teaching modules.

You will also attend cross-discipline computing/journalism workshops which support early application and development of the skills gained in each of the subject areas.

How will I be assessed?

You’ll be assessed using a wide range of methods. This includes practical classroom activities, portfolios of journalism and long-term group projects.

Assessment is designed to reflect professional journalistic practice and to develop your technical and editorial expertise.

How will I be supported?

We’ll support you every step of the way, helping you make the most of university life - whether it’s managing your timetable, settling in, building academic skills, or accessing wellbeing and specialist services. We also run events and activities to make your experience enjoyable and rewarding.

Academic and pastoral support

Your personal tutor will guide you academically and offer pastoral support. 

Our expert teaching staff are available through lectures, seminars, one-to-one meetings, email, and office hours. If you’re writing a dissertation, you’ll work closely with a supervisor to shape and refine your project.

Learning resources

Learning Central is your 24/7 online hub for success. It provides module resources, lecture materials, recorded presentations, e-learning tools, discussion boards, and links to external resources.

Feedback and facilities

We offer formative feedback before assignments and detailed written feedback after assessments to help you improve. You’ll learn in modern facilities with lecture theatres, seminar rooms, an on-site library, quiet study spaces, and collaborative areas - all equipped with digital resources.

University-Wide Support

University-wide services (co-located in our Centre for Student Life) will help you thrive and includes careers advice, health and wellbeing support, disability support, and financial guidance. You’ll benefit from having a specialist Careers Adviser within the School and have access to the wider Student Futures service, who organise employer events and can support finding work experience, starting a business and applying for jobs.

 

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you. 

On successful completion of your programme, you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the key aspects of computational and data journalism, including core methodologies, epistemological assumptions, and ethical considerations.
• Demonstrate critical awareness of current problems and debates in data-driven journalism through the informed application of relevant theories, concepts and professional practices.
• Critically evaluate the role and significance of computational techniques in shaping contemporary journalistic storytelling and investigative practice.
• Initiate and develop original approaches to the use of data and computational methods in investigative journalism contexts.
• Critically evaluate and assess methodologies used for data collection, analysis and storytelling in journalistic practice.

Intellectual Skills:

• Critically assess the reliability, validity and limitations of data sources, datasets and analytical techniques within journalistic contexts.
• Propose, justify and hypothesise novel applications of computational methods for identifying and uncovering newsworthy insights.
• Systematically evaluate and recommend data-driven approaches to addressing contemporary editorial, technological and societal challenges in journalism.
• Analyse and critically appraise the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on journalistic values, professional practice and public trust.
• Determine and apply effective strategies for verifying, validating and fact-checking digital information in complex reporting environments.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Demonstrate self-direction and initiative in the planning, management and execution of computational journalism projects.
• Initiate, design and produce innovative storytelling formats using data visualisation, interactivity and emerging digital media forms.
• Devise, implement and evaluate structured workflows that integrate programming, data analysis and journalistic inquiry.
• Critically evaluate ethical, legal and regulatory challenges associated with the use of large-scale data, automation and algorithmic systems in journalism.
• Plan, manage and direct investigative journalism projects involving large datasets, computational tools and automated processes.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Act autonomously and exercise professional judgement in determining solutions to complex, uncertain and data-driven journalistic problems.
• Systematically identify, analyse and critically evaluate emerging trends in computational and data journalism.
• Communicate complex data-driven findings clearly, accurately and appropriately to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Reflect critically on professional practice and learning, adapting approaches in response to technological, editorial and societal change.
• Respond effectively and ethically to challenges of misinformation, bias and distortion in data-driven reporting and digital information environments.
• Independently manage and deliver an extended research project within a defined timeframe, critically evaluating and resolving complex challenges through appropriate, evidence-informed solutions.