MA - Journalism

Before I went back to a student life in London to change my career path, I was working for a Japanese advertising agency, which had been my dream since I was little. Building a career in my dream field was exciting, however, something pushed me to challenge myself to go an extra mile and apply for an MA. My curiosity and challenging spirit brought me to Goldsmiths, where I knew I would encounter something or someone totally different from my exisiting world.

I chose to study MA Brands, Communication and Culture at Goldsmiths, graduating in 2018. The reason I chose Goldsmiths was very clear: it's because the school has a high reputation in research and study within the media and creative field on a global scale. I was eager to encounter people from other countries who were also studying at Goldsmiths and therefore were at a high level in their fields, and with whom I could share experiences and knowledge.

I mostly chose Goldsmiths because of the intellectual environment that it seemed to provide. My expectations were matched on every level. Working with professors like Luciana Parisi and Matthew Fuller has helped me in acquiring a critical method which I was lacking and which I was feeling the urge of gaining it.

Furthermore, I have been able to meet enthusiastic and passionate students with whom I share many philosophical, artistic interests. With them, I am currently developing several projects which span from contemporary philosophy to critical studies around Artificial Intelligence.

In fact, I reckon that Goldsmiths offers one of the few courses in the whole world where it is possible to advance a critique of present-day technology with the tools offered by different philosophical approaches. This convergence of methods is what makes Goldsmiths a unique epistemic ensemble which is fundamental for young theorists and researchers.

Even though I had applied for other universities, Goldsmiths was always my number one option. I had the opportunity to visit the campus on the open day earlier this year, and after talking to the students and a few of the professors, I was sure that Goldsmiths was the right choice for me.

The ‘Welcome Week’ was a great preparation for what was coming. There is always something interesting going on. It doesn’t matter what you're interested in, there will be a society, a group or event that you will want to take part in – there are often more things to do than your schedule will allow. And what I found brilliant is that even when you feel that there is a topic not covered in the events offered, you can always approach one of the Student Union officers and make a suggestion to bring the theme to a future event. The Student Union does not only encourage it, but it also gives us the support and advice to make things happen.

Being back in academic life has been awesome. The MA Cultural Studies has an interdisciplinary structure and a variety of optional modules. Every lecture is a new challenge and I have learned so much. I feel that I am surrounded by great minds, and the university offers an international environment with a strong student community.

Studying at Goldsmiths was a great opportunity to delineate my interests, focusing on the areas I was interested in, building a profile related to the politics of contemporary art. I had the chance to get a placement in the Whitechapel Gallery, working with curator Nayia Yiakoumaki for the Guerrilla Girls exhibition 'Is it even worse in Europe?', in 2016.

While pursuing my Undergraduate degree in Anthropology at the University of West Indies, Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica, I was directed to Goldsmiths as a school renowned for Culture Studies. I did my research to find a Masters course that felt most fitting for where I wanted to take my interests. With a background in Anthropology and work experience in Jamaican Cultural and Creative Industries, the MA in Culture Industry at Goldsmiths was the best overall fit allowing me to look at these Industries through a theoretical lens rather than mostly practical.

My time here has been interesting, to say the least. Goldsmiths' campus is packed with so many varying personalities and backgrounds, giving insight to broad contexts in both classroom and friendly discussions. In the future, I expect this degree to supplement my continued interest and work in the Cultural Industries wide, particularly in writing about them.

I studied my undergraduate degree in Media & Communications from 2010 - 2013. After this, I worked in media production in various roles, from Production Assistant and most recently, a Senior Associate Producer. In 2018 I decided I needed to further my career in order to work in the film industry as opposed to companies that produced content for various institutions in the UK (including higher education), and decided to come back to Goldsmiths to do my MA in Filmmaking (Producing). The course is great and is providing me with the knowledge and information I was missing in order to transition into film, particularly the hands-on experience you gain on the course which is invaluable. When I graduate I hope to produce more short films and start a career as a Freelance Producer.

I graduated from Goldsmiths in 2005 having studied MA Media and Communications. I now work as a Book Editor for Magazine House Ltd. my role involves acquisitions and editing for translation books.

Studying at Goldsmiths helped to prepare me for the future by developing both my academic and social skills. Academically, my writing skills, critical thinking and media literacy developed throughout my MA. Socially, I gained a broader perspective and learnt to appreciate different values.

I studied MA Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, graduating in 2017. I now work as a Cybersecurity Consultant in Japan. My main roles and responsibilities are enhancing the cyber-resilience of the government and critical infrastructures through risk assessment or risk management. Looking ahead to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the increasing threats of cyberattacks, I am responsible for protecting the country and people's lives.

Whilst studying at Goldsmiths I found that it was diverse, cross-cultural and has a leading edge. Goldsmiths is open to new values and ways of thinking, and I always enjoyed discussing issues we faced inside or outside classes and found joy in learning.

Applying for the MA in Political Communications at Goldsmiths was a straightforward decision. Enrolling in the programme, I was convinced, would take my career to the next level. And it certainly did. Not only by helping me get my dream job, but also by incubating the critical, open-minded, internationally-inspired principles that stimulate my daily work.

As a Spanish youngster having to start my career in the midst of an economic crisis, I had concerns and fears about the future. But Goldsmiths is a place where the only limits are self-imposed. The campus, an ever-inspiring and arty place, empowers students to create, think and grow their own ideas.

The Media department, in particular, is home to a determined and proactive group of academics from whom I learned how communication (old and new media) shapes the world today. They also passed on to me that political communications should be intrinsically linked to a professional commitment to inform and warn the public about ongoing injustices and inequalities.

I met my current boss while researching my MA dissertation. Doing political communications at the EU level is a fascinating challenge for a new graduate, and I felt, from the very first day, motivated and well prepared for the task ahead.

Over the last 4 years in Brussels I have worked to maximise my MEP's public projection, gain media coverage and further her influence and reputation. To do so, I have designed and implemented creative campaigns and public actions which have been recognised by many as fresh, innovative and groundbreaking.

I cannot recommend Goldsmiths enough. It will enrich you from both a professional, cultural and civic perspective. The university enables you to critically understand and interact with this ever-changing, media-dominated world.

Studying at Goldsmiths was a game changer, in a professional and a personal context. Being part of such an international environment and on a course with a bunch of incredible individuals has changed my entire way of thinking. I've become more tolerant, more critical and more self-confident.

I graduated four years ago, but Goldsmiths is still an essential part of my daily life. Coursemates have become close friends – so close that our gang of seven regularly meets somewhere around the globe, having a great time together and inhaling the Goldsmiths spirit. With the current coronavirus crisis turning plans upside down, we're not sure our next reunion in Tuscany is going to happen. This Friday, however, we're meeting on a virtual pub quiz, each one having some pints - so starting the weekend just like back at the Marquis of Granby!

Having gained considerable experience in tech communications and building STATION (a platform for the local startup ecosystem in Frankfurt) after graduating, I am now focusing on my own business: YPS, a PR and content agency specialising in supporting tech businesses with communications services. We are working for start-ups, scale-ups and large tech companies, national and international, helping them to raise awareness in German-speaking markets. My co-founder Mattias and I are currently learning what it's like to run your own business in all its facets - which can be exhausting but mostly is a rewarding experience.

I knew I wanted to pursue a TV Journalism course so I started looking for universities and I came across Goldsmiths and applied. Since it had a reputed Media and Communications background I knew I wanted to get in here.

Before coming to Goldsmiths I was working for two years as a Freelance Host and in Creative operations for a Video Production Company. The course is absolutely great, I have learned so much in so little time and tutors are so helpful. After graduation I'm planning to apply for jobs in the UK, so working hard to find valuable work experience through internships.

I would like to have a deeper knowledge of Media and Communications. Therefore, I found that Goldsmiths has a specific course related to branding communication. I have experience in retail digital marketing, and would like to focus on digital branding marketing in the future.

I think that the importance of branding is enhanced among diverse kinds of industries. The free and diverse cultural atmosphere of Goldsmiths helps me enhance various views of the world."