Education & Research > Studying in Germany : Study program in Germany offers online journalism and multimedia training

Studying in Germany: Study Multimedia and Authorship in Germany

Study program in Germany offers online journalism and multimedia training

April 30, 2009

The praxis-oriented master’s program “Multimedia and Authorship” at the Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) trains students how to work within the ever changing forum of new media.

Since 2003 the Hallesche Europäische Journalistenschule (HALESMA) in cooperation with MLU and the publishing house M. DuMont Schauberg has offered the masters program "Multimedia and Authorship". Students focus on one of two areas, multimedia authorship or online journalism. After their first semester, students will have the choice of their desired concentration area. Applications for the 2009/2010 winter semester will be accepted through May 30.

Those trained as multimedia authors are especially likely to find careers in multimedia production firms, advertising and design. Formative assignments dealing with art and culture help to broaden student’s creative potential.

Online journalists learn how to deal with news and other informational content on the web. They also learn about content management systems and how to write their own text and produce audio and video for Internet use. Since the program is being offered in close cooperation with the “Mitteldeutschen Zeitung”, students also have the opportunity to write for the paper’s website during their course of studies, acquiring valuable professional experience.

Not so long ago, applicants had to choose their concentration before beginning the program. Now students will have one semester to learn about the subject areas in greater detail before making their choice.

Lecturer and Program Coordinator Florian Hartling says the thinking behind this concept was simple; “Many feel that it is hard to decide. We’re giving the students a semester’s worth of time with these new concepts, to better acquaint themselves with the subject, before they make a firm decision.
According to recent graduate Alexandra Aderhold, the program lays a solid foundation, “The largest strength is that the program provides information that can be directly used by young professionals in a media company, either in media law, website conception or media research.”