Political Communication at Birkbeck: A Practitioner's Perspective
Birkbeck's MSc in Political Communication is an exciting new addition to our postgraduate Politics programmes. In this interview, Alex Singleton, a Birkbeck student with extensive experience in journalism and public affairs, shares his thoughts on taking the new degree's core module.
Where did your interest in political communication come from?
Communication has been the running theme throughout my career - including several years as a young journalist on the comment pages of The Telegraph, working at Westminster and Washington think tanks, and as a comms director in the business world. What has always interested me is not in shouting political slogans but in the practical mechanics of making policy ideas come to fruition.
What drew you to study at Birkbeck?
Working in and around Westminster, I was always aware of Birkbeck’s outstanding reputation for politics. Because seminars are in the evening, it attracts students with a diverse range of ages and experiences, including those working in the worlds of public policy and politics. This makes the class discussions interesting and intellectually mature, as students are able to learn from each other. No doubt it gives the Birkbeck politics courses a unique quality.
What have you been learning about this term?
In Political Communication, we’ve been comparing how the media in different countries influence democratic discourse. That includes looking at the effectiveness of public-service broadcasters in various countries in increasing political knowledge among the public; comparing how the British and Dutch systems of political interviews differ in style and influence; and examining economic theories of news by studying how American media have evolved over 200 years. Having had experience of working in the media, it’s great to look at it from a broader, theoretical point of view.
What advice would you have for someone considering studying at Birkbeck?
Master’s degrees are an investment in your perspective and credentials - go for it!
Birkbeck's MSc in Political Communication is currently accepting applications to start in January 2023. For further details, please see here.