Media Studies

Learning to critically analyse the way media tell stories and the impact of these stories can develop highly relevant, transferable skills in students.

Media Studies examines the roles that various forms of media play in society and culture, content, and technology as well as policy and industries, media audiences, media technologies, and media history. The goal of Media Studies is to understand what media are, the relationships between the various actors in a media environment—including technologies, institutions, policies, and regulations, producers, content, and audiences—and the media’s role in larger processes and fields such as government, finance, globalisation, and representation. Media Studies students learn to closely read and critically analyse content, data, and information on all platforms and channels, collaborate in group projects, and present succinctly and confidently.

Roles and career pathways

Media Studies students can build a profile that prepares them for roles in content creation, media production, research, advice, or marketing and communications. In the advertising or public relations area, graduates may start out as a creative assistant or assistant producer.

Graduates can also progress from broadcast monitor to adviser in media policy or communications. Others may work for small to medium-sized enterprises right through to large organisations as content developers or user experience designers.

For careers in policy and research, some study at postgraduate level can be valuable. Complementary study in commerce or other areas of the humanities and social sciences can help broaden employment options in these areas.

Where Media Studies graduates work

Graduates work in a wide range of fields and contexts such as creative industries, advertising and marketing, communications and media in all sectors.

Media Studies graduates may work for media agencies such as Omnicom Media Group (OMD) and McCready Bale Media Limited (MBM), recruited via the Commercial Communications Coucil graduate programme. They can also work for organisations such as:

Build relevant skills and experience

Experiences such as internships, part-time work, and volunteering all help to increase career options for graduates. Programmes such as Wellington Plus and Wellington International Leadership Programme (WILP) offer opportunities to gain diverse volunteer and leadership experience.

Internships can be offered by media, policy, and advertising organisations. For more information about internships and how to make the most of your opportunity, visit our webpage on internships. Current internship vacancies can be found on NZUni Talent.

Make career connections

Belonging to a professional body provides students and graduates with the opportunity to make contacts, keep up to date with current industry knowledge and learn more about specific areas of interest. Some options include:

Also belonging to Wellington Young Professionals, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, university clubs, and student publications like Salient, as well as mentoring programmes such as Alumni as Mentors, can all enhance your employability while studying.

Graduate career stories

Head and torso photo of Anna Thomson in front of greenery

Anna Thomson

The analytical skills and theory Anna picked up in Media Studies play an important part in her role as an information security consultant.
Sophie Johnson photo

Sophie Johnson

Sophie is applying her strategic and analytical skills from postgraduate Media Studies to a governance role in the UK public sector.
Daniel de la Cruz photo

Daniel de la Cruz

Media Studies helped Daniel build critical thinking, user experience, and technology skills—all must-haves for his career in IT.