The master’s program in Journalism is aimed at giving deeper knowledge in the fields of journalism, media, mass communication theories and promote journalism and mass communication research among master students. The program equips a student with methodologies and techniques for research in the field of journalism including new and traditional media, deeper knowledge in data collecting, visualization and multimedia storytelling. At the end of 2 year program graduates should be able to conduct independent research as well as have practical skills for modern journalism.

Introduction to Journalism – (5 ECTS);
Media language and Style – (5 ECTS);

Total: 10 ECTS

There is no need to study prerequisite subjects if your Bachelor degree (major) is in relative speciality.

• History of Kazakh journalism
• Genre forms and functions of modern journalism

• Demonstrating understanding of journalist rights, ethical concepts, history and theories of mass communication, and critically analyzing while making decisions in professional activities
• Showing ability to produce researches (articles, papers) in different fields of journalism (TV, radio, press, new media) and mass communication depending on personal interest
• Applying skills for collecting and analyzing data for personal research papers
• Applying knowledge and skills of data collecting and visualization to produce data journalism materials
• Showing capability and skills of producing multimedia stories and be able to use modern technologies and new media in public relations.

Alumni of the program can work not only in any field of journalism, mostly in new, digital and online media, but also is able to conduct academic research in any field of journalism and mass communication. Along with that alumni can work in any higher education institution teaching Journalism for Bachelor and Master students.

Askhat Yerkimbay is a new media specialist with a deep understanding of the Kazakh language new media with communication research skills, a media trainer for Kazakh language journalists on new media, multimedia, and data journalism.

Mr. Yerkimbay researched the impact of the WordPress blogosphere on the usage of the Kazakh language and published a series of handbooks on news literacy, fact-checking, and data journalism.

He designed a course on Newsliteracy, Data Journalism, and Multimedia for the SDU undergrad and graduate-level students in the media and communication department.

As a Central Asian regional media consultant, curates several media projects at the Internews Network Kazakhstan. Have worked with a multimedia team on VR project “Reeducated” for The New Yorker magazine (U.S.) that got Emmy in 2022 for the Outstanding Interactive Media; and  worked with a radio team to produce a program on Internment Camps in Xinjiang for New York Public Radio (U.S.). External assessor of the International Fact-Checking Network (the Poynter Institute, U.S.) and media expert for OSCE center in Astana, Kazakhstan.