BBC Northern Ireland Education and Arts Correspondent, Maggie Taggart, combined her full-time job with part-time study to achieve a Master of Arts in Media, Film and Television Management and Policy, with distinction. 

After more than 30 years in journalism, Maggie felt the need to broaden her knowledge of the global filmmaking and broadcasting business and began the two-year course at the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus. 

Says Maggie: “BBC NI was very supportive of me and I expect the knowledge and experience gained from the course will help me in my job in the future. 

“The best thing about doing the MA course was that it shook me out of my ‘comfort zone’.  

“After so many years as a broadcast journalist, one needs a challenge to avoid becoming stale and the course certainly gave me that.  

“It also offered me an insight into the workings of the university – a useful experience in my job as education and arts correspondent. 

“There were a few sleepless nights as I worried whether I had come up to scratch in my dissertation; the ‘rules’ of academia are so different from BBC journalism where I am expected to be impartial, to present the facts and be even-handed. Having to become partial and express an opinion in my thesis was a bit of a culture shock. 

“I am delighted that the hard work has paid off and that not only did I pass, but I was awarded a distinction. 

“I am grateful to my tutors on the course for the guidance they gave and the knowledge they shared.” 

CAPTION: Maggie Taggart celebrates her graduation with husband John Morrison