This module enables final-year journalism, media and communication students to critically investigate the changing nature of journalism through an independently designed empirical mini-dissertation. You will explore key debates shaping the future of journalism, including platform power, algorithmic visibility, artificial intelligence, audience fragmentation, trust and misinformation, datafication, precarious labour, entrepreneurial journalism, news sustainability, inclusion, public-interest journalism and emerging professional norms.The module builds on your prior learning in journalism practice, media theory and academic writing developed during the programme. It asks you to identify a focused research problem connected to the future of journalism and to investigate it through appropriate empirical methods. These may include qualitative interviews, surveys, content analysis, discourse analysis, textual analysis, ethnography, platform analysis, small-scale audience research, newsroom/practitioner research or mixed-method approaches.You will develop a mini-dissertation that includes a research question, rationale, literature review, methodological design, empirical analysis and critical discussion. The module consolidates your ability to connect theory, evidence and professional practice. It also prepares you for postgraduate study, professional research, newsroom innovation work, policy analysis, media consultancy and applied journalism research.The module is research-based and future-facing. You are expected to engage with current and emerging challenges facing journalism while grounding your arguments in academic literature, industry evidence and original empirical work.