Media, Culture & Society

After my bachelor’s graduation, I spent a year working in social media marketing and web editing for a company operating in the beauty industry. As my days in the office went by, I knew we needed to make some structural changes in our language and representation practices. Our communication strategies and materials were far from inclusive and diverse, and I constantly felt the urge to turn things around.

However, although I have always been passionate about intersectional feminism and inclusion, I didn’t feel like I had the tools to implement such changes in my work at the time. That’s why I applied to the master specialisation Media, Culture & Society at Erasmus University, and I can happily say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Research my own interests

Media, Culture & Society is everything I have hoped for: a solid, yet flexible dive into the complex workings of the media from a socio-cultural perspective. The most exciting aspect of the master specialisation is the opportunity to explore my own research interests within the structure of my studies. Every assignment, paper and essay I write allows me to use the knowledge co-produced in class with my peers and professors and apply it to real-life cases of my interest. In addition, the master specialisation is small-scale and easy to navigate as an international student. The professors speak excellent English, and the classroom is always an interesting and respectful site of intercultural exchanges. 

Favourite courses

My favourite courses so far are Media & Socio-Cultural Change, Digital Media & Cultural Identities and Television Audiences. These courses allowed me to understand how media can generate change in society, participate in better representational practices, challenge discriminatory narratives, and ultimately create more inclusive and fairer (digital) environments for everyone.

Minor difficulties

Throughout my studies at Erasmus University, I have encountered minor difficulties in getting acquainted with the research methodologies, typical of Media Studies. I had never applied any qualitative or quantitative research methods in my previous studies. Therefore, the contents of the Methods courses were new and foreign to me. However, the tutorials and professors were always very helpful, and I never felt overwhelmed by the assignments.

In addition, Media, Culture & Society is very fast paced and requires students to be on top of their deadlines at all times. That’s why time management and a good dose of organization are key to academic and personal achievements.

Future plans

My future plans (hopefully) include a PhD and a career as corporate communications director, expert in matters of diversity and inclusion.

Having done my Bachelor’s in Media Studies in my hometown of Pune, India, I always dreamed of pursuing my further education abroad. And so far, Erasmus University Rotterdam has exceeded all of my expectations.

Specifically talking about the master specialisation Media, Culture & Society, I love the holistic approach this master specialisation takes by providing students with a good theoretical foundation while giving relevant practical tools necessary for our future professional careers. This combined with the dynamic, multicultural and international-friendly environment on campus has only made my experience better and really memorable thus far.

I look forward to starting my career path in the field of media using all the knowledge I will have obtained from Media, Culture & Society and applying it in the real world. I believe calling Erasmus University as my alumnus university can only hold good things for me in the future!

What was important in making up your mind?
Due my positive experience with IBCoM, I decided to pursue a Master program within the same faculty. Although my focus areas in IBCoM leaned towards another Master program, I reviewed the broad range of courses that I had taken during IBCoM and realized that my strengths and interests were more aligned with the Master in Media, Culture & Society. In my case, reading the course descriptions for this master program was very helpful because I got a better idea of what to expect in terms of content, which confirmed my interest in the program. 

What made you decide to choose for this master?
Accreditation of the program and the university, my positive experience with the faculty, as well as the research orientation and the international aspect of the program were all important factors in my decision. Having graduated from IBCoM, these decision factors needed no second thoughts. Instead, what was difficult for me in the decision-making process was to be sure that I was making the “right” decision (I emphasize the word “right” because there is no right or wrong decisions). Being an overthinker, I tried to predict my future career and include that as a factor in my decision. However, as it turns out, it can be hard to include that in your decision if you are uncertain about your future career plans. Therefore, my decision ultimately came down to listening to my strengths and interests. It might sound cliché but I realized that the only way for me to excel in my future career would be to build it on a master program that I’m passionate about. It was as simple as that; I just did not see it as clearly at the time.

How would you describe the connection between IBCoM and your master?
While there is a strong connection between IBCoM and Media, Culture and Society, the knowledge that you acquire during the master is more advanced. While you ‘dip your toes’ into many different aspects in IBCoM, you delve deeper into selective aspects in this master. What you learn in the Media, Culture & Society program is thus certainly not a repetition of what you learn in IBCoM!  

How would you describe your master?

• Intense but doable. You should expect a busy year, but it’s all worth it in the end. 
• Focused yet broad, meaning that you have the freedom to tailor the program to your interests within the realm of Media, Culture & Society. I was positively surprised to experience the different interests of my classmates, which was reflected in the diverse master thesis topics.
• Hands-on approach to the studies. More often than not, the students take the central role in this master through class discussions, presentations, debates etc.

In hindsight, what would you have liked to have known before, what you know now?
In hindsight, what I would have liked to realize more before, especially if you are graduating from IBCoM and you think that you know exactly what to expect: The Master in Media, Culture & Society is not the same as IBCoM or other Bachelor programs. It is on the next level and the expectations are in line with that (like it should be, of course). In my experience, your studies automatically become more of a priority in your master compared to before. This might seem evident, but many of us did not realize it beforehand. I guess you only know what I mean after experiencing it first-hand.

Any other points you’d like to add?
Studying and living in an international environment is, in my experience, one of the greatest ways of learning and developing as a person. The teaching approach in this master program, namely to explore the course subjects through discussions with students from many different backgrounds, takes great advantage of that. Consequently, you develop a more culturally sensitive and reflective attitude towards your studies, and surprisingly towards yourself.

More information about the Master can be found here: www.eshcc.eur.nl/english/mamedia/

Name: Ulisses Sawczuk da Silva
Position: Communication & Content Manager
Company: Swabit

Why did you choose the Master programme Media, Culture and Society? Was it a conscious choice for a specific career path? What other factors contributed to your decision?

After completing a bachelor’s degree in journalism – in Brazil – and working for several years as a communication manager, I wanted to have new experiences and deepen my knowledge of communication. I chose Media, Culture and Society because I could see that, besides being connected to my professional background, the program was aligned with my personal interests. I was attracted by the programme’s broadness and the fact it blends different fields of knowledge such as media studies, sociology and politics. This versatility – together with Erasmus University’s tradition and dynamism – was an important factor in my decision to apply. Last but not least, I thought living in Rotterdam would be a cool experience (and wasn’t mistaken!).

Has the Media, Culture and Society programme lived up to your expectations?

It has gone far beyond my expectations. The programme’s classes and activities are interesting, enriching and engaging. The lecturers – who are helpful and knowledgeable – come from a variety of backgrounds, and so do the students, who are intelligent and critical. This master’s programme has opened up many opportunities for me. Professionally, it has helped me expand my network and explore different possibilities both in academia and the industry.

How long did it take you to find a job after graduation?

As a matter of fact, I got a job before starting the program. I had just arrived in Rotterdam when I met the founders of Swabit – a local startup company – and they offered me a part-time position. I accepted it and embarked on a journey that has been filled with learning and challenges.

For which organisation or company do you currently work, and what is your position in the company or organisation?

I am about to return to Brazil, where I am a communication manager for the Municipality of Londrina (I took a sabbatical from my job to come to Europe). However, I will go on collaborating remotely with Swabit – where I am also a communication manager.

How did you find your first job?

Here in the Netherlands, I’ve been lucky. I had just arrived in the country when I was invited, via Facebook, to participate in a focus group organised by Swabit – a company that is developing a new social media platform. After the interview, Swabit’s co-founders told me they liked the feedback I had given them and offered me a position in the company.

What are your most prominent tasks?

At Swabit, I do many different things, including writing press-releases and newsletters; creating content for the company’s social media pages and for the app itself; and supervising students who collaborate with the company.

Which components of your Master programme are useful in your current position or career trajectory?

The programme has helped me develop my critical, analytical and interpretative skills in regard to different types of media products – including social networks. Whenever I am working on promoting the app or taking part in team meetings where we discuss the directions where the platform is heading, I have the opportunity to apply these skills concretely. Moreover, by taking part in the Master’s in Media, Culture and Society, I have improved my research skills – and these skills are important for all kinds of companies.  

Any advice for new graduates?

Be open for new opportunities and have the courage to take risks. Invest in your network: go to events, don’t be shy and make an effort to meet people. If getting a paid job is too difficult, try to do volunteer work for an NGO or foundation (it will give you valuable experience and look good on your CV). Last but not least: if possible, try to learn Dutch. It will help you a lot.