This master programme teaches you to think critically and creatively, which is exactly what the media industry needs
Alumna Master Media & Creative Industries
Study programme: Master Media & Creative Industries
Graduation year: 2025
Job: Story editor Lang Leve de Liefde – Talpa Studios
The world of Media & Creative Industries
I look back very positively on the master programme in Media & Creative Industries. It offered a perfect balance between theory and practice: during the lectures we gained substantive knowledge, while in tutorials, we actively engaged in smaller groups to apply that knowledge to current cases and examples. Within the courses and assignments, there was plenty of room to choose topics that interested you, from popular culture and storytelling to digitisation and audience experience. The analytical depth into the creative sector and the freedom to chart your own course, also with writing your thesis for example, made this master's programme extremely valuable to me.
Dream come true
While I was in the final stages of my master's degree, I already actively started looking for opportunities within the media world. Through a former classmate, I ended up at Talpa Studios (a content and production company in the Netherlands), where I now work as a story editor for the TV programme Lang Leve de Liefde. It was an opportunity I could not let pass by, even though it meant I had to start working full-time next to completing my thesis. It was a challenging time, but I have not one moment regretted this decision. Working in media has always been my dream, and this position feels like a step in the right direction.
Fly on the wall
As a story editor, I closely follow the dates on Lang Leve de Liefde. My job is to analyse the raw footage and translate it into an engaging storyline. It is all about telling the real story without manipulating reality. It's special to observe people's first encounters as a fly on the wall. The choices I make determine the storyline, which means I am responsible for what ultimately ends up on television. It is very satisfying to see how my work comes to life on screen.
A strong foundation for success
The master programme in Media & Creative Industries greatly strengthened my analytical skills. When analysing media, you discover that media productions often communicate more than you might think at first glance. The series Stranger Things, for example, manages to touch its audience primarily by using nostalgia, and classic Disney films often portray outdated gender roles. The master programme taught me to critically look at media and stories, and to recognise underlying patterns that are not immediately visible. This analytical perspective now helps me in my work to quickly grasp the essence of an encounter or to understand why something works on screen or why it doesn't. Above all, Media & Creative Industries has given me the confidence that I can make a substantive contribution in a creative work environment. I dare to make suggestions and contribute ideas because I have a better understanding of how to build a story and captivate the viewer.
Have confidence
To current and future graduates of the master programme Media & Creative Industries, I would like to say: keep on moving! Apply for jobs, create and network. Everything you do contributes to your profile. Have confidence and take yourself seriously, then others will do too. This master programme teaches you to think critically and creatively, which is exactly what the media industry needs.