Program Overview
The Sports Journalism BA(Hons) program at Brighton University equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in sports journalism. Through practical modules, industry placements, and expert teaching, students gain a thorough understanding of the profession while developing key journalistic techniques. The program is NCTJ-accredited, providing graduates with a competitive advantage in the job market. Graduates have gone on to successful careers at prominent organizations such as ESPNFC, Sky Sports, and The Independent.
Program Outline
Sports Journalism BA(Hons)
Degree Overview:
Overview:
This three-year, NCTJ-accredited degree equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the field of sports journalism. Through practical modules, industry placements, and expert teaching, you'll gain a thorough understanding of the profession while developing key journalistic techniques like news writing, match reporting, digital skills, shorthand, and public affairs reporting.
Objectives:
- Prepare you for a dynamic career in sports journalism.
- Equip you with the essential skills and knowledge for professional practice through the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism.
- Develop your multimedia journalism abilities in response to industry advancements.
- Foster in-depth understanding of both sport itself and its social, political, economic, and cultural contexts.
Description:
This course offers a comprehensive and immersive educational experience for aspiring sports journalists:
- Industry-aligned curriculum: The curriculum aligns closely with the practical needs of the current sports journalism landscape, incorporating digital and multimedia approaches into traditional storytelling techniques.
- NCTJ accreditation: Gaining the highly regarded NCTJ Diploma alongside your degree provides a crucial advantage in the job market.
- Work placement opportunities: The final year workplace module gives you firsthand experience within professional sports media environments like Sky Sports News.
- Pioneer the Premier League Apprenticeship Scheme: Join a unique six-month placement as a Brighton & Hove Albion FC press assistant alongside fellow Sports Journalism students.
Other:
- Led by experienced media industry professionals and distinguished academics.
- Utilize cutting-edge industry-standard facilities including sound editing and filming equipment, TV studios, and a dedicated newsroom with live news and sports feeds
- Benefit from guest lectures by renowned sport media figures like Sky Sports' Jim White, Martin Tyler and Kelly Cates.
- Access field trips to top sports and media venues like The Times HQ and The Amex stadium.
- Participate in the running of student publications like Overtime, a digital magazine and a printed version produced during Newsweek for showcasing your talent and building a portfolio.
Outline:
Course structure:
The program follows the framework set by the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, covering five key areas: Essential Public Affairs. Essential Media Law. Reporting. Shorthand (130wpm) Portfolio development. Digital and multimedia journalism: Learning social media use for live blogging, audience development, digital production techniques for newspaper and magazine publishing. Work placement (final year): Gain practical professional media experience.
Year 1:
Introduction to sports journalism covering news, multimedia journalism, ethics, public administration, shorthand, and the social history of sport. Learn newswriting, reporting ethics, news analysis, feature and in-depth news writing, news reporting for digital and social media, and basic reporting skills. Explore media law basics, digital data research principles, ethical frameworks and codes, journalism history and regulation frameworks, and intellectual property law. Gain insights into public affairs reporting, the regulatory environment, legal frameworks, and social and political contexts related to sport. Investigate shorthand theory and writing skills up to a speed of 60wpm, and apply shorthand in news production scenarios. Examine the social history of sport to gain contextual knowledge.
Year 2:
Focuses on advanced skills and knowledge through modules including news portfolio and shorthand, media law, team media, sport media studies, sport journalism, and a digital project. Learn news, analysis feature and in-depth news writing skills; news editing; digital journalism and social media content management; and investigative and research journalism techniques. Develop expertise in media law with emphasis on defamation, privacy, contempt and copyright laws, public access and data protection rules. Analyze team communication and media, media management in sport, sport governance, and the relationship between sport, media, athletes, audiences, journalists, broadcasters, stakeholders and sponsors. Examine sport media industries, digital and social media trends, news values in sport, and news judgment and filtering for sports news selection. Investigate sport as text and discourse, sport event production and broadcast journalism practices. Work on a live sports news project involving matchday production experience and working to deadlines as part of a news team.
Final year:
Professional practice module includes a mandatory two-week industry placement for practical professional learning and experience, and culminates in a dissertation project. This is joined by modules focusing on critical investigation, advanced sports journalism, live sport coverage, politics, power and the sport media. Explore advanced research methods for in-depth sports reporting, news writing, in-depth analysis, feature and interview writing. Investigate how sports journalism functions through live event observation of professional practice. Analyze politics in sport as news, including politics, power, sports governance, athletes' and fans' political activities, sportswashing, human rights issues and mega-sponsorship. Develop your independent study and research expertise through a dissertation or major project related to the field of sports journalism.
Modules:
Year 1:
- Introduction to Journalism Studies.
- Production Journalism.
- News and Ethics.
- Digital Sport Journalism.
- Sport in Context.
- The Sport Journalist's Toolkit. Year 2:
- News Portfolio and Shorthand
- Media Law
- Team Media
- Sport Media Studies
- Sport Reporting Final year:
- Professional Practice
- Advanced Sport Journalism
- Critical Investigation
- Live Sport Coverage
- Politics, Power and the Sport Media
Assessment:
A variety of methods are used across modules to assess your development and progress. You will be assessed through elements including but not limited to:
Exams:
These might be written or computer-based and test your theoretical and factual knowledge across various modules like media law or sport media industries and their social contexts.
Coursework:
This can cover diverse creative and analytical outputs such as news stories, multimedia pieces for web or broadcast, interviews, in-depth features, blogs or social media campaigns. Coursework in modules like Digital Sports Journalism or the live sports production project would involve this format.
Presentations:
Prepare and deliver well-researched presentations grounded with evidence in modules like politics, power and the sports media or critical investigation, while engaging an audience and addressing questions related to the topics explored.
Teaching:
Teaching methods:
An array of teaching methods are employed throughout your study to keep your learning engaging, dynamic and informed by diverse perspectives:
- Interactive lectures delivered by experienced faculty and industry professionals in journalism, sports media, law and related subject areas provide comprehensive overviews and foundational知識.
- Seminars promote deeper analysis, critical thinking and discussions to enhance your understanding in a collaborative environment, exploring questions from news ethics to sports governance.
- Workshops cater towards developing practical skills under expert and peer guidance, focusing on writing techniques, shorthand training, filming techniques or editing software applications.
Faculty:
Your learning will be guided by experienced and accomplished faculty from diverse backgrounds, including:
- Adam Powley: Course leader, senior lecturer in sports and journalism, with professional background as national newspaper journalist, editor, author of acclaimed books, recipient of journalism awards, NCTJ pre-entry certificate and fellow of Higher Education Academy.
Unique approach:
The Sports Journalism program uniquely blends academic rigor, practical training, industry insights and hands-on experience:
Newspaper Journalist:
Write and report for national sports or regional newspapers, producing content for websites, podcasts and print, covering events or delivering breaking news stories.
Magazine Writer:
Investigate in-depth features for sports magazines, focusing on specific athletes, clubs or events, providing insightful narratives and interviews with key figures
Broadcaster Journalist (TV/Radio/Online):
Deliver sports news updates, commentary or conduct entrevistas on-screen or over radio channels, analyze live or recorded sporting events as part of dedicated sports channels or programs.
Public Relations & Communications:
Manage communication strategies, develop media relations, write press releases and create compelling content on digital platforms as a communications expert for sport organizations, clubs and athletes.
Media and PR Executive/Consultant:
Build a career within sports organizations or agencies specializing in sports marketing or communications, advising athletes and organizations, handling social media campaigns or managing media events.
Freelance Sports Journalist:
Embrace the flexibility as an independent journalist generating stories for different clients within print and digital media, focusing on areas of personal expertise and working to project-specific deadlines.
Career outcomes
Past Sports Journalism BA Hons graduates have successfully pursued careers at prominent organizations and platforms such as:
- Alex Shaw, general editor at ESPNFC
- Jim Lucas, senior social media manager at the Football Association
- Declan Taylor, boxing correspondent at Hayters Sports Agency
- Gemma Nash, subeditor at Sky Sports
- Elisha Chauhan, digital motors editor at The Sun
- Giuseppe Muro, football reporter at the London Evening Standard
- Greg Rose, editor at Virgin.com
- Jack DeMenezes, sportswriter at The Independent
- Lee Price, head of PR, Paddy Power
- Jordan Halford, social media editor at Sky Sports
- Matt Webb, press officer at QPR FC
- Max Sharp, producer at TalkSport
Other:
Graduates also enjoy a wide range of career options outside sports Journalism within various sectors that value their transferable, communication and research-oriented skill sets, including public policy fields, public or community relations in sports organizations, social and corporate governance departments within corporations or public organizations, and more.
UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP International (full-time) 15,900 GBP
