Sports Journalism

Are you passionate about sport? Do you want to develop the journalistic skills to bring sport to life for audiences, help people understand what makes the industry tick and what happens off the sports field, as well as on it?

Sports Journalism is about much more than match reports and events coverage. It’s about unearthing the stories behind the headlines and understanding the broader context that the sports industry operates in.

Our vocational approach blends theory, practical skills development and professional work experience. You’ll learn key journalistic skills, such as how to source, research and compile news stories, how to film stories and put together audio packages, and how to write shorthand.

These practical skills are only part of the picture. We’ll also develop your knowledge of journalism theory to help you understand the context in which news is produced, along with law and the social, ethical and political impact of journalism on society.

You’ll learn about the place sport has in today’s culture, as well as the business of sport including sports advertising, sponsorship and staging multisport events.

During your studies, you’ll be able to develop a professional portfolio of work and gain journalism experience through the professional work placements included in your degree. Your learning environment will simulate the professional news environment, with newsrooms and industry-standard TV and broadcast studios on campus.

Professional work placements
Our students complete placements at a wide range of organisations, from the BBC and Sky Sports, to Wakefield Wildcats and the Yorkshire Evening Post. Many students have gone on to gain employment with their placement provider, so it’s a great opportunity to not only enhance your skills – but to get a job!

Graduate opportunities
Our graduates work in regional and national organisations covering broadcast (TV and radio), online and print. You’ll also develop transferable skills such as writing, communication and interviewing, which has prepared many of our students for roles in PR and marketing.

On this course you will study a selection of modules, which may include: Essential Sports Journalism; Sports Reporting; Off the Field: The Business of Sports; Pitchside; Documentary: Concept to Practice; Features and Magazines; Radio and Podcasting; Running the Newsroom; PR and Promotions; Advanced Documentary Production; Public Interest Reporting; TV and Social Media; Advanced Audio Production.