Graduate follows in Tutors' footsteps to World Cup 2010

David Beckham might not be going to South Africa this summer, but two people who will definitely be at the FIFA World Cup are a lecturer and recent graduate of Staffordshire University’s MA Sports Broadcast Journalism course.

Award Leader Mitch Pryce (pictured left) will be working at the tournament for ITV Sport alongside Seb Hutchinson (pictured right), a 2009 graduate who was taught by him at Staffordshire.

Speaking of his pride, Mitch said: “I know of no other educational institution that can claim both tutor and student covering such a massive event as the World Cup.”

“This will be my fourth World Cup on the bounce and a welcome return to South Africa where I covered the Rugby World Cup with ITV in 1995.

“But that’s ancient history now. The future is about people like Seb and the students who are benefiting from a professional broadcast journalism platform they acquire at Staffordshire University.”

Seb’s success has come as no surprise to Mitch: “Seb was always destined to do well in the broadcasting industry and I am delighted, but not surprised, by his rapid progress at ITV.”

The 25-year-old, who has worked at ITV since August 2007 and is now a producer, will be based in Johannesburg where the tournament kicks-off on Friday 11th June.

“I am very excited about working on ITV Sport’s World Cup coverage,” said Seb, who expects to spend most of his time in the Johannesburg production centre creating video content for the matches ITV are broadcasting.

“It is surreal to think I will be working on the same project as my former lecturer, but it is testimony to how the course can help students get into the industry.”

Seb is one of many success stories of MA Sports Broadcast Journalism and BA(Hons) in Sports Journalism at Staffordshire University, with graduates working for major broadcast companies (such as the BBC, ITV, ESPN, CNN, Sky and talkSPORT) and top football clubs (Everton, Sunderland, Birmingham City, Aston Villa, Stoke City, Leicester City, Watford and West Bromwich Albion).