Michael Chen – BA Sports Journalism, 2008

Since leaving University

On leaving Staffordshire University, Summer 2008, I began working freelance for Dennis Publishing’s, Auto Express and Europe’s most popular online magazine, Imotor. My primary roles included writing for both magazines and presenting videos for online distribution around Europe. This gave me the opportunity to travel around Europe with a cameraman attending vehicle launches, reviewing cars and writing and presenting videos on them. In the last six months I have been to Spain, Ibiza, South of France, Italy and Portugal to name but a few. Not an altogether bad way to spend the English winter. More importantly this experience gave me the opportunity to put together a showreel to present to potential employers.

On the back of this showreel, my experiences at Dennis Publishing and my degree I was then offered a job working for North One Television as an assistant producer on a TV show broadcast around the globe, called Rallyworld. Further to this, based on what I learnt at University about putting documentaries together and the experience I had gained at Auto Express and Imotor presenting videos I was also given the opportunity to voice it. I am now working full time for North One television and on occasion am still able to present films for Imotor.

What Staffs and the Sports Journalism course did for me

The Sports Journalism course provided me with the background I needed to enter the world of media. I was keen to specialise in motorsport journalism and the University and Lecturers supported this decision entirely.

Throughout my three years at Staffs studying Sports Journalism the lecturers were always on hand to offer me advice and support regarding any aspect of the course whenever I needed it.

The story behind my final dissertation provides a good example of the kind of people involved with the Sports Journalism course at Staffs and indeed the whole Media team. Keen to get into television I wrote, filmed and edited a 15minute documentary about Youth in Motorsport. Having not much had much previous experience this would prove to be a mammoth task. However, personal tutors, technicians and students on other courses were always more than willing to offer advice should I need it. In fact, a group of students studying for an MA on the Sports Broadcasting course devoted a lot of their personal time helping me gain the footage I needed as well as teaching me the basics of using the editing software. Thanks Guys.

Ultimately, without that film and the recognition that comes with a 1st Class Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, I certainly would not be in the privileged position I am in now. If you’re prepared to put some work in, you will do well at Staffs.