Sports Journalism

Sports Culture

A sociological analysis of the complex relationship between sport, the media and culture. This module draws on both historical and contemporary understandings of sports as a pursuit which has gradually shifted into the corporate domain. Analysing the major social changes that have impacted on the development of sports as a vehicle for celebrity and the dissemination of norms and values. The module considers the effects of globalisation, industrialisation, new technologies and political economy as factors in the development of sport. Lectures will cover a range of topics and seminars will discuss both historical and contemporary developments in sport and its relationship with society and the media and seminars will provide a platform to debate these issues in a group environment

Module code: JOUR41028

Journalism In Practice

In this module you will learn the fundamentals of sports journalism techniques but also newer concepts, such as mobile journalism using your phone, and also the growing importance of data analytics. You will receive guidance from top practitioners in the world of sport and sports PR.

Module code: JOUR40304

Sports Governance

The module will focus on the examination of critical issues in sports governance through theoretical analysis, indicating wherever possible the potential for the use of theory to inform practice. Issues will include globalisation, commodification, ethics and finance. Topics are drawn from current issues on the structure and administration of sport including rules, regulation of individual sports like football (FIFA, UEFA,FA), Cycling (UCI) Olympics (IOC), Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other sporting bodies.

Module code: JOUR41029

Writing For Sport

This module is an introduction to the basic skills of sports journalism. You will learn about the sports news cycle, how sport is covered by print, digital and broadcast organisations, how to operate as a professional sports journalist, delivering to deadline and to your target audience. You will learn with like-minded colleagues in weekly workshops but will also visit sporting events to gain real-world reporting experience, including how to edit a TV sports bulletin.

Module code: JOUR40606

Introduction To Media Law

The module develops understanding of legal and ethical constraints on reporting and on the media in general. It is specifically designed for people working in the media – print, broadcast, online – in that it approaches law and ethics from a journalistic rather than a legalistic or philosophical perspective. The module aims to help protect you from legal action over published or broadcast material. It focuses particularly on the vital areas of contempt of court, defamation and privacy.

Module code: JOUR40601

Sports Pr In Practice

This is an intensive introduction to PR practices, broad and detailed, to provide the fundamental toolkit to become an effective modern PR (public relations) practitioner. The programme of lectures and workshops will be delivered by specialists and staff tutors with in-depth real-world experience and academic credentials. The purpose, roles, duties and responsibilities of PR will be established and then demonstrated through the components of PR practice, exactly what is actually done in the workplace, with appropriate focus on specialist sectors relevant to students' awards - e.g. sport, games, music, business, consumer, B2B etc. These components of expertise and knowledge will include: writing skills for external and internal communications as print and online content; basic still photography, video filming, audio recording; providing and managing web content (for websites, blogs, Facebook and Twitter) including uploading video and audio; legal and ethical issues; research, planning, budget issues, time management and team working; project and campaign management and design; understanding of PR's place in the marketing mix and the use of advertising for promotion and direct income generation; purpose, value and management of commissioned external experts, such as pollsters; the impact of PR on the employer organisation or client, society generally and, crucially, the target customers/consumers.

Module code: JOUR41030

Sports Broadcasting

This module provides an introduction to a variety of sports broadcasting situations including reporting live from sports events and filming /editing football matches. The skills you will learn offer a solid grounding in professional broadcasting. You will devise your own radio and TV packages based on your own contacts and research.

Module code: JOUR50342

Production Journalism 2

The module provides advanced knowledge, understanding and experience of content processing development and management for newspapers. It builds on the foundations of techniques and acumen acquired in the Production Journalism L5 module while encouraging creative thinking, accuracy and independent problem solving.Within the module you will have an in class assessment which is based on the format of the NCTJ production journalism exam aligning it to professional standards. There will also be a critical evaluation of the portfolio.

Module code: JOUR50634

Sports Features

This module provides knowledge, understanding and experience of writing about sport in the modern era of the cross-media industry. You will analyse the different styles and emphases of writing across the range of media outlets, including newspapers, TV, magazines, radio and websites for a range of different consumers - readers and audiences. Exemplary work by a range of practitioners working for a variety of media platforms will be explored and used to demonstrate key elements of different modes of sports writing, including interviewing. You will be required to submit all assessed work as freelances to specific publishers or other industry users.

Module code: JOUR50611

Sports Pr Operations

A team of lecturers and guests will deliver a programme of lectures and seminars examining real-world Sports PR operations, professionals who deliver real-world Sports PR. Lectures and seminars will also focus on the experiences of media professionals - reporters, sub-editors, editors and radio and TV producers - who work with Sports PR operators and the materials and experience they provide for the media. Lectures will provide a detailed portrait of working in Sports PR and the seminars will reinforce, elaborate and inform knowledge and understanding of these operations from practical and theoretical perspectives. Students will identify and negotiate with appropriate Sports PR professionals to set up route to conduct a detailed case study. The case study must be a thorough examination, picking up on best-practice examples and weaknesses and linking these to theoretical, academic and practical perspectives including: excellence theory; crisis management; the marketing mix with particular attention to digital operations including the web, mobile technology and in-house TV; budgets, staff management, planning and internal communications; the psychology of Sports PR; critical considerations of Sports PR; sponsorship, campaigns and projects. The overall study must provide an illuminating snapshot of the matrix of modern Sports PR activities and considerations.

Module code: JOUR55005

Production Journalism 1

Ever wanted to design the sports back page of a newspaper? This module gives you the skills of lay-out and sub-editing through InDesign software. You will also learn about magazine design and produce a double page spread of sports stories.

Module code: JOUR50614

Hold The Back Page: The Sports Media

Module code: JOUR55004

Magazine Writing And Business Practices

The aim of this module is to enable a thorough understanding of how print and web magazines operate and promote the production of written content to commercially publishable standards. To write effectively for magazines it is essential to understand how they are run and what makes them distinctive. Having that total focus on a magazine's identity, purpose and operations is essential for producing reader-addictive content. Topics covered: originating content ideas, targeting publications, meeting reader expectations, writing techniques including attention to style, voice and tone, creative intros, feature structures, the outro, intertextual references, sidebars, Q&As and pitching; market sector and audience; revenue models and budgets, including editorial budgets; advertising, marketing, printing processes, circulation and distribution; the distinction between B2B and consumer magazines and investigation of key types of consumer magazines including national, regional and local consumer magazines and the B2B sector. The syllabus for the operational elements of the module will also prepare students for the NCTJ examination in the business of magazines should they wish to take it. A portfolio of coursework and in-class tests will be used for the assessment of the module. Writing for magazines must be produced and pitched to editorially rigorous publications, print and/or online. Guest speakers will be invited to talk about particular aspects of magazine work and there will be one field trip to observe professional magazine production.

Module code: JOUR50338

Professional Sports Writing

Learn to write like a pro in this module. You will visit a football club press conference and interview players. You will hone your writing skills for newspapers and websites, covering football matches and other sporting events in the style of Cover It Live. You will be encouraged to get your work published – the first step towards becoming a professional sports journalist.

Module code: JOUR50610

Advanced Sports Broadcasting

This module builds on the basics of sports broadcasting to prepare students for professional standards in the sports media industry. Assignments will include live radio and TV reports from sporting locations, taping and editing live sporting events, filming and packaging original sports features for TV, radio and digital audiences. Use of broadcast studio facilities will include regular use of green screen, TV set and radio studios. In addition students will work in a team environment to broadcast three live Sports Newsnights on Facebook Live.

Module code: JOUR60657

Sports Newsday

This module is designed to offer a platform for students' multi-media skills and display them on their own website. Students will be expected to originate stories and deliver to a target audience preparing video, audio and online submissions.

Module code: JOUR60632

Journalism Project

You will research and produce a substantial piece of work – either for print, digital or broadcast – of professional quality, suitable for publication in a newspaper, magazine, or for a radio or TV outlet. This is where you put a marker down for future employers, by pursuing an in -depth sporting subject you are passionate about.

Module code: JOUR60628

Pr Campaigning

This module provides an intensive period of both individual and teamwork during which you will produce a substantial body of work appropriate to the skills of PR. The range of potential tasks you may be asked to undertake is wide and within that you will be expected to both follow leads/instruction while also contributing initiatives of your own towards the overall team success. The module combines the demands of meeting a real-world PR brief with simultaneous attention to the knowledge and understanding required to meet the standards set by the PR profession. The focus is on theory used to inform practice and practice used to elucidate, explain and underpin theory. You will be working on a real-world PR campaign from start to completion and the campaign will be researched, planned, carried out, assessed and evaluated by individual members working as part of the team. Lectures/workshops will take place every two weeks, principally to reinforce the aims of the campaign and to discuss its progress.

Module code: JOUR60609

Work Placement And Career Development

This module prepares you for the world of professional sports journalism and you will undertake a minimum of 120 hours in a sports media based work environment. It might be at a newspaper, radio station, football club or a TV station. But the experiences and contacts made often lead to an offer of a full-time job.You will also learn how to build a professional CV and website that will attract the attention of potential employers.

Module code: JOUR60457