Sports Journalism

Study options

Award

MA

Key facts

Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:
Full-time
Duration:
13 Months
Start date:
School:
School of Digital, Technologies and Arts

Guaranteed work placement

120 hours of work placement to boost your employability

Industry visits

Visits to London newsrooms (Sky Sports, ITV News and more)

Industry-standard facilities

Use our fully kitted-out newsroom

Score yourself a winning career with our Sports Journalism MA. Our News Days and work placement opportunities will give you the skills necessary to launch your broadcasting career.

On our Sports Journalism MA, you’ll work with a team of top journalists and academics. You’ll learn how self-shoot and edit a TV package, how to write and present on television and radio and how to operate as a multi-media journalist. Not only this, you’ll learn the advanced theory that underpins journalism, so you’ll always be a step ahead of the game.

Our teaching staff have many years’ experience of working in newspapers, online journalism, radio and television. Also, you’ll have access to cutting-edge equipment throughout your studies.

You’ll undertake a fully assessed work placement and have an opportunity to visit several leading London newsrooms, including Sky News, Sky Sports News, ITV News and The Daily Telegraph, which is included in the course fees.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MA Sports Journalism

Work placements

You have the option to choose your own work placement.

To help you out, we have connections and work placement arrangements with many leading companies such as:

  • Manchester United TV
  • Eurosport
  • BBC Sport
  • Sky Sports News
  • Birmingham Mail
  • Express & Star
  • The Stoke Sentinel

Course content

Our Sports Journalism MA covers a variety of modules that aim to give you the skills to thrive in the competitive world of broadcasting. You will study core modules that work to give you an in-depth background, such as Sport, Media and Culture, Broadcast Journalism: Theory and Practice, Sports Broadcast Studies and Law.

While giving you an advanced knowledge of the background in Sports Broadcasting, we will work to ready you for specialist careers after graduation. Sports Writing will focus on developing your sub-editing and writing skills. Our Multi-Platform Feature Production will give you the technical knowledge you need to report and present sports-based news. During your course you will undertake 120 hours of work placement, assessed via a professional portfolio. You will need to use basic reporting skills of researching, writing, presentation and digital editing to gather information, and assemble and produce sports stories for broadcast according to a brief given by your news editor or supervisor.

More importantly, you will complete a final project where you’ll be required to make a 40-minute radio or 25-minute TV documentary. The topic is completely up to you! Once complete, the project, alongside your portfolio and the valuable experience you will gain during teaching hours, will prepare you for a career as a professional sports broadcasting journalist.

 

'This course has given me more than what I expected' - MA Sports Journalism

'This course has given me more than what I expected' - MA Sports Journalism

Video

Graduate, Sharanya, discusses her time as an international student at Staffordshire University and the benefits she has received from studying the course.

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Entry requirements

You’ll usually need a minimum 2:1 BA honours degree, but candidates with a 2:2 may be invited to interview.

Mature students can be considered based on experience.

This course requires IELTS 7 (with 6.5 in each band) or equivalent for students whose first language is not English.

Wrexham goalie nets a first-class degree

News

Wrexham goalkeeper Mark Howard is celebrating after netting a first-class degree from Staffordshire University.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Libraries

We have Libraries and service desks at both sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Our experienced and friendly staff can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and help with referencing.

MoJo Kits

Our MoJo kits work with smartphones to allow our students to report 'on the go'. This encourages students to consider how they can compile and tell a story in a fast paced, continually moving environment.  

Careers

After completing the Sports Journalism MA, you will be equipped to take enter the world of sports broadcasting for companies such as BBC, Eurosport, ITV, Sky Sports, in journalistic areas such as:

  • Photojournalism
  • Communications
  • Sports journalism
  • Sports presenting
  • Foreign correspondence
  • Video production
  • Newspaper reporting
  • Magazine editing
  • Sports commentating
  • Public relations
  • Social media
  • Investigative journalism
  • Editing

Eager for more knowledge? Upon completion, you will be ideally placed for further academic study at PhD level.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Journalism On-Campus Newsday

Journalism On-Campus Newsday

Video

Discover what happened when our Journalism students got together for an on-campus newsday.

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Teaching and assessment

Teaching

We know that everyone learns differently. So, not only do we use traditional ways of teaching like lectures, but we also use problem-based learning to help you apply your skills.For this course, you will:

  • Work with others on group work
  • Delve deeper into subject areas in workshops
  • Be expected to study independently
  • Be required to undertake 160 hours of work placement

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.

We’ll also assign you a supervisor to support you throughout your research project.

Assessment

There are two types of assessments: practice (also called formative) or formal (also called summative).

Practice assessments do not count towards your final mark. These are your chance to test your understanding – and learn how to improve for the real thing.

You’ll have formal assessments at the end of each module. These could include essays, exams, or portfolios.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

  • Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
  • Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
  • Academic writing (including how to reference)
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do.

We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module. For example, on broadcasting modules you will receive hour-by-hour feedback.

Your study time will include scheduled classes, independent learning and assessments. It will vary depending on your module choices.

Independent learning

The emphasis of the course is on independent study, developing a portfolio and pursuing career prospects. The award follows a programme of continuous assessment and requires you to undertake a fully assessed work placement.

Staff

You'll be taught by staff who have a range of academic and industry experience. 

Ian Whittell

Senior Lecturer

I am course leader for the BA and MA Sports Journalism Awards and also still an active national sportswriter, as founder and director of one of the country’s leading independent freelance sports editorial agencies.

Ian's profile

Lisa Mcalister

Lecturer

Lisa has spent more than twenty years as a Senior Reporter, working across TV, Radio and Digital Platforms. Prior to joining Staffordshire University in 2020, she had been employed by the BBC since 2007. She leads our broadcast modules.

Lisa's profile

Ian Bayley

Senior Lecturer

.Ian is a Senior Lecturer and an award leader for the BA (Hons) Professional Sportswriting and Broadcasting degree. He previously worked in Sports PR, Sports Journalism and News Journalism

Ian's profile

Matthew Smith

P/T Lecturer (Hrly) - Journalism

Matt joined Staffs, on a part-time basis, in 2020 and has been passing on his experiences and expertise to our students. One of the country’s most prominent sports broadcasters, Matt is the face of BT Sport’s European football and cricket coverage.

Matthew's profile

Simon Humphreys

P/T Lecturer (Hrly) - Sound & Comms

Simon has extensive experience as a reporter and editor for BBC, Talksport and local radio.

Simon's profile

Fees

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you've previously completed a Staffordshire University undergraduate degree (excluding HND and foundation degrees) you may be entitled to a discount of up to 25% off your course fees for any subsequent postgraduate taught course (terms apply, see the alumni discount page for details). If you have any questions about how this relates to you, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Included in the fees:

Travel, and accommodation costs incurred by compulsory trips and visits away from the University that are directly linked to the learning requirements of a specific module.
Not included in the fees:

The estimated cost of text books over the duration of the course. All essential text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies.

Travel, subsistence, entrance fees etc. incurred by optional trips and visits away from the University related to the course.
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning. 

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Our students

The Sports Journalism lecturers are not just about waving goodbye to you the day you graduate; they look after you once you are gone.

The Sports Journalism lecturers are not just about waving goodbye to you the day you graduate; they look after you once you are gone, always there for advice and a helping hand, and that's something I haven't experienced elsewhere.

Emily Atyeo

Content Department MUFC

The placements I undertook allowed me to make contacts in the business who I have gone on to work with.

The professional set-up enabled me to see the challenges and demands of being a journalist and helped me to learn to cope with the pressure of live broadcasting. The placements I undertook allowed me to make contacts in the business who I have gone on to work with.

Emily Croydon

Assistant Producer for BBC Sports News

I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy such great jobs if it wasn't for the technical skills that I learned on the course.

I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy such great jobs if it wasn't for the technical skills that I learned on the course. All of the material is there for anyone who wants to progress in the broadcast industry.

Adam Claverly

Freelance currently working for Sky Sports

The staff and faculty have been the most surprising element so far, in a good way. Coming from a class of 150 students, to just 10 of us in the course it already felt very close and personal every time I was in a lecture. 

No matter how busy the tutor is or their other commitment, if I ask them for five minutes just for an informal chat about football, their door is always open. The willingness to listen to and respond to feedback has been very crucial too. Someone out there is actually listening, they want to know my opinions/thoughts on how the course is going, how can they make it better for next year’s students; all of these questions make me think that University is determined to see their students succeed. 

After coming to Staffs, it feels like my future looks a bit different, very bright in fact. The contacts I have made here, the industry knowledge gained and friend I have made are all for life. In my mind, I have no doubt that I will be employed before the end of my degree, and a big part of that is because I chose Staffs. 

Zenith Vaghasiya

MA Sports Journalism

Apply

Applications are not currently available for this course.

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations. 

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