Sport Journalism BA(Hons)

Course structure

The syllabus of our Sport Journalism degree is based on the material of the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, which covers five main areas:

• essential public affairs
• essential media law
• reporting
• shorthand
• portfolio development.

On top of these core elements, you learn skills in digital and multimedia journalism, which are becoming increasingly central to industry practice. You also take a work placement in the final year so you can experience a professional sport journalistic environment.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, we will inform you of any improvements or innovations to the curriculum through our admissions portal.

Year 1 

In your first year you’ll gain a thorough introduction to sport journalism, covering areas such as multimedia journalism, news, ethics, shorthand, public administration and the social history of sport.

Modules

• Multimedia Journalism

  This module will introduce you to multimedia journalism. You’ll learn how to produce a stand-alone audio or video package suitable for web. You’ll learn about basic multimedia recording and editing techniques and will develop your audio-visual storytelling abilities on digital platforms.

• Introduction to Journalism Studies

  This module will introduce you to key debates in journalism studies. You will develop and apply your understanding of the central concepts and theories in journalism research, and examine journalism practice from a variety of perspectives. You will also develop graduate skills and a capacity for critical thinking and writing.

• News and Ethics

  This module develops fundamental skills for news reporting: newswriting, ethical practice and shorthand. You will learn to recognise, select and present news for specific audiences and platforms, and learn the techniques required to write publication-standard articles and apply them in defined scenarios. You’ll learn the theory of Teeline shorthand, develop speed to 60wpm and use it in the production of a news story. You'll also learn to locate news reporting practices in the context of specific regulatory and ethical codes.

• Introduction to Sports Journalism

  This module will introduce you to the different and varied forms of sports journalism and will enable you to become familiar with the work environment. You will learn about the sports story cycle across newspaper, web and television at local, national and international levels and discover the stylistic and audience dynamics associated with these platforms. You’ll develop your writing ability and will be introduced to longer forms of journalism. You will have the opportunity to cover live sporting events through field trips.

• Public Administration for Journalists

  In this module you will develop a working knowledge and critical understanding of public administration as it affects journalists. This includes central and local government structures. In addition, you will learn the journalistic skills required to make sense of, record and accurately report central and local government activities and issues.

• Sport and Social History

  In this module you will develop your knowledge of spectator sport in its social context, gaining an understanding of the key elements that have dictated its growth from ancient origins in Greece, Rome and China to the world’s foremost live attraction. You will cover topics such as race, class, professionalism, politics, nationalism and sexuality.

Year 2

Your second year builds on your knowledge of practical journalism and you will explore areas such as digital journalism, media law, sports writing, and analysing sport media.

Modules

• Advanced News Journalism and Shorthand
• Media Law
• Digital Journalism
• Reading Sport Media
• Research for Sport Journalism
• Sports Writing

Final year

You’ll go on an industry placement and complete your final project. You will also choose from option modules, giving you flexibility to specialise in areas of sport journalism that interest you most.

There is also an opportunity to take part in our pioneering and award winning Premier League Apprenticeship and be employed as a match-day media assistant with Brighton & Hove Albion FC.

Modules

• Journalism Work Placement
• Advance Sport Journalism

Options*

• Dissertation
• Theorising Critical Issues in Sport
• Critical Investigations of Sport
• Martial Arts and Combat Sports: Theory and Practice
• Sport, Deviancy and the Law
• Racism in Sport and Popular Culture
• Politics and Power in the Sport Media
• Enterprise and Innovation
• Entrepreneurship for Journalism
• Magazine Journalism
• Cross-Platform Journalism
• Public Relations and Digital Marketing

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placements 

In your final year, the Journalism Work Placement module will take you out of the classroom and into a media or related environment. You’ll spend at least two weeks with the organisation.

Our employability hub will work with you to find a placement that meets your career aspirations. And we’ll support you leading up to the placement and keep in touch with you and your host during the placement.

As part of your placement you will keep a critically reflective learning log. Work you complete during your placement such as articles for print or web, videos, podcasts and radio or tv broadcasts will go towards your assessment.

Staff profiles 

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Service Management are listed here.

• DBS checks, where required, are included in the fees.
• For all journalism students there are professional body examinations from the National Council for Training of Journalists. The university pays for your first attempt at each examination and this cost of around £400 is included in the course fees. But if you don’t pass an exam you will be responsible for resit fees, at an average cost of £45 per examination.
• UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
• For courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
• The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.
• All work is electronically submitted. You may need to provide a printed copy of your final dissertation. Estimated cost £5 per student in the final year.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2020–21.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

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Accommodation

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