Develop the practical skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a sports journalist or public relations professional. Sports journalism is one of the fastest growing areas in online media, and a major component of print and broadcast media. Print Journalists are also in demand for the publicity departments of major sports clubs and organisations, which are also expanding rapidly. This is leading to an increasing demand for graduates with good journalistic and media skills and a sport-focused portfolio.
On this course, you learn how
You also gain public relations and media liaison techniques, such as how to devise and organise media opportunities and how to write • web pages • press releases • news items • personality features • promotional material.
We teach you the skills and knowledge required by employers. This involves a mix of traditional reporting skills and an understanding of the emerging technologies in the media industries that affect the way journalists record and report the latest stories. You learn about a range of technical and journalistic skills such as
You learn how to manage the print and broadcast media at sports matches and events and how sports publicity and marketing departments are organised and run.
You produce and process sports publicity material for media use and discuss the major issues affecting sports worldwide including • commercialism • globalisation • racism • hooliganism • political regulation and interference • sponsorship • match fixing.
We offer you regular one-to-one feedback, given by practising sports journalists and public relations professionals. We can also offer you opportunities to gain experience and insight through our links to major broadcasting, newspaper and sports organisations, such as professional football clubs.
There may also be opportunities to further your learning through work placements, working with sports publications, the sports departments of newspapers, or in the media departments of sports clubs and organisations.
Read about opportunities and experiences available to our students on our Journalism blog.
Modules
Gain the relevant skills and knowledge for a career in
Sports journalism is an extremely competitive field. The industry relies heavily on freelance sports journalists, and the course equips you with the skills necessary to enter the freelance market.
It also provides the publicity skills and understanding of the media which are increasingly sought after by clubs and organisations.
The course prepares you to work in the UK journalism industry across a range of multi-media platforms.
On this course you learn how to
You also gain a sound knowledge of media law and an understanding of central and local government, together with a critical awareness of the debates and issues surrounding the practice of journalism in the 21st century.
You need to complete a minimum of two weeks on professional placements and this, together with coursework activities, enables you to develop an extensive portfolio of journalism.
The course is delivered by an award-winning team of journalists with extensive professional experience.
We also offer an extensive guest lecture programme. Recent speakers have included editors and journalists from Buzzfeed, ITV News and Sky News.
Read about opportunities and experiences available to our students on our Journalism blog.
Modules
Semester one core modules
• writing for the media • media law and regulation 1
Semester one optional modules
• radio journalism • sports journalism 1 • magazine journalism
Semester two core modules
• print and online reporting • media law and regulation 2 • public affairs
Semester two optional modules
• TV journalism • sports journalism 2
Semester three core modules
• journalism project
This course gives you the skills and knowledge for a career in • print journalism • magazine journalism • sports journalism • online journalism • broadcast journalism (TV and radio) • public relations
Journalism can be a very rewarding career. Flexibility and team work are important as you may be dealing with breaking news and a tight deadline. In today’s newsrooms journalists require skills across a range of media-platforms.
There are opportunities to work on regional newspapers throughout the UK, but some choose to pursue a career with a national newspaper or newsroom and may therefore be based in London. Others prefer to be geographically mobile and look for opportunities to work abroad.
Many journalists work on a freelance basis and the demand for experienced freelancers is increasing, making this an attractive option, especially for feature writing.
It is sometimes said that journalists have a passion for news and don’t do it for the money, but good salaries can be earned especially for those with experience. Salaries vary considerably depending on whether the post is a regional or national one. A regional journalist just starting out on a career in the UK can expect to earn £12,000 – £15,000 as a trainee. An experienced person working for a national newspaper can expect up to around £35,000 – £40,000.
This is an integrated multimedia journalism course that prepares you for a career in the global journalism industry by providing you with the core skills for print, broadcast, magazine and online platforms.
During the course you learn how to gather, organise, write and present information to a professional standard across a variety of platforms and to different audiences.
Key areas of study include • print • broadcast • digital/online journalism • writing and presentation skills • interviewing • TV and radio presentation skills • professional practice • global journalism • shorthand.
By selecting options to meet your own interests you are able to specialise in print journalism, magazine journalism, radio journalism and television journalism.
Throughout the course you gain an understanding of how your chosen area operates in Britain and internationally by examining different examples of journalistic practice. You are able to bring your own experience of journalism in your home country and gain insight into practices in Britain, Europe and the wider world. You study case-studies from regions of the world that interest you in order to compare different approaches to journalism.
Print and online journalism modules prepare you to develop the multiplatform skills to operate effectively as a news and feature journalist in any global newsroom. This means learning to develop a strong news sense, an ability to select and prioritise key facts and quotes, and writing skills for different platforms.
You also
Broadcast journalism modules develop your skills in radio and TV broadcasting, and in interviewing and presenting. You produce radio and TV packages in a dedicated TV and radio studio and two dedicated newsrooms.
Alongside practical skills, the course gives you the opportunity to study the ethical, legal and regulatory context in which journalism is practised. Theoretical content deepens your understanding and critical awareness of on-going debates about the economic and political role played by journalists and global news organisations in modern societies.
Read about opportunities and experiences available to our students on our Journalism blog.
Sheffield Hallam University acts as a centre for the NCTJ national examinations.
Semester one core modules
Semester one optional modules
Semester two core modules
Semester two optional modules
Semester three core modules
Journalism is a global industry and this course prepares you for a career in your home country or elsewhere in • print journalism • magazine journalism • sports journalism • online journalism • broadcast journalism (TV and radio) • public relations.
Journalism is a broad term and you could pursue a very rewarding career in any of its many forms.
A career in journalism suits those who are flexible and enjoy team work as you may be dealing with breaking news and a tight deadline. In today’s newsrooms journalists require skills across a range of media-platforms and need to be able to communicate news and information to a range of audiences.
There are opportunities to work on regional newspapers, television and radio throughout the world, but some choose to pursue a career in a national media industry and may therefore be based in a capital city. Many journalists work on a freelance basis and the demand for experienced freelancers is increasing, making this an attractive option, especially for feature writing.
In the UK salaries vary considerably depending on whether the post is a regional or national one. A regional journalist just starting out on a career in the UK can expect to earn £12,000 – £15,000 as a trainee, whereas an experienced person working for a national newspaper can expect up to around £35,000 – £40,000.
This course has been designed to help you find challenging and rewarding work in journalism.
During your time with us, you will learn the skills that you will need to become an incisive, thoughtful and successful journalist.
As well as a general professional grounding in journalism, you will also be able to specialise in your second semester in print and online journalism, broadcast journalism or sports journalism, depending on which pathway you choose in your second semester.
Upon graduation, you will be awarded a PgDip or MA degree and will have had the opportunity to achieve the NCTJ Diploma - all are important qualifications to help launch your career in the UK media industry.
This is a highly intensive course and only for you if you are fully committed to becoming a working journalist, particularly in the UK. You will study modules closely aligned with the NCTJ syllabus so that you are also able to pass seven components of the NCTJ Diploma, such as Media Law and Reporting.
During trimester 1, you will study the basic skills of writing news in print, broadcast and online formats. These key skills are supported by study of media law and also ethical practice to encourage you to become a highly aware journalist. Intrinsic to this course are daily sessions of shorthand, a traditional skill still valued by the modern news industry, including broadcast organisations.
You will be able to sit NCTJ examinations at the end of trimester 1 and also complete the NCTJ Portfolio during trimester 2, when you will be encouraged to sit the NCTJ's shorthand exam and pass at 100 words per minute.
At the beginning of trimester 2, you will be able to take one of the three pathways in news, broadcast or sports journalism. However, you will be able to gain the NCTJ qualification, irrespective of the pathway you choose.
Once you pass the Postgraduate Diploma, you are eligible to study the optional MA Major Project in trimester 3 (summer) to be submitted in mid-September.
Work placements are arranged during trimester 1 and trimester 2.
The majority of the course is delivered largely through workshops and students are assessed mainly by coursework and projects, with some formal examinations.
80% Workshops and 20% Lectures.
Careers range from newspapers to radio and TV, websites and the public relations sector.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Thanks to our strong links with the BBC, many of our graduates are now employed by the British public service broadcaster, working for news and sports output across radio, TV and online. Several of our students have secured the very competitive BBC news traineeships in recent years. Others have gone on to get positions with regional newspapers and news agencies, while some have entered public relations, where companies value the core journalistic qualification offered by the course.
LINKS WITH INDUSTRY
Students get the opportunity during the course to do industry placements in their chosen specialism area. This gives them valuable experience of working in newsrooms, having content published or broadcast, and the chance to establish useful links with professionals. Our placement partners include the BBC, ITV (Granada Reports), the Manchester Evening News, Bolton News, Key 103 and local news agencies.
