MA Sports Journalism

This module provides a critical understanding of journalism theory and concepts.

Subject areas will include the impact of the digital revolution, patterns of media ownership, the implications of the demise of local journalism and the emergence of the democratic deficit.

It will also incorporate principles of communication practices in the digital age, for example PR, embedded journalism, churnalism and clickbait.

You will explore and critically analyse journalism regulation and media freedom and will be able to examine key ethical issues in practical journalism including representation of disadvantaged group and reporting trauma.

Journalism in Context will provide a challenging insight into journalism practice and will equip you with a theoretical knowledge base which you can then develop further into a dissertation or personal study project in your final semester.

This module complements Media Law, Regulations and Court Reporting by enabling you to reflect on the theory of legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks within the context of practical journalism issues.

This module covers basic knowledge of the English legal system, including of court processes the hierarchy of the courts; contempt of court and related matters; the rules of the court protecting anonymity in the reporting of children and sexual offences; reporting the courts – court procedure and reporting restrictions; open justice and challenging court orders; defamation and related matters; copyright; privacy and confidentiality; regulation – the role of the Editors’ Code and the Broadcast Code; ethics in newsgathering – including reporting children and vulnerable people; protecting journalists’ sources and the right to report.

The module will prepare you for the NCTJ professional diploma examinations in Essential Media Law and Court Reporting.

This module teaches skills required for Masters dissertation or Masters practical project, including providing an understanding of research methods and the production of research papers and dissertations. It should develop the students' research skills and allow them to plan and develop the early part of the dissertation or practical project.

This module will help you to understand what is ‘newsworthy’ and what makes a story, develop your content ‘ideas’ from source to completion, and learn to develop and nurture contacts and sources. You will employ effective interview techniques to obtain information and quotes (including use of Shorthand) and will use appropriate media and platforms for disseminating content. It will develop your journalistic writing style to enable you to construct readable and engaging content as well as employ SEO skills for headlines, intros, captions, social media teasers and more. You will develop technical CMS and mobile journalism skills required in today’s industry so you can produce/edit video, audio and image-led content.

This module will help prepare you to sit the NCTJ Essential Journalism examination.

You will work as part of a team creating content to deadline in live multi-platform newsdays.

You will undertake key newsroom leadership roles during newsdays, and react to breaking sports news quickly to inform digital audience. You will report “live” sports on-scene using Facebook Live + other tools, and run multiple social media platforms to publish, share, engage, source and verify. During news days you will enhance your CMS skills in uploading, editing, publishing digital content, and develop creative and feature news/sports content writing styles such as profiles, listicles, opinions, longer form issue features.

You will also employ ‘live blog’ skills in the field, in sports arena, and create video packages for online, including pieces to camera, sequence, voiceovers and captions. Throughout the module you will use your ethical and legal knowledge in ‘live’ content production and publication.

In live newsdays, you will operate as a team and produce content for digital and broadcast platforms to deadlines. You will operate in different roles to develop transferable skills as well as practical journalistic techniques. This module will prepare you to sit NCTJ Videojournalism online examination.

This module helps students construct professional portfolios and showreels of work for transition to industry and prepare them to undertake relevant work placement/experience to enhance industry practice. It will help them develop a professional digital “footprint” and their social media brands and encourage them to engage in career research activities focusing on employment opportunities. Tutorials will focus on development of career CVs and job/internship interview skills. It will also enhance shorthand skills to reach industry gold standard of 100wpm.

This module equips students with a good working knowledge of the operation of local and central government. It prepares students with the skills required to report the affairs of government in a compelling way. Finally, the module develop student’s ability to critically evaluate the impact of political institutions on journalists and citizens.

This module will assist you to produce a written dissertation that researches a key issue relating to News or Sports Journalism and which demonstrates mastery in its analysis and evaluation. It will cover research aims and objectives, research questions and hypothesis; literature review and underpinning theories; paradigms: positivism and interpretivism; research methodologies: quantitative and qualitative approaches; research methods; data collection and analysis; validity and reliability in research; ethical issues and writing up academic research.

The major research project is an extended piece of research giving the student an opportunity to study in depth a topic or issue of their choosing, with clear boundaries achievable, and to produce a professional piece of independent journalism in a suitable format as negotiated with the supervisor.

You will be expected to integrate newly acquired production skills and knowledge together with advanced research skills at Masters level.

All knowledge and skills gained on the course should be applied to produce a highly professional piece of written and/or broadcast journalism, which is adaptable for a targeted outlet and therefore highly applicable and relevant in displaying an ability to multi-skill and produce and present across different media platforms. Examples include a series of online/multi-media features, a long-form radio documentary, a TV documentary, a series of print features for newspapers or magazines.

This module enhances students' TV/radio sports production and presenting skills, boosting their confidence on and off-camera and improving their employability in sports broadcasting. It covers advanced technical and editorial techniques, camera setups, studio reporting, voice coaching, and live commentary. Students also learn to adapt to various broadcasting scenarios, incorporate graphics and stats, and produce sports bulletins.