MA Sports Journalism

In this module you will develop the necessary skills to work as a commentator or pundit in a broad range of popular sports. It checks on the industry standards and encourages you to pursue on practical activities to develop your abilities. You will critically appraise commentary and produce your own commentary and punditry to a professional level. You will develop the skills and ability to commentate with authority and credibility at both a written and video / audio level. The module also includes developments in the modern sport industry, such as data analytics, tactics, sports science. They will be studied along with the ethical and commercial dimension and major issues faced in different global sports. You will see that keeping abreast of rolling news is essential to develop an in-depth knowledge of the game. So, you will critically engage with various platforms and understand demand for commentators and pundits. In addition, you will learn the opportunities they provide for a freelancer sports journalist.

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This module offers a global perspective on the sports industry: considering the impact of different modalities and its effects on societies and communities. It critically examines the world of sports and its multibillion industries across the globe, including the different formats of popular sports, the penetration, and structure in different countries to understand their singularities. In this module you will learn and critically analyse the history and social context of key popular sports: how they reached various parts of the world, and their cultural and political impacts on society. You will explore the individual characteristics of the main leagues and international competitions, enabling you to investigate the areas and specialism you are passionate about. The module challenges you to critically appraise the financial aspect of sports industries by exploring regulations, stakeholders, and the emergence of the governing bodies which control them.

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This module will introduce you to a variety of common radio formats as well as the terminology used in specific broadcast environments. You will expand your critical understanding of the radio environment in the UK and beyond and will understand how news values apply to radio journalism. The module will enable you to realise story ideas through to completion in a variety of formats suitable for broadcast and podcasting. You will research stories and find contributors, record on location, and understand the processes and paperwork required of a broadcast journalist including risk assessment and interview techniques. You will also be taught how to use audio recorders, and scripting and editing software.

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This module offers an overall view on the legislation and ethical codes of journalism in Scotland and in the UK, contextualised to a perspective for professionals working in the sports industry. On this module, you will critically appraise the legal and regulatory challenges facing sports media and the sports’ governing bodies at a Scottish, UK, European and global level. You will also study how these issues are pertinent to the individual journalist and media organisations and specific sports related legislation. The module will examine how aspects of the law apply in the following areas: • Criminal (disorder, hooliganism, hate crime, drugs, health & safety) • Civil (defamation, privacy, copyright) • Business (liquidation, sponsorship, media rights) and Employment (contracts, visas). You are also expected to reflect on social media’s legal impact on both mainstream media, professionals, and governing bodies. Underpinning this will be an understanding of the ethical and legal importance of inclusion, diversity, and human rights in the modern sports industry.

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This module will present an introduction to sports journalism and to the sports industry. You will gain knowledge and understanding of current journalism practice in sports reporting and writing, interview techniques, feature writing and creating digital, multimedia content for online sites and social media platforms. The Sports News Reporting module is designed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the principles, techniques, and practices of sports journalism. This module is focused on writing techniques, where you will learn fundamental skills to become a sports journalist. The module aims to develop your experience in sports reporting and writing, and to provide you with the ability to analyse and critically evaluate sports news stories. You will have the chance to engage in newsdays, that simulate the industry standards for digital content production. You will also learn from the work of established sports journalists and get inspired to produce your own pieces. Sports writing is a varied and broad area which includes events reporting, news writing, tactical analysis, live social media presentation, and the coverage of different sports industries. The module will equip you to understand and use the language and jargon of different sports and to effectively communicate with both general and specialist audiences and viewers. The module also supports and encourages you to seek press accreditation at different clubs and organisations and attend matches and events to put your skills to practice. You will receive ongoing guidance from your tutors, and you are expected to pro-actively engage in sports reporting and other sort of sport related news content production to build a portfolio.

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This module develops video storytelling techniques for broadcast and online, with emphasis on devising creative treatments for specific audiences. You will learn the professional skills required to film and edit visual sequences, write a broadcast script, conduct interviews, and present on camera. Working in a group you will also engage with professional newsroom workflows by producing a number of longer TV bulletins. In this way, you will develop an understanding of TV studio production, incorporating presenting styles and live interviewing techniques. These ‘news-days’ enable you to learn in a simulated work environment, where deadlines for regular bulletins and extended news programmes must be met. The module is closely linked to the industry and mirrors real industry workflows. You will analyse conventional TV news narrative techniques as well as explore the evolving nature of creative digital video production with an emphasis on mobile journalism and social media platforms. This module ensures you will experience first-hand industry pressures and develop a knowledge of the journalistic, ethical, and technical challenges of working in a TV newsroom. There will be extensive discussion and critical analysis of contemporary issues such as privacy and consent, TV regulation, digital platforms and the place of video within a converged and digital workplace.

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