Module Aim:  

On this module, you will work collaboratively with an organisation to explore real-world challenges and professional roles. The applied project will allow you to apply practical broadcast journalism skills to create content. You’ll reflect on your strengths, recognise your professional behaviours, limitations, and experiences from the applied project to support your future preparation for a recruitment process including having the opportunity to publish material. You’ll also gain an understanding of practical production techniques using audio and video. 

Indicative Content:

• Story gathering and writing for broadcast

• Digital fluency

• Use of video and audio equipment

• Video and sound editing using relevant software

• Working with an organisation to create journalistic content

• Applied project will allow students to present as a professional – understanding how to liaise and co-operate with individuals outside their cohort

Module Aim:  

On this module, you’ll develop your understanding of live event reporting, including key roles in live broadcasting and coverage in both radio and television commentary. You’ll work with external partners to experience live sporting events and press conferences, increasing your skills and confidence in these dynamic spaces.  

Indicative Content:

• Live reporting for radio and television platforms  

• Live commentary for radio and television platforms

• Researching and planning sports coverage for radio and television broadcasts

• Making TV and radio highlights packages

• Visiting sports events

• Attending press conferences

• Live Interviewing skills

• Reflection on professional practice and ethics

Module Aim:  

This module will immerse you in contemporary issues and debates in sporting cultures. Sport carries important cultural, historical, political, and financial significance for a wide range of stakeholders, fans, regulatory bodies, and cultural discourses. On this module, you’ll explore the history of sport and the contemporary role of reporting and journalism and apply your skills in collaborative and individual projects. 

Indicative Content:

• The development of sport from the 18th century and its representation in journalism 

• The development of television and radio sports coverage  

• Women, race and minority sport 

• Sport, semiotics and cultural studies 

• Branding and broadcasting rights 

• Globalisation 

• Nostalgia and commercialisation 

• Sports investigations journalism 

• Changes in reading, listening and viewing habits. 

• The relationship between sports journalists and reader/listener/viewer 

Module Aim:  

On this module, you’ll be introduced to key writing skills for sports news and features on both print and online platforms. In addition, you’ll explore issues of audience, representation, research, and presentation, considering questions of diversity in sport reporting.  

Indicative content:  

• Sources and resources for sports news 

• Ethics and processes for interviews 

• Understanding audiences 

• Ablism, gender, and race in sports reporting 

• Understanding language and reference 

• Critical self-reflection 

Module Aim:  

This module equips you with the skills, contextual knowledge, and confidence to produce multi-media journalistic and PR artefacts. You’ll be working alongside an employer or organisation to create content suitable for public relations and/or journalistic organisations, using written, video, audio, photographic and digital formats. This module will focus on your career aspirations and develop your understanding of a modern workplace, providing a basis for potential work placement and further industry-based modules at level 6. 

Indicative content:  

• Gathering audio, video and photographic material 

• Project planning 

• Applied research 

• Audiences and online behaviour 

• Digital storytelling 

Module Aim: 

This module will introduce you to the key social, legal, governmental, and regulatory frameworks for professional journalism. We’ll focus on relevant local and national structures and processes and on key issues of media law. This is a fascinating area of journalism and one that demands critical awareness around questions of ethics and the role of journalists in exploring, explaining, and exposing legal and political processes. 

Indicative Content:

• The essential structures and processes of local and central government in England and Wales

• Knowledge of the ECHR (Human Rights Act 1998) legislation in the context of journalistic practice

• Essential media law for journalists: defamation, contempt of court, reporting restrictions, copyright and sources of UK law

• The regulatory system and ethical codes of conduct within which UK journalists operate

Module Aim:  

This module will further develop your skills in research and journalistic investigation. You’ll reflect on your current understanding and explore different research methods relevant to journalism and public relations. In addition, you’ll enhance your ability to manage projects, work independently, and critically evaluate sources as well as your own work. This module will also prepare you for the ‘Research Project’ in your final year of study. 

Indicative Content:

• Quantitative research and analysis methods 

• Qualitative research and analysis methods 

• PR specific research and analysis methods 

• Ethics 

• Journalistic investigative skills 

• Time management 

• Working independently 

• Action planning 

• Evaluating critical sources  

Module Aim:  

This module builds on your previous modules and further develops writing and broadcast skills. You’ll gain experience of newsday processes and cycles in realistic professional newsroom settings, and you’ll research, develop, and prepare same-day multi-platform programmes. Through collaboration on the module and with external partners, you’ll develop your digital fluency, technical competencies, and professional awareness.  

Indicative Content:

• Developing, preparing, and presenting news stories 

• Multiple and multi-platform broadcasting 

• Digital fluency and technology skills 

• Professional contexts, expectations, and collaborations 

• Project management and team building 

• Responding to feedback 

• Audience and presentation 

Module Aim:  

On this module, you will develop a deeper understanding and improved practical application of language, content, style and structure in long-form journalism. Working through contemporary examples and relevant professional models, you’ll consider your own interests and identify strengths and skills to support your practice. 

Indicative content:  

• Advanced feature writing styles 

• Advanced interviewing skills 

• Understanding long form platforms 

• Establishing a multiplatform brand 

• Writing a business plan 

Module Aim:  

On this module, you’ll undertake a project in an area of your choosing, focusing on your interests and ambitions. With dedicated support from a supervisor, you’ll develop, plan, and carry out a project that showcases research, writing and/or other production skills to create a dissertation or practical project on your chosen topic.  You’ll work closely with your colleagues as part of a learning community, providing and receiving feedback on your ideas and work in progress. As the ‘capstone’ for your course, this module will develop your confidence in your knowledge and skills as well as your awareness of the professional world of Sports Journalism. 

 Indicative Content: 

• Advanced research skills 

• Industry expectations 

• Ethics processes for research and writing 

• Understanding audiences 

• Project management 

• Planning, revising, and editing work 

• Providing and actioning feedback 

• Self-evaluation and reflection 

• Choosing appropriate formats   

Module Aim:  

Building on your previous study, this module further develops your writing and broadcasting skills. You’ll gain experience in realistic newsroom settings and through preparing and broadcasting TV, radio, and online content. You’ll also increase your confidence by responding and adapting to developing news stories, collaborating on the module to generate content for multi-platform broadcast that demonstrates professional and industry standards.  

Indicative Content:

• Professional behaviours, expectations, and processes 

• Advanced digital and technological skills for broadcasting 

• Use of video and audio equipment 

• Video and sound editing using relevant software.  

• Collaboration and team working 

• Project and team management 

Module Aim:  

You’ll develop your understanding of public relations and media management in sport. You’ll gain practical experience of both in a professional context. A key focus will be your understanding of professional expectations and behaviours in relation to inclusivity and sector values. Working collaboratively, you’ll encounter real-world challenges and roles and you’ll be supported in critical self-reflection on your strengths, professional attributes, and ambitions.  

Indicative Content:

• Sport in the modern world and its relationship with the media

• How sport manages its publicity, the tools of sports publicity and Public Relations in Sport 

• The skills of good communication in sport through online and conventional PR 

• Crisis management, the public face of sport, how sports organisations deal with their 'publics'

• The staging of a big event, the structure and business of sport

• The importance of media management in merchandising, transfer, fees global commercial investment and PR