MA Sports Broadcast Journalism

Solent University (Southampton)

ABOUT THE COURSE

Want to bring your sports knowledge to radio, the internet or television screens? Solent’s Sports Broadcast Journalism master’s degree is an advanced course designed to help bring you closer to a career working in video or audio production in the world of sport. Taught by industry professionals and academics, this is a challenging course where teaching is led by professional standards and industry practices.

On this advanced-level course, students learn how to source, gather and deliver professional sports content on numerous different video and audio platforms across a wide variety of sports. The course also encourages students to develop their editorial and technical skills and build relationships with external clients, whilst creating a portfolio of video, audio and academic material to showcase their abilities to potential employers.

With an increasing demand from sports audiences for innovative approaches to storytelling and high-quality production, broadcasters must constantly update their practices and utilise social media to research and promote their work. Understanding and adapting to changes within this fast-moving industry is core to the teaching on this master’s degree.

Regular ‘news days’, where students will need to respond, gather and produce stories for a same-day news and radio output, are built into the course programme to further increase students’ exposure to a realistic broadcast environment and prepare them for the deadlines and quick-thinking they’ll need to demonstrate to become a sports broadcaster. This element of the course is regarded by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council as good teaching practice.

What does this course lead to?

Recent BA (Hons) Sports Journalism graduates gained full-time employment at Daily Mail Online, The Guardian, Sky Sports, BBC Local Radio, M&Y Media, Inside the Games, Southend United FC, plus a variety of freelance journalist roles. Some students have moved into public relations, with one in an account manager role that earns £50,000 straight out of university.

Who is this course for?

This course is well-suited to those with a sport or journalism background who wish to move into sports broadcasting across traditional and digital platforms.

The course content is ideal for students wishing to gain a deep understanding of the technical and practical aspects of broadcasting.

YOUR FUTURE

Suitable roles for graduates include sports journalists or editors at TV stations, radio stations, productions companies or live TV units; newspaper or magazine content production; online presenter/producer; freelance broadcasting; public relations; digital and social media communications; crisis management.

Graduates would be advised to gain the Diploma in Journalism or National Qualification in Journalism which is offered by the National Centre for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

Half of the Professional Practice module involves an extended work placement within the broadcast industry. The course has links with industry and will provide an extended work placement (up to 12 weeks) with a broadcaster. That's Solent is the first partner, but there are also conversations happening with BT Sport, Eurosport and Perform. The placement will take place in Period 2 of the course but will include one day of university work each week to attend Sports Broadcast Production. Students can study this course thru part time also. MPhil/PhD options are open to those wishing to pursue academic research and teaching.