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There will be a combination of student-centred, tutor-led learning, including regular case study workshops and seminar presentations. Students will give individual presentations. There will also be a programme of directed reading and an analysis of relevant issues relative to current sports journalism stories.

Sports Broadcast Studies examines the organisational contexts within which sports broadcast journalism is conducted. The module aims at extending and enhancing at postgraduate level the student's knowledge of theoretical and empirical perspectives of sports broadcast journalism. It also aims at giving students a proper understanding of these perspectives and the ability to apply them in practice. The module explores the development of sports journalism in Britain, comparing it with the practice in the United States and Europe and assessing arguments around the globalisation of broadcasting. It examines issues arising from ownership, structures, control and regulation of sports broadcasts. The module examines the relationship between public policy and sports broadcasting and the relationship between politics and sport. These issues are then contextualised in relation to such issues as news values, balance, gender, sources and editorial pressures. Case studies of different styles of sports broadcasting are analysed and the 'dumbing down' thesis examined. The potential implications of telecommunications technology and the information superhighway for the professional practice of sports journalism will also be assessed. Finally, the module looks at possible futures for sports broadcasting.

The presentation of c.20-30 minutes will focus on the implication for sports broadcast journalism practice in the current
environment [Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5]

The essay will allow students to demonstrate the relevance of the theoretical approaches to the practice
of sports broadcast journalism [Learning Outcomes 4 and 5]

DVD/video recorder
Internet access
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