80% Portfolio of content. This will include an in-class assessment and articles produced as coursework, including match reports from a field trip. [Learning Outcomes 1-5 ]

20% Shorthand. Internal examinations to be taken at end of semester one or in semester two. Pass mark: 60 words per minute. [Learning Outcome 6 ]

This module is designed to develop students’ sports writing skills. MA Sportswriting will be award-specific - tailored towards the learning outcomes of the course. Generally, students will learn about the practical and commercial restraints of producing content across a variety of mediums, both written and broadcast. It will demonstrate the pressures placed on sports journalists in terms of accuracy, clarity and writing to deadline.

By the end of the module, students should be able to write stories applicable to their award. They will be able to produce content under pressure in timed exercises, replicating industry practice. Some of this will be done in the field and in “real time” situations in the broadcast newsroom.

Industry practice is also reflected in the gaining of shorthand skills, where a basic 60wpm exam is required as a 20% element of the overall mark.

Newsroom facilities
Blackboard
Library

Andrews, P. (2013) Sports Journalism, A Practical Introduction, Second Edition, Sage.
Boyle, R. (2006) Sports Journalism – Context and Issues, Sage.
Bradshaw, P and Rohumaa, L. (2013) The Online Journalism Handbook, Routledge.
Cartwright, M. Tee Line Gold Standard, (2009), Heinemann.
Evans, H. (2000) Essential English for Journalists, Pimlico.
Hicks, W. (2008) Writing for Journalists, Second Edition,Routledge.
Hicks, W. (2007) English for Journalists, Routledge.
Staffordshire University Journalism Dept (2007), Journalism Style Guide, Staffs University.
Steen, R. (2008) Sports Journalism – a Multimedia Primer. Routledge.
Truss, Lynne (2009) Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Profile Books.

*Please note that although some of these texts may have been published some years ago, they are still regarded as the premium titles within the sports journalism industry.

1. UNDERSTAND HOW TO STRUCTURE ACCURATELY JOURNALISTIC COPY FOR ONLINE, PRINT AND BROADCAST
[Knowledge and Understanding]

2. ADAPT WRITING STYLE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF TARGET PUBLICATION
[Problem Solving]

3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOP ACCURATE AND BALANCED CONTENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AWARD THIS MODULE IS LINKED TO
[Learning, Application]

4. DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO ACCURATELY IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND SEEK SOLUTIONS DURING NORMAL SPORTS NEWS GATHERING AND THE SPORTS NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS
[Application; Learning; Problem Solving]

5. DEMONSTRATE ABILITY TO PRODUCE ACCURATE, CLEAR AND CONCISE SPORTS COPY MIRRORING INDUSTRY DEADLINE REQUIREMENTS
[Application; Communication]

6. RECORD AND TRANSCRIBE SPEECH ACCURATELY AT INCREASING SPEEDS OF SHORTHAND
[Application; Learning]

There will be workshops for 13 weeks in which the focus will be on writing skills. Students will focus on the essentials of story structure, intros, using quotes effectively, use of language and story content. They will learn the differences and similarities in writing for online, print and broadcast developing their style for different audiences. Industry specialists will be on hand to lend their own particular expertise.
They will produce assessed coursework to illustrate their ability to produce content from start to finish, as well as completing timed exercises to demonstrate their ability to write copy to a required standard and within a deadline.

This module will also prepare students to sit the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ Sports Writing qualification, which they will be expected to take on completion of the module.

There will be four one-hour shorthand classes per week and students are then expected to practice in their own time in order to reach 60wpm – and beyond for higher marks.
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