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.

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.

Report portfolio 80%

Football match report 300 and press conference reports 2 x 250 words (LO 1, 2, 4, 5)

Portfolio of two news and/or feature articles suitable for publication in a named publication/market. 1000 words (1, 2, 3, 4)

Each weighted at 50%



Shorthand class test 20%

internal examination to be taken at the end of semester one or two. Pass mark = 60 words per minute. (LO 5)


Employability

All assessments are the sort of daily activity required in many roles in the written sports journalism industry. Assessments 1-3 are all authentic assessments.

Assessment 4, shorthand, while no longer as crucial as it once was in the industry, is a skill that some employers (eg Sky Sports) still insist upon.


Diversity

Students will be made aware of, and encouraged to pursue, stories relating to diversity and equality in sport for their submission for Assessment 3 (original articles).

There will be lectures/workshops for 13 weeks in which the focus will be on writing. 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 and print, developing their style for different audiences.
Students 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.

Shorthand: There will be regular twice-weekly workshops over two semesters, with a specialist shorthand teacher, combined with independent study, using Blackboard and other audio/visual study aids.

Shorthand skills will be used during practical journalism classes for note taking. Regular speed tests and homework will contribute to the learning process and students are expected to practise in their own time in order to reach a “pass” speed of 60wpm, and beyond.

1. Demonstrate an advanced understand of how to structure accurately journalistic copy for on-line and print

2. Adapt writing style to the requirements of a range of target publications

3. Demonstrate newsroom leadership in senior editorial, presenting and production role.

4. Demonstrate the ability to accurately identify problems and seek solutions during normal sports news gathering and sports news production process

5. Demonstrate ability to produce accurate, clear and concise sports copy mirroring industry deadline requirements

6. Record and transcribe speech accurately at increasing speeds of shorthand

Newsroom facilities

Blackboard

Library

Adams, Sally and Lee-Potter, Emma (2017) Interviewing for Journalists, Routledge.

Andrews, P. (2013) Sports Journalism – A Practical Introduction, Sage.

Boyle, Raymond (2006) Sports Journalism – Context and Issues, Sage.

Boyle, Raymond (2020) Changing Sports Journalism Practice in the Age of Digital, Routledge

Bradshaw, Paul and Rohumaa, Liisa (2011) The Online Journalism Handbook, Pearson.

Bradshaw, Tom and Minogue, Daragh (2019) Sports Journalism – The State of Play, Routledge.

Bull A. (2016) Multimedia Journalism – A Practical Guide, Routledge.

Evans, H. (2000) Essential English for Journalists, Pimlico.

Frost, C. (2010) Reporting for Journalists, Routledge.

Harcup, T. (2021) Journalism Principles and Practice, Sage.

Hennessy, B. (2006) Writing Feature Articles (4th edition), Focal Press.

Hicks, W. (2013) English for Journalists, Routledge.

Marsh, David. (2013) For Who the Bell Tolls, Guardian Faber Publishing.

Pape, Susan, Featherstone, Sue (2006) Feature Writing: A Practical Introduction London, Sage.

Phillips, A. (2007) Good Writing for Journalists, Sage.

Rudin, R. and Ibbotson, T. (2002) An Introduction to Journalism, Focal Press.

Sissons, Helen, (2007) Practical Journalism: How to Write News, London, Sage.

Steen, R. (2013) Sports Journalism, A Multimedia Primer, Routledge.

Swaine, M; Gilbert, H. and Allen G. (2022) Writing for Journalists, Routledge

Toney, J. (2013) Sports Journalism – The Inside Track, Bloomsbury.

Truss, Lynne (2009) Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Fourth Estate

None

This module is an introduction to the basic skills of written sports journalism. You will learn about the sports news cycle, how sport is covered by print and digital organisations, how to operate as a professional sports journalist, delivering to deadline and to your target audience. You will also learn the important skill of shorthand note taking. You will learn with like-minded colleagues in weekly workshops but will also visit sporting events to gain real-world reporting experience.