MA Journalism (Sports)
Lincoln, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
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Introduction
Now an essential part of many news organizations, sports journalism has become a well-respected element of the media. Combing a passion for sports with the practical skills of being a journalist, this Masters's program aims to prepare graduates for a career in this exciting arena.
At Lincoln, a digital newsroom culture offers students the chance to develop the skills needed to report on local and national sporting events. Alongside a series of practical workshops and seminars, students have the opportunity to broadcast and produce their own sports content.
Students will have the chance to undertake a ten-day work placement, allowing them to gain hands-on experience. Previously students have secured placements with BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, talkSPORT, and ITV. Please note that students are responsible for their travel, accommodation, and general living costs while undertaking a work placement.
Students on this course may also have the opportunity to hear from a number of guest speakers. Previous speakers have included BBC Director of London 2012 Roger Mosey, Controller of 5 Live Jonathan Wall, Editor of FourFourTwo David Hall, and ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley.
Prioritising Face-to-Face Teaching
At the University of Lincoln, we strive to ensure our students’ experience is engaging, supportive, and academically challenging. Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, we have adapted to Government guidance to keep our students, staff, and community safe. All remaining Covid-19 legal restrictions in England were lifted in February 2022 under the Government’s Plan for Living with Covid-19, and we have embraced a safe return to in-person teaching on campus. Where appropriate, face-to-face teaching is enhanced by the use of digital tools and technology and may be complemented by online opportunities where these support learning outcomes.
We are fully prepared to adapt our plans if changes in Government guidance make this necessary, and we will endeavor to keep current and prospective students informed. For more information about how we are working to keep our community safe, please visit our coronavirus web pages.
Research Areas, Projects, and Topics
Key research areas in the department include:
- Contemporary Issues in Sports Journalism
- Specialist Sports Reporting and Production
- Business of Sport
- Law and Institutions
- Core Broadcast
Days Taught
Where possible, core sessions are scheduled on Thursday and Friday, although students may be required to attend on other days of the week depending on module options. Full-time students should expect approximately 12 hours of contact time per week and should be prepared to undertake at least two hours of self-study for every taught hour.
"This information was correct at the time of publishing (July 2023)"
Admissions
Curriculum
Advanced Research Methods (Core)
This module provides the opportunity to develop a methodological understanding and to receive support and advice on the final project. You will then be expected to prepare a written proposal for a dissertation, a documentary project, or a portfolio of articles.
Contemporary Issues in Sports Journalism (Core)
This module explores the sports journalism industry and the work of sports journalists. Sports journalists are no longer just match reporters and commentators. They have a role to play in the greater industry of journalism, as court reporters, political correspondents, and news gatherers.
This module aims to enable you to expand your knowledge of sports and sports journalism, exploring issues in sports such as drugs, racism, hooliganism, economics, media, and the history of sports and sports journalism. The module will also reflect on the cultural and sociological impact of sports and major sporting events, such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
Essential Reporting (Core)
This module introduces students to the processes of newsgathering and writing news and features for a range of platforms. It aims to develop a critical understanding of editorial processes in news organizations and a working knowledge of how news and feature ideas are generated and packaged for different markets and readerships.
Journalism Production (Core)
This module introduces students to the editorial and production skills required for multiplatform and digital news production. The module focuses on newsgathering and preparing news content for broadcast and online. Students can work in a newsroom environment under appropriate time constraints, experiencing the pressures of operating as a multimedia journalist across a range of broadcast and web-based platforms, including social media.
MA Journalism - Final Project or Dissertation (Core)
The Final Project or Dissertation module consists of either a dissertation, portfolio of articles, radio or television documentary, or chapters for a book or webpages. You are expected to spend the final term during the summer on self-directed learning, having already decided on the form of project that you will produce. You will be allocated your own tutor for support and guidance. This final project provides an opportunity to research and make an in-depth study of your chosen study area.
Media Law (Core)
This module introduces students to the areas of the law most likely to be encountered in the practice of journalism and the practice of PR and related communications activities. Students will investigate the interaction between journalism, PR, communications, and the law, and gain a clear insight into the relationships between journalists and officials, PR/communications practitioners, and their clients/employers, and how information is communicated to an increasingly diverse public.
Specialist Journalism Production (Core)
From a digital-first perspective and focusing, in particular, on news and feature content in your specialist field(s) of interest, this module aims to develop the key skills of journalism through regular practice, including newsgathering, writing and interviewing, and live output production with text and audio and video output as required. Online skills will be used throughout, including social media to drive consumers to the content. The journalism and features produced will be outward-facing, using techniques of electronic newsgathering, digital and non-linear editing, production/journalism for online and print, and an appropriate range of live news broadcasting techniques. In this module, you are expected to take up a work placement in one or several different media organizations of your choice. The module provides prior guidance, together with career advice. Tutors will help with research of the employment market, as you arrange international, national, or local work placements, and will support you as you build an individual career profile, CV, and work experience portfolio.
The Business of Sport (Core)
This module is designed to allow you to explore in greater depth the relationships between sports, the media, finance, public relations, marketing, and business. Incorporating expertise in the field from visiting lecturers and existing staff, the module will explore the role of marketing and PR in sports organizations and international sports events. The module will also look at how sport combines with the world of finance and business in a world of multi-million-pound transfers, foreign ownership, and media franchising.
How You Study
The study in this program will be a blend of practical workshops, lectures, and seminars. The University of Lincoln also boasts an extensive academic library, which students can use for independent study.
How You Are Assessed
Assessments are a mixture of essays, presentations, portfolios of journalism, broadcast media packages, and timed examinations.
The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly – usually within 15 working days of the submission date.
Accreditations
The School of English and Journalism is one of the first institutions in Europe to be awarded a 'Recognised for Excellence' accolade by the European Journalism Training Association (EJTA).
Gallery
Program Outcome
How You Study
Study on this Program will be a blend of practical workshops, lectures, and seminars. The University of Lincoln also boasts an extensive academic library, which students can use for independent study.
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the University of Lincoln website for more information.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
A career in Sports Journalism can provide a stimulating and rewarding environment, working to tight deadlines in an ever-changing landscape while writing about a topic you are passionate about.
Graduates from MSc Journalism Sport can develop the skills needed for a career in print media, broadcasting, or online.