Programme of Study Catalogue

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Make sound judgements about sports editorial issues and devise effective solutions under the pressure of deadlines;
Demonstrate an understanding of the unique nature and context of sports reporting across a range of mediums;
Report on basic sports and news stories in an appropriate style for changing audiences through changing platforms;
Work effectively in a team;
Demonstrate a basic competence in both radio and television news production, location sound recording and editing.

Content:

Introduction to Sports Reporting provides the foundation for future sports journalists. Students will primarily learn how to find, research and report on sports stories, as well as news, in an appropriate style for different platforms. They will learn and practise interviewing skills. The sessions will be partly classroom-based in workshops but will include a significant amount of live reporting, and students will build a portfolio covering key skills. This module includes teamwork in the TV studio, video journalism, radio and digital skills. Introduction to Sports Reporting prepares students for Practical Journalism 2: Sports Reporting, which involves the honing of reporting skills and more in-depth live production.

Learning and Teaching Information:

This module will be taught in workshop sessions, where students have the chance to use their growing skills in practical scenarios. There will be opportunities to get out and about to develop their sports reporting skills, with one-to-one tutor support available for guidance in class.

There will be a mix of formal taught material; discussions; debate; breaking news scenarios; reporting from prepared material; using social media and digital platforms to publish; going to live sports events (where suitable) and reporting from them. Formative feedback will be a high priority throughout semesters 1 and 2.

News workshops / supervision
Hours: 80
Intended Group size: 25

Guided independent study
Hours: 320

Further details relating to assessment
Both portfolios will typically include a range of assessed classroom and live production tasks set throughout semester 1. Portfolio 1 will also include assessments set during Journalism Week.

Directed activities: These consist of weekly tasks that must be completed and submitted for inspection at timetabled sessions each week. The assessment will be assessed on a pass/fail basis with a pass requiring at least 75% of all weekly tasks to be completed successfully. A pass will lead to the full award of 10% towards the final module mark. A fail in directed activities will contribute 0% to the final mark.

Assessment:

001 Portfolio 1 equivalent to 4000 words during Semester 1 45%
002 Directed Activities throughout the year 10%
003 Portfolio 2 equivalent to 4000 words during/end of Semester 2 45%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Darren Harper
Level - 4
Credit Value - 40
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL