Anyone done/doing (sports) journalism at uni?

[north stand seagull]

Could never have previously seen myself going to uni but after a change of heart have designs on applying for next year, just wondering what people's experiences of studying journalism are like.

Where did you study?
Would you recommend it? Etc
Cheers

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Pm Richie Morris

posts as Walt something or other....

 

[Mr Banana]

Do it! There are so many jobs around at the moment

 

[north stand seagull]

Do it! There are so many jobs around at the moment

 

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

Finished my course at Solent Uni (southampton) earlier this year. Can post a bit more tomorrow evening about it and other courses available, as heading off to bed for work tomorrow (unfortunately not in the sports journo industry...yet)

 

[north stand seagull]

Finished my course at Solent Uni (southampton) earlier this year. Can post a bit more tomorrow evening about it and other courses available, as heading off to bed for work tomorrow (unfortunately not in the sports journo industry...yet)

Ok cheers mate, yeah Solent is one of the ones that I have looked at, will probably go to the open day in a couple of weeks

 

[JJB]

Solent isn't a University, it is a disgrace.

 

[Farehamseagull]

A few years ago I decided I wanted to go to university having worked since college so I went to Staffordshire university and studied sports journalism. I didnt particularly enjoy the course or uni life (or living in Stoke) though so finished after a year. To be honest, journalism wasnt for me but it was a good experience.

From what I learnt though you would be better served doing a degree in a more established subject like English or History etc rather than a specialist journo course at a university with a better rep than Solent or Staffordshire. You can then train specifically in journalism.

Journalism and particularly sports journalism is incredibly competitive and employers are looking for top candidates. I would say the most important thing is that you gain experience so that you can show employers youre capable. Try and find some work for free for local media outlets and start writing now. Again from my experience the media companies I spoke to were all looking for a history of doing the job so it is essential you start doing what you can now while studying. You will need to be confident, pro active and have a bit of a thick skin at times.

Good luck though mate, hope it works out for you.

 

[Notters]

Do it! There are so many jobs around at the moment

Witty.

 

[teaboy]

A few years ago I decided I wanted to go to university having worked since college so I went to Staffordshire university and studied sports journalism. I didnt particularly enjoy the course or uni life (or living in Stoke) though so finished after a year. To be honest, journalism wasnt for me but it was a good experience.

From what I learnt though you would be better served doing a degree in a more established subject like English or History etc rather than a specialist journo course at a university with a better rep than Solent or Staffordshire. You can then train specifically in journalism.

Journalism and particularly sports journalism is incredibly competitive and employers are looking for top candidates. I would say the most important thing is that you gain experience so that you can show employers youre capable. Try and find some work for free for local media outlets and start writing now. Again from my experience the media companies I spoke to were all looking for a history of doing the job so it is essential you start doing what you can now while studying. You will need to be confident, pro active and have a bit of a thick skin at times.

Good luck though mate, hope it works out for you.

100% agree. Start writing NOW (if you haven't already). Send in reports to the local papers. Contact them to see if you can attend some events with their main writers. Contact local clubs (ALL sports, not just football) and report on them. Have a look at www.careers-in-sport.co.uk and attend one of their events if you can.

Put the work in, and others will notice. There are hundreds of people who want to be sports journalists, but most of them don't actually DO anything about it. The Uni course may help, but not as much as the other stuff.

 

[seagullondon]

Solent isn't a University, it is a disgrace.

I must agree, my friend found his girlfriend there and she is a disgrace!

 

[Lush]

Don't expect to make much money though. I follow Simon Price on Twitter, who's a highly respected music journalist at the Independent on Sunday. Hasn't received any kind of pay rise in 10 years and just been asked to take a 25% paycut. Is tweeting that he's seriously thinking of jacking it all in.

Why pay people to be journalists when no-one reads newspapers any more and people will happily sports/music blog for free?

 

[north stand seagull]

Solent isn't a University, it is a disgrace.

Care to elaborate

 

[tycoon0_0]

In my third and final year at Brighton Uni studying Sport Journalism.

A few things, a degree in Sport Journalism is only half the battle. You will 9/10 times be expected or requested to go an obtain the NCTJ qualification as well. This is where Brighton Uni is different. They not only give you the degree but also enter you into the NCTJ exams for free. It can cost thousands of pounds to do the NCTJ on its own, and will take a minimum of 6 months or so after graduating.

Also, you need to be able to do shorthand. The degree's are built around it and you cannot get the NCTJ without being able to write 100 words per minute. Do a bit of research and buy the Teeline book and see if its something you genuinely feel you can master.

Regarding the post about dropping out after the first year, ignore him. Majority of first years at uni are barely anything to do with the actual subject you're studying and are primarily used to teach you core degree basics and weed out the weaker and less dedicated students.

My biggest piece of advice is, really know it's what you want to do. University fee's are ridiculous now and I have to admit if I had to pay £27,000 for what I've had so far I'd be deeply upset at the amount I'd paid.

You may want to look into the courses in conventional Journalism available at City college though, I know someone who has just started there and although it won't include the NCTJ it is a shorter course and will cost a fraction of the degree and it sounds like they are being taught a identical syllabus to the one I just completed for my second year. None of the boring first year crap.

Hope it helps.

 

[JJB]

Care to elaborate

The fact you need me to elaborate would suggest to me that you would fit in fine.

 

[JJB]

I must agree, my friend found his girlfriend there and she is a disgrace!

The best thing about it is that it brings lots of attractive, easy gash to the city. If you can't get laid in Southampton of a weekend you really need to be shot.

 

[Simon Morgan]

Solent isn't a University, it is a disgrace.

Is it honestly true that both Craig David and Dannii Minogue are the holders of Honorary Doctorates from Solent? Been told that before but just refuse to believe it.

 

[JJB]

Is it honestly true that both Craig David and Dannii Minogue are the holders of Honorary Doctorates from Solent? Been told that before but just refuse to believe it.

Singing star Craig earns another degree of success From Daily Echo)

 

[Firefly]

Why do uni? Very few sports journos make good money. So why spent a fortune on a degree to get debt you can't pay.
Just Get your Nctj cos that's essential it wil cost less than a year at uni, and you can get a job and start earning.
Don't worry about the short hand stuff, I failed it but still got work. Kept saying I would re take it but never did.
Yes the money wil be shit, but as my old editor used to say (usually just after rejecting pay rise claims) "you'll always be the most interesting person at a dinner party!'
Good luck

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Why do uni? Very few sports journos make good money. So why spent a fortune on a degree to get debt you can't pay.
Just Get your Nctj cos that's essential it wil cost less than a year at uni, and you can get a job and start earning.

That's the best advice that will be given on this thread