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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

DS Year 12 interested in sports journalism...

37 replies

BaconAndAvocado · 17/11/2023 18:06

...any ideas how he might pursue this career route and which degrees and universities are the ones to aim for?

He is doing A levels in Maths, Physics and Film Studies.

OP posts:
Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 17/11/2023 19:23

Thank you Ethelswith 💐

OP posts:
defineme · 17/11/2023 19:22

Have you looked at the University of Football based in Manchester and Wembley? A friend's son is enjoying his course there.
A relative of mine had a very positive experience doing sports journalism at Chester.. pastorally they were fantastic. Not sure it's every young man's dream to be at uni in bognor regus though!

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 17/11/2023 19:22

So sorry! I thought Solent was the same as Southampton 🙄

OP posts:
Ethelswith · 17/11/2023 19:19

I don't know which degrees to go for, and it is possible to do more or less any degree and then a masters in journalism. Subjects that might be useful (as well as anything sports related) are things like politics, history, economics - things that fit with news journalism (if other fields would be the fallback should sports not come off)

The other things that could be important are

  • broadcast experience - volunteer at a local radio station, and do every job they let him at
  • enter young writer competitions
  • write the parkrun weekly report (would also count as a volunteering credit if he's doing DofE awards) and make it interesting
  • start a blog commenting on the sports he's most passionate about
  • comment insightfully on other people's blogs
  • if you still have a local newspaper, get work experience there, or submit unsolicited match reports in the hope they'll pick up on it
  • write match reports for school magazine/newsletter

It's all about building a portfolio of work, and learning how the industry works, and learning how to network within it

Piggywaspushed · 17/11/2023 19:11

Isn't the Sports Journalism at Solent?

Piggywaspushed · 17/11/2023 19:10

I have!

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 17/11/2023 19:08

Thanks piggywaspushed You have suggested this before, I remember your brilliant tag name!!

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 17/11/2023 19:07

By the way, with those A levels he'd be set up for Surrey's degree in sound engineering for film and TV.

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 17/11/2023 19:06

Yes it does a Sports Journalism BA. Just had a gander.
There are a lot of Sports Journalism degrees out there, I’m quite surprised.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 17/11/2023 19:05

Pretty sure Southampton doesn't do a journalism undergraduate degree...

Piggywaspushed · 17/11/2023 19:02

My DS is doing a history degree whilst building a portfolio. He writes for the uni paper and has done work experience for a local news service. Plans to do an MA.

flotsomandjetsome · 17/11/2023 18:25

A friends DD is doing a journalism degree. When she was looking at uni's she dismissed Southampton as their journalism course was too focussed on sports (with good connections IIRC). Obviously you'd need to look into it properly, as this is just a vague remembering!