Program Overview

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MA Sports Journalism

Overview

Scotland’s historic capital city is home to the long-established journalism programme at Edinburgh Napier University. Building on the success of our existing multi-platform courses, MA Sports Journalism specialises in digital storytelling for sports coverage in print, online and broadcast. The course utilises the university’s journalism facilities: our multi-platform digital newsroom and studios for both television and radio.

The sports journalism marketplace has expanded exponentially, driven by technological change, with traditional media supplemented by web-based publishing, digital radio and TV. Broadcast sport schedules and print sections have been extended and new media like podcasts, video platforms and websites have driven an expansion of user-generated content, including fan media.

You will learn and develop a wide range of the practical skills of sports journalism, commentary and punditry for TV, radio, podcast, online and newspapers.

Edinburgh Napier University focusses on employability and our journalism programme benefits from industry links with media companies and with sporting organisations. As well as being the subject of sports coverage, the sport bodies and clubs increasingly employ in-house journalism teams to produce video and written content for their channels.

Mode of Study:

• Full-time

Duration:

• 1 year

Start date:

• September

Course details

Scotland enjoys a global reputation as a sports nation: it is the home of golf and the birthplace of both international rugby and international football; this university operates in the centre of a country where sport matters.

If you have a passion for the world of sport and you have an interest in media, Edinburgh Napier University will provide you with the foundation on which to enter and build a career in the sports media sphere.

Our broadcast studios and multimedia newsrooms provide an industry setting for students to experience the thrill of sports and sports news journalism. You will learn how to operate recording and editing equipment for television (Avid), radio (Burli) and podcasts.

You will participate in live “newsdays” which simulate the excitement of a day in the life of a multimedia digital newsroom.

You will develop your analytical and critical skills to hone your writing, communication and research techniques.

You will gain access to our industry connections, with your studies enhanced by guest lectures and work placements. You will be given opportunities to develop industry contacts and to work in publishing/broadcasting before you graduate.

Your understanding of the sports media landscape will be broadened on field trips to live sport events (men and women’s fixtures) and the associated press activities.

The course is taught by a team of media professionals-academics with a background in broadcasting, newspapers, online for such media organisations as Sky Sports, BBC, talkSPORT, BT Sport, STV, The Scotsman, Olympic Broadcast Services, BBC World Service, BBC News channel, BBC World, Sky News, Radio Clyde, Talk Radio, The Times and The Sunday Times.

• Field trips may incur additional transport costs

How you’ll be taught

This is a one-year (full-time) course, starting in September and split into three trimesters. Teaching methods combine lectures with specialist workshops in our newsrooms and independent study.

You will be taught to use software such as Burli (audio), Avid (video) to edit and broadcast and have access to Radio ENRG and our TV studio.

Assessments

You will be continuously assessed and given feedback on ‘live’ newsdays, producing an online news website along with TV and radio bulletins.

You will complete the programme by producing a Major Project, an in-depth piece of sports journalism, either video or audio, text or online.

Work placement

To help you develop industry contacts and the opportunity to publish and broadcast, students are encouraged, in consultation with their lecturers, to seek a minimum of 15 days work experience placements as part of the course.

Facilities

Our Merchiston campus, situated in the heart of Edinburgh, is home to the School of Creative Industries, as well as engineering and computing students.

We have excellent facilities including a digital newsroom, a TV studio, a live radio studio (home to our student station, ENRG Radio), a voiceover booth and a podcast studio.

Modules

• Commentary and Punditry in Sports (JAC11142)
• Global Business of Sports (JAC11143)
• Journalism Major Project (JAC11137)
• Radio Bulletins (JAC11135)
• Sports Journalism Rights and Regulations (JAC11144)
• Sports News Reporting (JAC11145)
• TV and Multimedia News (JAC11133)

Meet the course leader

The course leader is David Tanner MSc. David presented live football on Sky Sports. He has also hosted on BT Sport, STV News, and Sky Sports News and Sky News in London. David has covered sport in over 30 countries, including the Tokyo Olympics. He is talkSPORT’s Scotland Correspondent.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor (Honours) Degree at a 2:1 or above in any discipline
• We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient professional experience in sports or the media industries
• You may also be asked to attend an interview with one of our staff team

English language

• If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test
• The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of 6.5 with no individual component score of less than 6.0

International students

• We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications
• Entry requirements by country

Admissions policies

• We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study
• Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make

Fees & funding

• The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying
• We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £7,280
• Students from Overseas and EU: £18,800

Careers

• Reporter
• Commentator
• News Editor
• Digital Editor
• Feature writer
• Sports correspondent
• Producer/asst producer for broadcast and online
• Broadcaster
• Podcaster
• Analyst/Pundit
• Presenter

Throughout the course, you'll explore the principles of journalism, learn to research and report on sports events. You’ll develop your skills in areas such as sports writing, broadcasting, and multimedia storytelling. Through fieldwork, and collaborations with sports media organisations, you'll gain practical experience covering a variety of sports and events, from local games to international tournaments.

After graduating from this MA programme, you'll emerge as a skilled and versatile sports journalist, ready to pursue a career in sports media. Whether you aspire to work as a reporter, commentator, producer or multimedia journalist, our MA in Sports Journalism will provide you with the knowledge, skills and connections to succeed in the fast-paced and competitive world of sports media.